The Relationship Between SPD and Deaf/Blindness

In movies or television, we often hear that those who are deaf have extremely good eyesight, or that those who are blind have sonic hearing. We have come to believe that because one sense is not being used, or used less, that the other senses become stronger. In fact, being blind and/or deaf does in fact impact the other senses, but not always in the way that we think. According to Alkhamra & Abu-Dahab (2020), children with hearing impairments are more vulnerable to Sensory Processing Disorder and at higher risk of having challenges with balance, multisensory processing, social-emotional health, and fine motor skills. Similarly, children with visual impairments are likely to have significantly more difficulty in most, if not all, areas of the Sensory Profile (Houwen et al., 2022). The Sensory Profile (SP) is a commonly used questionnaire that caregivers fill out regarding their child’s responses to sensory input in their day-to-day life. SENSE-ational Spaces also has a Sensory Screener available on our website. The areas of the SP include:

The Sensory Profile Questionnaire looks at touch (tactile), oral/taste & smell, movement, auditory, visual, and behaviors such as conduct, social-emotional regulation, and attention. Below are some examples regarding questions in each of these categories

-Touch (tactile): responses to getting a haircut, certain clothing, bathing, being touched

-Oral/Taste: avoid certain foods or only eating certain foods/flavors/textures/temperatures, ‘picky eating’

-Smell: avoid foods with certain smells

-Movement: fear of heights, doesn’t enjoy activities where head is upside down (somersaults, roughhousing with siblings), fidgeting, overly excitable with movement activities

-Auditory: enjoys ‘strange’ noises, distracted with certain noises, doesn’t ‘tune in’ when being addressed, dislikes loud noises

-Visual: bothered by bright lights, watches people, covers eyes

-Behavior: your child’s responses to sensory input

Occupational therapists have also reported that children with visual impairments are at risk of being over-responsive or under-responsive in their intact senses and need information from the other senses to compensate for typical poor proprioception (Houwen, 2022). 

This does not mean however that just because someone has a visual or auditory impairment that they have SPD, or vice versa. In fact, if you suspect your child has SPD, it is always a good idea to get their vision or hearing tested first to ensure that there is no impairment in those areas. An ophthalmologist and/or optometrist can help with vision tests while an audiologist can assess any hearing issues, while an occupational therapist will often assess SPD. It is important to discern whether there are vision or hearing concerns prior to receiving a SPD screening to ensure your child is not incorrectly diagnosed with SPD when they in fact may just need glasses or a hearing aid. But, what can you do when they have both? How can you engage in sensory play with your child who is deaf or blind?

Other than that, they can enjoy sensory play like any other child! Figure out what your child likes, and what works best for them. Our website, other blogs, and social media accounts are filled with ideas for sensory play.

References

Alkhamra, R.A. & Abu-Dahab, S.M.N. (2020). Sensory processing disorders in children with hearing impairment: Implications for multidisciplinary approach and early intervention. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2020.110154 

Houwen, S., Cox, R.F.A., Roza, M., Lansink, F.O., Van Wolferen, J., & Rietman, A.B. (2022). Sensory processing in young children with visual impairments: Use and extension of the Sensory Profile. Research in Developmental Disabilities,127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104251