What Is Sensory Processing Disorder?
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a difference in the way the brain understands and responds to information from the senses. Rather than a single condition, it sits across a spectrum of experiences. Children with SPD may exhibit hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) or hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness) to sensory input.
For families, this often shows up in ways that are easy to misread as behavioural. A child who screams when their shirt tag touches their skin, refuses to eat certain textures, or falls apart in a busy shopping centre is not being difficult. Their nervous system is genuinely struggling to process the information coming in.
Sensory integration therapy is used to treat conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), learning disabilities, and developmental delays. If your child has received one of these diagnoses, sensory difficulties may well be part of what they are living with daily.
Signs Your Child May Have Sensory Issues
Every child is different, but some common patterns are worth noting. Children with SPD may struggle with hypersensitivity, responding intensely to stimuli like loud noises, specific textures, or bright lights. On the other end, some children seek out intense sensory experiences because they are under-responsive to input.
Watch for things like persistent difficulties getting dressed, extreme reactions to haircuts or nail trimming, problems settling in classroom environments, avoiding playgrounds or group activities, and frequent meltdowns in busy public spaces. The impact of SPD can be significant, affecting various aspects of a child’s daily routine, including play, getting dressed, and socialising.
Early identification genuinely matters. The sooner the right support is put in place, the better positioned a child is to build the skills they need for school, friendships, and independence.
How Occupational Therapy Addresses Sensory Processing
Occupational therapists assess children for SPD by watching how they interact with certain sensory experiences, asking about symptoms, behaviour, and medical history. This assessment forms the foundation of everything that follows.
From there, the occupational therapist builds a picture of the child’s unique sensory profile. The therapy that follows is structured around that profile, not a generic programme. Occupational therapists tailor individualised sensory diets, which are structured routines consisting of specific sensory activities aimed at meeting the needs of each child throughout their day. These help maintain optimal arousal levels, promote focus, and improve emotional regulation.
The goals of occupational therapy sensory treatment sit across three main areas.
Sensory regulation. Helping children detect, interpret, and respond to sensory information appropriately.
Daily functioning. Enhancing participation in common tasks like dressing and playing, which can be especially challenging for children with sensory processing disorder.
Emotional well-being. Reducing anxiety and behaviour problems associated with sensory overload, leading to improved overall emotional health.
Therapy Methods Used at the Clinic
Occupational therapists draw on a range of evidence-informed techniques during sensory sessions. Here is what some of that actually looks like in practice.
Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT) is rooted in the work of Dr A. Jean Ayres. The idea behind SI therapy is that specific movement activities, resistive body work, and even brushing of the skin can help a child with sensory problems experience an optimal level of arousal and regulation. Sessions often take place in a sensory gym setting, using equipment like swings, balance boards, and weighted tools.
Deep pressure and proprioceptive input. Occupational therapists use techniques such as deep pressure touch, joint compression, and weighted blankets to provide calming and organising sensory input, helping the child regulate their responses.
Vestibular activities. The occupational therapist encourages children to engage in activities that challenge their balance through static and dynamic equipment, such as climbing foam stairs and mounting a suspended bridge swing.
Tactile exploration. Occupational therapists expose children to a variety of tactile input, whether it is a velvet hammock or slime-making, allowing the child to playfully engage with different materials.
The sensory diet. Between clinic sessions, the occupational therapist works with families to create a structured schedule of sensory activities at home. This keeps the child’s nervous system regulated throughout the day, not just during appointments.
The Role of Parents and Carers
Family involvement is a cornerstone of effective occupational therapy for children with sensory processing disorders. Children often feel more secure and confident when their family participates in the therapeutic process.
Therapists do not work in isolation. They train parents and carers in the strategies being used, explain the reasoning behind them, and provide practical guidance so that progress carries over into daily life at home and at school.
NDIS Funding for Sensory Processing Therapy
Many families in the Melbourne and Geelong area are able to fund occupational therapy sensory treatment through the NDIS. Occupational therapy is typically funded under the Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living category, covering therapy that helps children build daily living skills, regulation, motor development, sensory processing, and social participation.
Importantly, a formal diagnosis is not required. The NDIS focuses on functional impact, not labels. If a child has significant difficulties in areas like emotional regulation, social participation, sensory processing, or daily living, they may be eligible.
NDIS funding can also be allocated towards sensory integration therapy, sensory diets, and environmental modification, which involves advising on changes to personal spaces to accommodate sensory needs, such as reducing noise or altering lighting.
If your child is struggling with sensory issues and you are based in Werribee, Melbourne, or Geelong, the team at Hope Physio can help. Our occupational therapists conduct thorough sensory assessments, build individualised treatment plans, and work closely with families every step of the way.
We accept NDIS participants and support self-managed, plan-managed, and agency-managed plans.
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