Sensory seeking and sensory avoiding

Sensory seeking and sensory avoiding describe two ways a child can respond to sensations. A child who seeks looks for more input by adding movement, touch, sound or things to look at. A child who avoids pulls back from input that feels like too much. They may resist joining in when sights and sounds are hard to predict. They may also prefer routines. Alsaedi and colleagues note that studies differ on whether seeking is its own pattern or part of being less sensitive.

Over- or under-reacting to sensory input is part of the autism criteria. But sensory differences also show up in other conditions, such as anxiety and attention problems. "Sensory processing disorder" isn't a diagnosis in the manual used to diagnose autism. In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics said it generally shouldn't be diagnosed, while some researchers, such as Crasta and colleagues, use criteria from a separate early childhood manual.

Seeking might look like rocking, lots of touching or smelling things, or mouthing objects. Some children stare at lights and movement. Avoiding might look like distress at certain sounds or textures, like loud music or some clothes. Some children also seem not to notice pain or heat and cold. Head banging can also be a way to seek sensation. If you see it, raise it with your child's clinicians because of the risk of injury.

• Who evaluates it: Ask your child's pediatrician about an occupational therapy evaluation, since occupational therapists assess sensory processing.
• What the behavior does: Ask your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) whether a seeking behavior gives your child its own sensory payoff, which behavior analysts call automatic reinforcement.
• Staying safe: If seeking includes head banging or other risky behavior, ask your child's clinicians how to keep your child safe.