Sensory Processing Challenges in Children

• Published in: Journal for nurse practitioners Vol. 11; no. 7; pp. 710 - 716
• Main Authors: Critz, Catharine, Blake, Kiegan, Nogueira, Ellen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Elsevier Inc 01-07-2015; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Autism; Behavior; Children & youth; Children with disabilities; Dreams; identification; Mental disorders; Mental health; nurse practitioner; Occupational therapy; Sensory integration disorders; Sensory perception; sensory processing; treatment; treatment; sensory processing; nurse practitioner; identification
• ISSN: 1555-4155; 1878-058X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.04.016

The identification of sensory processing challenges in children is important because the challenges can affect their behavior, learning, and the way they negotiate the world. Symptoms may be difficult to assess and can be found alone or embedded within disorders, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, or cognitive disorder. Left unrecognized and untreated, children are often mislabeled, mismanaged, and misunderstood. Herein we provide information regarding the identification and treatment of sensory processing challenges in children and outline the role of the nurse practitioner in helping children and families navigate these unique challenges.
•The identification and treatment of sensory processing challenges are outlined.•May affect the way a child behaves, learns, moves, and relates to others.•Challenges are often seen comorbidly with other neurodevelopmental disorders•Challenges are amenable to treatment, usually by specialized occupational therapists