Behaviour and the senses
THE DAYDREAMER
This is the slow-to-react child because he has difficulty recognising that sensations are being received. According to Winnie Dunn’s sensory profile, he is known as the “Poor Registration” child.
BEHAVIOURS YOU MAY SEE
• He doesn’t react when called.
• He doesn’t notice dirt on his body.
• His movements tend to be slow.
• It takes repeated requests before he responds with action.
TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• He often appears bored and laid-back.
• His emotions are difficult to read.
• He appears lethargic on a regular basis. Low energy levels result from insufficient neural activation. • He appears to live in a world of his own and is slow to respond to requests as he overlooks sensory cues from his environment.
THE WALLFLOWER
His threshold is met on a frequent basis and he is riddled with feelings of discomfort and even fright.
He is referred to as the “Sensory Sensitive” child.
BEHAVIOURS YOU MAY SEE
• He is often a fussy eater and typically doesn’t like foods with lumpy textures.
• He needs you to remove clothing labels as he finds them bothersome to his tactile system.
• He has a limited range of physical activities he will perform.
TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• He is distracted and is always responding to the influx of sensations, which makes it hard to focus.
• He tends to be hyperactive.
THE MOTOR
This child craves the sensory stimulation his brain requires to function at an optimum level. He actively seeks this input and is therefore referred to as the “Sensory Seeker”.
BEHAVIOURS YOU MAY SEE
• He has a habit of getting dirty.
For example, he tends to roll in the mud and paint his entire body with finger paint.
• He jumps off jungle gym equipment without regard for his safety.
• He loves a variety of tastes and tends to add condiments to his food.
• He makes noise almost constantly.
TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• He appears to be on the hunt for sensory stimulation, which is never enough, throughout his daily activities. For example, if he craves touch – he may rub fluffy toys and wrap his body around furniture and people as he moves about. These children often chew on things and fidget while working.
• He is on the go.
• He interacts with the environment non-stop. He seldom chooses to engage in passive activities such as reading. • He is fidgety and excitable.
• He is a risk-taker and appears accident-prone.
THE OVER-RESPONSIVE CHILD
It’s thought that this child’s brain tends to experience difficulty inhibiting responses to sensations in an effective manner. This sensitivity leads to benign sensations being experienced as irritating or painful and provoking a sense of fear. Children who embrace this tend to become defensive towards sensation. For example, he may block his ears when the volume of the music is minimal or he may push someone away if they try to hug him. Those who try to counteract their sensitivity tend to avoid sensations. For example, they won’t take their shoes off to avoid feeling different textures with their feet, or they’ll avoid eating certain lumpy foods like mince meat.
THE FIGHTER
This child is preoccupied with finding means to avoid sensations that he finds unpleasant. He is known as the “Sensory Avoider”.
BEHAVIOURS YOU MAY SEE
• When standing in a line, he keeps turning around to see the people behind him. He pushes them away if he feels they are entering his oversized personal space.
• He refuses to walk barefoot. • He screams, bites and hits out if you try to wash his hair or cut his nails.
TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• He is opposed to change as he likes to be aware of what sensations he will encounter to plan how to deal with them.
• He is dependent on strict rituals. • He can be domineering and even aggressive and may hit out at someone who touches him.
• He cries easily.
• He employs disruptive behaviour, so he is removed from the environment and can avoid the sensory input. • He often avoids crowds and engages in solitary activities. ●