A Summary of Sensory Integration Dysfunction Symptoms:
SIGNS OF TACTILE DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Refuses or resists messy play, resists cuddling and light touch,
dislikes kisses, rough clothes or seams in socks, resists baths,
showers, or going to the beach.
Hyposensitive:
Doesn't realize hands or face are dirty, touches everything and
anything constantly, may be self-abusive, plays rough with peers,
doesn't seem to feel pain (may even enjoy it!)
SIGNS OF VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Avoids playground and moving equipment, fearful of heights, dislikes
being tipped upside down, often afraid of falling, walking on uneven
surfaces, and avoids rapid, sudden or rotating movements.
Hyposensitive:
Craves any possible movement experience, especially fast or
spinning, never seems to sit still, is a thrill seeker, and shakes leg
while sitting, loves being tossed in the air, never seems to get dizzy,
full of excessive energy.
SIGNS OF PROPRIOCEPTIVE DYSFUNCTION:
Under-responsive:
Constantly jumping, crashing, and stomping, loves to be squished
and bear hugs, prefers tight clothing, loves rough-housing, and may
be aggressive with other children.
Over-responsive:
Difficulty understanding where body is in relation to other objects
appears clumsy, bumps into things often, moves in a stiff and/or
uncoordinated way.
Difficulty Regulating Input:
Doesn't know how hard to push on an object, misjudges the weight
of an object, breaks objects often and rips paper when erasing pencil
marks.
SIGNS OF AUDITORY DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Covers ears and startled by loud sounds, distracted by sounds not
noticed by others, fearful of toilets flushing, hairdryers and/or
vacuums, resists going to loud public places (even cafeteria at
school).
Hyposensitive:
May not respond to verbal cues, loves loud music and making noise,
may appear confused about where a sound is coming from, may say
"what?" frequently.
SIGNS OF ORAL DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Picky eater with extreme food preferences and limited repertoire, may
gag on textured food, difficulty with sucking, chewing, and
swallowing, extremely fearful of the dentist, dislikes toothpaste and
brushing teeth.
Hyposensitive:
May lick, taste or chew on inedible objects, loves intensely flavored
foods, may drool excessively, frequently chews on pens, pencils, or
shirt.
SIGNS OF OLFACTORY DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Bothered or nauseated by cooking, bathroom and/or perfume smells,
may refuse to go places because of the way it smells, chooses foods
based on smell, notices smells not normally noticed by others.
Hyposensitive:
May not notice unpleasant or noxious odors, smells everything when
first introduced to it, may not be able to identify smells from scratch 'n
sniff stickers.
SIGNS OF VISUAL DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Irritated by sunlight or bright lights, easily distracted by visual stimuli,
avoids eye contact, and may become over aroused in brightly
colored rooms.
Hyposensitive:
Difficulty controlling eye movements and tracking objects, mixes up
similar letters, focuses on little details in a picture and misses the
whole, looses his place frequently when reading or copying from the
blackboard
SIGNS OF TACTILE DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Refuses or resists messy play, resists cuddling and light touch,
dislikes kisses, rough clothes or seams in socks, resists baths,
showers, or going to the beach.
Hyposensitive:
Doesn't realize hands or face are dirty, touches everything and
anything constantly, may be self-abusive, plays rough with peers,
doesn't seem to feel pain (may even enjoy it!)
SIGNS OF VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Avoids playground and moving equipment, fearful of heights, dislikes
being tipped upside down, often afraid of falling, walking on uneven
surfaces, and avoids rapid, sudden or rotating movements.
Hyposensitive:
Craves any possible movement experience, especially fast or
spinning, never seems to sit still, is a thrill seeker, and shakes leg
while sitting, loves being tossed in the air, never seems to get dizzy,
full of excessive energy.
SIGNS OF PROPRIOCEPTIVE DYSFUNCTION:
Under-responsive:
Constantly jumping, crashing, and stomping, loves to be squished
and bear hugs, prefers tight clothing, loves rough-housing, and may
be aggressive with other children.
Over-responsive:
Difficulty understanding where body is in relation to other objects
appears clumsy, bumps into things often, moves in a stiff and/or
uncoordinated way.
Difficulty Regulating Input:
Doesn't know how hard to push on an object, misjudges the weight
of an object, breaks objects often and rips paper when erasing pencil
marks.
SIGNS OF AUDITORY DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Covers ears and startled by loud sounds, distracted by sounds not
noticed by others, fearful of toilets flushing, hairdryers and/or
vacuums, resists going to loud public places (even cafeteria at
school).
Hyposensitive:
May not respond to verbal cues, loves loud music and making noise,
may appear confused about where a sound is coming from, may say
"what?" frequently.
SIGNS OF ORAL DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Picky eater with extreme food preferences and limited repertoire, may
gag on textured food, difficulty with sucking, chewing, and
swallowing, extremely fearful of the dentist, dislikes toothpaste and
brushing teeth.
Hyposensitive:
May lick, taste or chew on inedible objects, loves intensely flavored
foods, may drool excessively, frequently chews on pens, pencils, or
shirt.
SIGNS OF OLFACTORY DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Bothered or nauseated by cooking, bathroom and/or perfume smells,
may refuse to go places because of the way it smells, chooses foods
based on smell, notices smells not normally noticed by others.
Hyposensitive:
May not notice unpleasant or noxious odors, smells everything when
first introduced to it, may not be able to identify smells from scratch 'n
sniff stickers.
SIGNS OF VISUAL DYSFUNCTION:
Hypersensitive:
Irritated by sunlight or bright lights, easily distracted by visual stimuli,
avoids eye contact, and may become over aroused in brightly
colored rooms.
Hyposensitive:
Difficulty controlling eye movements and tracking objects, mixes up
similar letters, focuses on little details in a picture and misses the
whole, looses his place frequently when reading or copying from the
blackboard
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
SENSORY SIGNS