Below you will find an abbreviated Sensory Processing Signs and Symptoms Checklist that can help you determine if your child would benefit from an Occupational Therapy evaluation.
Sensory Processing
Signs that your child may not be efficiently processing visual information:
Sensitive to light (squints, blinks, covers eyes)
Poor reading, writing, and math skills
Distractible
Poor eye contact
Poor handwriting
Difficulty with puzzles
Difficulty with finding objects within a background
Signs that your child may not be efficiently processing auditory information:
Slow to respond to his name or directives
Difficulty following 2- or 3-step directives
Distractible
Sensitive to sounds, for instance toilet flushing, fire alarm, school bell
Distracted by background sounds such as fluorescent lights, fans
Speech or articulation difficulties
Signs that your child may not be efficiently processing taste and smell input:
Deliberately smells objects
Overly sensitive to odors
Licks, sucks, chews non-food items past the age of 18 months
Picky eater
Craves intense flavors (sour, spicy) and scents
Signs that your child may not be efficiently processing tactile input:
Irritated by tags in clothing
Dislikes being hugged or touched unexpectedly
May hit a sibling or peer in response to a light touch or being bumped
Avoids getting hands messy
Becomes upset if face is messy
Dislikes haircutting, shampooing, nail trimming
Dislikes face washing
Dislikes tooth brushing
Is a “picky eater”
Resists nose wiping
Dislikes wearing certain fabrics
Refuses to walk barefoot on various textures, i.e. grass, tile, carpet
Becomes upset if clothes or socks are twisted
Has trouble with transitions
Does not seem to notice if clothes or socks are twisted
Tends to over react or under react to pain
Tends to not notice if hands, face, or clothes are messy
Constantly touching objects/people
Mouths/chews non-food items
Signs that your child may not be efficiently processing vestibular input:
Always “on the go”
Seeks movement activities, such as swinging, merry-go-rounds, roller coasters
Enjoys climbing
Has difficulty remaining seated in chair
Climbs at the risk of his own safety
Enjoys spinning himself
Becomes car sick easily
Becomes upset with head being tilted backwards for hair washing
Hesitates to climb or avoid playground equipment
Sits slumped, props self with arms
Confuses right and left sides of body
Signs that your child may not be efficiently processing proprioceptive input:
Clumsy/awkward
Bumps into things frequently
Difficulty with learning new motor tasks
Difficulty with fine motor tasks
Seems weaker than other children
Tires easily with physical activity
Avoids gross motor activities
Tends to be wiggly in his chair
Has trouble chewing foods/tends to not chew before swallowing
Drools (beyond expected age)
Has trouble chewing foods/tends to not chew before swallowing
Is a messy eater/stuffs food into mouth
Mouths/chews non-food items
Awkward pencil grasp
Poor handwriting
Increased pencil pressure
Poor posture (during writing tasks and while standing)
Tends to be slow in completing motor tasks, such as dressing or eating
Crashes into people/objects intentionally
Craves rough play
Tends to break objects when playing with them
Appears “lazy”
Signs that your child may be experiencing Social/Emotional Impacts caused by inefficient sensory processing:
Tantrums/ “Meltdowns”
Decreased ability to make/sustain friendships
“Bully”
Poor self-esteem/self-image
“I can’t” statements are often heard
*This is not an all-inclusive list. Many tasks can be difficult for a child due to deficits in one or more sensory systems.
If you have concerns about your child, you can contact Leaps and Bounds by clicking the link below or you may call the office at 636-928-LEAP (5327).
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