Teens and Sensory Processing Disorder: The Special Challenges

Adolescents with sensory processing disorder have special challenges due to their stage of development and the fact that, until now, their sensory issues may not have been addressed.

1. Finding the right occupational therapist can be difficult. Few occupational therapists are trained or experienced in working with adolescents who have a sensory processing disorder. Play-based SI therapy can seem silly and embarrassing to teens.

2. Low self-esteem. Teens who have had sensory issues for years will have learned at least some adaptations to get around them and are less likely to experience the extreme behaviors and responses that they did when they were younger. However, years of feeling different and not knowing why, and realizing that they have never been as mature and self-controlled as their peers, take their toll. Teens with sensory processing issues often have trouble with self-esteem. They need a lot of encouragement to admit that they have sensory problems and need help.

3. Need for independence. Teens need their independence respected, so being told, “You need to do X, Y, and Z to handle your sensory issues” usually doesn’t work very well.

4. Desire to fit in. Even teens who don’t feel the need to have lots of friends or be conformists want to have some friends that they feel like they fit in with. Sensory challenges can embarrass them and make them feel isolated and different in negative ways.

5. Change of hormones. Adolescents have ever-changing hormones that can exacerbate sensory issues by making them more sensitive to information than they were in the past. The normal changes of adolescence can also make them more temperamental and emotionally sensitive.

6. New expectations. People are less likely to see their adolescent as a young, immature person with a hidden disability and more likely to see them as a young adult whose behavior is deliberate.

What can a parent, teacher, or therapist do?

1. Modify traditional SI therapy techniques to make them more teen-friendly. As a substitute for playing with a tray of shaving cream or finger paints, encourage your teen to cook, garden, do arts or crafts, and participate in other activities that challenge his tactile problems. Work with a sensory intelligent occupational therapist who is willing to modify his or her approach to help your adolescent son or daughter reduce any embarrassment or defensiveness.

2. Talk about sensory issues in a positive way. Reassure your teen that sensory issues are simply a difference in brain wiring that can have benefits, but can also be controlled and addressed to make life a little easier. Explain what SPD is and why, in some cases, it is good to be very sensitive or crave certain sensations, and that people with sensory problems often have other gifts as well, such as the ability to “think in pictures.” Then explain that there are “tricks” that you and / or an occupational therapist can teach them to “make life easier for them.” Everyone wants their life to be a little easier! Acknowledge how hard your teen has to work to organize or tolerate certain sensations, and praise her for her efforts.

3. Offer sensory diet adaptations and ideas for him or her to choose from. Present adaptations and activities to teens and let them decide which one they would like to use. Honor and respect their choices and encourage them to participate in collaborative problem solving with you. If you don’t want to be seen doing a brushing protocol due to tactile problems, can you do it discreetly in the school bathroom? If all children wear baggy clothing and prefer it tight, can the teen wear tight clothing, such as bike shorts, under looser clothing that looks more stylish?

4. Help your adolescent with sensory problems feel good the way he is and find a group of peers with whom he is comfortable. Practical solutions for grooming, fussy eating and dressing, and fostering conversations about the benefits of being different can help your teen with sensory issues become more comfortable with peers. However, you can also feel better about yourself by expanding your group of friends. Encourage your teen to develop hobbies and participate in new individualized sports activities that do not require high levels of skill and competitiveness to be enjoyed by groups that are dedicated to the arts, community service, spiritual growth, etc. Extracurricular activities can help children find their “tribe” and also feel the power to make a difference in the world.

5. Accept that your child may be more emotionally sensitive at this stage. Watch for signs of increased anxiety and depression and consult a healthcare professional if you have any concerns. Remember, addressing sensory issues will reduce general anxiety that can lead to mild or moderate depression (when you feel like you can’t handle your discomfort, you can develop depression over time). Don’t forget that some of the most effective treatments for mild to moderate anxiety and depression include physical exercise, time outdoors, meditation, and breathing exercises. Mindfulness practices, from yoga and tai chi to tai kwan do and karate, can also help.

6. Focus on self-awareness and the responsibility of self-regulation. It is very difficult to get others to accept poor self-regulation in an adolescent, even if you educate them about hidden disabilities. So the sooner you collaborate with your teen on creating a viable sensory diet that avoids negative behaviors, the better. It will be easier for your teen to develop better self-regulation if she is trained in using specific self-calming and self-alerting techniques that you know work for her. Hold her responsible for using her wake-up music and gum, taking time to sit in a quiet space and do breathing exercises or use a brushing protocol, etc. Get her involved in creating a sensory diet tailored to her needs to keep her sensory needs met and prevent fight or flight behaviors. Let her experience the natural consequences if you refuse to use her calm, focused, and alert techniques.

Above all, never forget that children with sensory issues need a “fair” challenge, a balance of adaptations to make them feel more comfortable, and challenges that take them out of their comfort zone. Sensory diet activities for teens help them develop a greater tolerance for the situations and activities they will encounter in life and, over time, retrain their brains to process sensory information in more typical ways. Be creative and encouraging when establishing a sensory diet for an adolescent, and always be helpful in respecting the adolescent’s need for independence.

Finally, if you are a frustrated parent trying to control your teen’s sensory issues, consider joining or starting an online or in-person support group. Knowing that you are not alone and having the practical and emotional support of other parents going through the same experiences with your adolescent can greatly help you at this stage of your child’s development.