What Does It Mean for a Child to Have Sensory Issues

Sensory issues occur when a child has a difficult time receiving and responding to information from their senses. Children who have sensory issues may have an aversion to anything that triggers their senses, such as light, sound, touch, taste, or smell.

How do you know if your child has sensory issues?

• Think clothing feels too scratchy or itchy.
• Think lights seem too bright.
• Think sounds seem too loud.
• Think soft touches feel too hard.
• Experience food textures make them gag.
• Have poor balance or seem clumsy.
• Are afraid to play on the swings.

Can a child have sensory issues and not be autistic?

Fact: Having sensory processing issues isn’t the same thing as having autism spectrum disorder. But sensory challenges are often a key symptom of autism. There are overlapping symptoms between autism and learning and thinking differences, and some kids have both.