Sensory Processing and Behaviour: What Parents Need to Know
Imagine trying to have a conversation while a fire alarm is blaring, someone is shining a flashlight in your eyes, and your clothes feel like they are made of sandpaper. You would probably feel overwhelmed, irritable, and desperate to escape.
For many autistic children and adults, this is what everyday life can feel like.
Sensory processing differences are a core feature of autism, and they are one of the most common—yet frequently misunderstood—drivers of challenging behaviour. At Behaviour Bridge, Julianne Shepley, a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Perth, helps families understand the vital link between sensory processing and behaviour. In this guide, we will explore how sensory differences affect behaviour and what strategies can help.
What Is Sensory Processing?
Sensory processing is the way our nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioural responses.
Most people are familiar with the five basic senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. However, we actually have three additional, less well-known senses that are crucial for daily functioning:
– Proprioception: The sense of body awareness and position in space (knowing where your limbs are without looking).
– Vestibular: The sense of movement and balance (knowing if you are upright, spinning, or falling).
– Interoception: The sense of internal bodily signals (feeling hunger, thirst, pain, or the need to use the toilet).
In neurotypical individuals, the brain filters and organises this sensory information seamlessly. But for many autistic individuals, the brain processes these signals differently.
How Sensory Differences Drive Behaviour
Sensory processing differences generally fall into two categories: hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) and hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness). Both can lead to behaviours that might seem confusing or challenging to outsiders.
1. Hypersensitivity (Sensory Avoiding)
When a child is hypersensitive, their brain registers sensory input too intensely. A normal level of noise might sound painfully loud; a gentle touch might feel like a sharp slap.
To cope with this overwhelming input, the child will engage in sensory avoiding behaviours. This might look like:
– Covering their ears or eyes.
– Refusing to wear certain clothes or eat certain textures.
– Running away from crowded or noisy places (flight response).
– Lashing out or hitting when someone touches them unexpectedly (fight response).
– Having an autism meltdown when the sensory overload becomes too much to bear.
2. Hyposensitivity (Sensory Seeking)
When a child is hyposensitive, their brain does not register sensory input strongly enough. They feel “under-stimulated” and need extra input to feel grounded and regulated.
To get the input their brain craves, the child will engage in sensory seeking behaviours. This might look like:
– Constantly jumping, spinning, or crashing into furniture (seeking vestibular and proprioceptive input).
– Chewing on non-food items like clothing or toys.
– Making loud noises or seeking out loud environments.
– Touching everything and everyone.
– Sometimes, engaging in self-injurious behaviour (like head-banging) to feel intense physical sensation.
The Role of Positive Behaviour Support
When a child engages in challenging behaviour, it is easy to assume they are being “naughty” or defiant. However, if the behaviour is driven by sensory needs, traditional discipline will not work. You cannot punish a child out of being overwhelmed by noise, just as you cannot punish someone out of needing glasses to see.
This is where Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is essential. A PBS Practitioner will conduct a Functional Behaviour Assessment to determine if the behaviour is serving a sensory function.
If the assessment shows that the behaviour is sensory-driven, the practitioner will develop a Behaviour Support Plan that includes specific sensory strategies.
Practical Sensory Strategies for Parents
While every child’s sensory profile is unique, here are some common strategies used to support sensory needs:
Strategies for Sensory Avoiders (Reducing Input)
- Create a “Safe Space”: Set up a quiet, dimly lit tent or corner in the house where the child can retreat when they feel overwhelmed.
- Use Sensory Tools: Noise-cancelling headphones or ear defenders can be life-changing for children sensitive to sound. Sunglasses or a peaked hat can help with light sensitivity.
- Prepare for Transitions: Give plenty of warning before moving to a new, potentially overwhelming environment. Use visual schedules so the child knows what to expect.
- Respect Boundaries: If a child pulls away from a hug or refuses to wear a certain fabric, respect that their nervous system is telling them it hurts.
Strategies for Sensory Seekers (Providing Input Safely)
- Heavy Work Activities: Activities that provide deep pressure to the muscles and joints (proprioceptive input) are very calming. This includes pushing a heavy trolley, carrying groceries, or doing wall pushes.
- Provide Safe Alternatives: If a child chews on their clothes, provide a safe, wearable “chewy” necklace. If they need to crash into things, set up a crash pad with pillows and beanbags.
- Incorporate Movement: Allow the child to sit on a wobble cushion or use a standing desk. Build regular “movement breaks” into their day.
Collaborating with Occupational Therapists
In the NDIS space, Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners often work closely with Occupational Therapists (OTs). While a PBS Practitioner focuses on how the sensory needs drive the behaviour, an OT specialises in assessing the specific sensory systems and developing a “sensory diet” (a schedule of sensory activities) to help the child stay regulated throughout the day.
How Behaviour Bridge Can Help
Understanding your child’s sensory world is the key to unlocking better behaviour and a happier home life.
At Behaviour Bridge, Julianne Shepley provides expert Positive Behaviour Support services in Perth. We look beyond the surface behaviour to understand the underlying sensory needs driving it. By developing practical, individualised strategies, we help families create environments where their children feel safe, regulated, and ready to thrive.
Need help understanding your child’s sensory needs and behaviour? Contact Behaviour Bridge today to discuss how Julianne Shepley and our Positive Behaviour Support services in Perth can support your family.
