Picture the scene – it’s Monday morning and you know you must drag yourself out of bed to get the children ready for school. Your youngest is already dressed and eating breakfast downstairs. Your oldest is still in bed wrapped tightly in her duvet like a sausage roll! You wake her up and usher her into the bathroom, she screams as you try to gently wash her face. Back in her bedroom, getting dressed is a struggle – her favourite jumper is in the wash and she’s already tried on six pairs of socks because none of them “feel right”. Finally, you persuade her to come down and get breakfast. She takes a mouthful of her usual cereal and spits it out declaring “it’s just not right!” Several options later after lots of persuasion she crams her mouth full of toast – you are now in a rush because the school transport will arrive any minute. Last battle – teeth! This is always a challenge and you both often end up on the verge of tears. Just as you finish the school bus arrives and you wave her off to school. As you close the door you are worn out and ask yourself “Why are things so difficult for her? What am I doing wrong?”
This scene is replayed in many households. Milly has touch sensory sensitivity (sometimes known as tactile defensiveness (TD)). TD is a term used to describe someone who appears to over-respond to tactile / touch stimulation not usually thought of as threatening. The sensory system is made up of eight senses which work together to give us a picture of where we are and how to respond and relate to the world around us. Sight, sound, smell, taste and touch are the familiar senses. The proprioceptive (receptors in joints and muscles telling us where we are) vestibular (receptors in inner ear telling us whether our head is up or down) and interoceptive (awareness of feeling hungry, full, thirsty, needing the toilet etc) senses complete the package so that twenty four hours a day, seven days a week we take in, process and use sensory input to make sense of the world.
Ultimately, human beings are designed to protect themselves from harm or perceived harm. Our bodies instinctively react to any situation interpreted as threatening with a fight, flight or freeze response. For example – touching something hot provokes an immediate automatic response to pull your hand away – this is instinctive, and we have little control over this reaction.
People experiencing touch sensory sensitivity have a heightened protective response to input on their skin – this can cause them to perceive something usually non-threatening as harmful and often painful. For example, the feel of a label at the back of their shirt, unexpected touch from a stranger brushing past them in the street, the wrong socks, too much milk on their cereal so it changes the way it feels. Having heightened sensory sensitivity is going to colour how that person views their world and whether or not they feel safe within it.
These uncomfortable feelings are very real and can build up leading to increased anxiety and sensory overload often triggering a fight or flight response in order to escape the input. To minimise the discomfort or pain they may avoid activities perceived as threatening such as getting their hands dirty, walking on grass or sand. They may have specific food and clothes preferences. They are often labelled as fussy, uncooperative, rigid or difficult.
What can be done to help?
Deep pressure helps the sensory system to feel safe – it has a calming effect and dampens down overactive sensory receptors. Encourage someone to do as much for themselves as possible – if they are in control, they should find it easier to predict what is happening. Deep pressure activities prior to challenging activities such as dressing and self care can help them to prepare. Examples of such activities include – wrapping themselves in their duvet before getting out of bed or before they go to bed, heavy bedding or bedding tucked in really tight can be beneficial. A firm foot massage prior to putting socks on, warming towels on the radiator before using them. Encourage them to help carry the shopping bags, set the table, carry the washing basket. Weight their ruck sack with an extra bottle of water or a book. Press ups against a wall, wheelbarrow walking (putting their weight through straight arms). Anything that encourages heavy work with resistance. Preparing lips and gums before toothbrushing by deep pressure through a flannel or a vibrating toothbrush sometimes helps. Teach them to give themselves a big hug or press their hands down on top of their head, squeeze their hands together, push the palms of hands together. These activities will help dampen down the response to painful stimulation and should be encouraged regularly throughout the day and especially prior to challenging activities.
Try to avoid surprises – the unexpected can feel very threatening especially for people with touch sensory sensitivity – if your child can see where you are and what you are doing it will be less of a surprise. Using a mirror can help and also works on increasing body awareness. Give them warning or time to adjust to new situations or activities especially if they are feeling anxious. If it is something like trimming finger or toenails how about counting down as you cut so they know when you are finished? A timer they can see might help them to tolerate something which is necessary but uncomfortable like hair brushing or brushing teeth – it can help them to realise there is an end – make sure you keep to the timer and finish when it does!
If sensory reactions are causing someone difficulty in their everyday activities, it is recommended you seek advice from a therapist with an understanding of sensory integration.
