The Root Cause of Sensory Processing Disorder!
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) can be such a struggle for children and adults alike. Let’s look at what might be going on in the brain that is causing your child’s SPD!
1) Their SPD could be caused by a retained Spinal Galant Reflex:
The Spinal Galant reflex is a primitive reflex that should integrate into the brain stem by the age of 1 year old -you can read more about primitive reflexes here - however when a person retains their Spinal Galant Reflex past 1 year of age, it will lead to tactile (touch) sensitivity.
If your child is sensitive to the way jeans, tags, socks, or shoes feel, the Spinal Galant reflex is probably a BIG contributing factor in their Sensory Processing Disorder!
Did you know? The Spinal Galant reflex is also the #1 culprit of bedwetting!!
2)Their SPD could be caused by auditory processing issues:
When a child (or adult) brain is unable to filter out, or distinguish between, important vs. unimportant sounds this is called auditory processing disorder. Their brain receives all sounds with the same importance, their parent talking to them, the dog backing, the air conditioner running in the background. Their brain is unable to distinguish between important and unimportant sounds. Therefore, combined, all of these sounds can become very overwhelming to someone with auditory processing struggles. This is where you will see the symptoms of SPD
If you find that your child shuts down, covers their ears, or even displays increased overwhelm, frustration or fidgeting when there are too many noises around them, Auditory Processing is most likely the reason! This is something we always assess in our consultations with parents.
3) Their SPD could be caused by low proprioception
Is your child a sensory seeker? Do they like to spin, crash, jump and wrestle.. A lot? They may have low proprioception
Proprioception is our brain’s ability to sense where our body is in space. When the connection between our brain and our body is weak, our brain will do whatever is needed to get that signal back most often using movement and touch to do so.
So if your SPD child is moving around all the time, prefers a weighted blanket or tightly-fitting clothes, or seeks out sensory stimulation in any other way, low proprioception is likely a culprit of your kiddo’s SPD!
4) Their SPD might be caused by a retained Moro Reflex
The Moro Reflex is another Primitive Reflex that all babies are born with. When not integrated properly a very specific symptom set will emerge in children. One of those symptoms is a sensitivity to loud or sudden noises like vacuums, toilet flushes, blenders etc. The reflex can also be triggered by a cognitive startle, like an unmet expectation. This reflex causes adrenaline & cortisol spikes which lead to emotional dysregulation and anxiety. This one is a big deal! If you see your child going from 0-to-anger or 0-to-meltdown or if your child struggles with anxiety, a retained Moro Reflex may be the cause of your child’s SPD.
The Good News: Ending SPD for good is simple!
You can schedule a free consultation with us to learn more about our comprehensive brain training program that uses movement to strengthen the functional weaknesses in the brain leading to a decrease or even elimination of symptoms all together!
