Can you have ADHD and SPD?

Some studies have shown that as many as 40 percent of people with SPD or ADHD will actually have both conditions. This overlap is important for doctors to know, because treatment should be tailored to each child’s unique situation. Stimulant medication for ADHD, for example, won’t help a child’s SPD.

How does SPD affect learning?

The result is that the child cannot respond to sensory information to behave in a meaningful, consistent way. He may also have difficulty using sensory information to plan and carry out actions that he needs to do, impacting his ability to learn. Inefficient sensory processing leads to inefficient learning.

Are sensory issues linked to ADHD?

The sensory processing problem in ADHD is reported in both of the physiological and parent-reported measures. The sensory processing problem is not gender related but it is associated with age. Specific sensory symptoms are correlated with particular behavioral problems such as aggression and delinquency in ADHD.

How social skills are affected by sensory disorders?

Has delayed communication and social skills, is hard to engage in two-way interactions. Prefers to play on their own or has difficulty in knowing how to play with other children. Has difficulty accepting changes in routine or transitioning between tasks. Has difficulty engaging with peers and sustaining friendships.

What is the difference between ADHD and SPD?

ADHD is treated with medications and cannot be impacted by changing the child’s environment. A child with SPD is unable to accurately “translate” information received through their senses so that it can be used functionally in life. While some children are hypersensitive to stimuli, others are hyposensitive.

What are the symptoms of sensory processing disorder (SPD)?

Because of this scope of symptoms, SPD can influence multiple senses and motor skills in significant ways. Sensory processing disorder symptoms and signs may include: 1,2,6 People with SPD could have low self-esteem and problems building and maintaining social relationships.

What is the connection between autism and sensory processing disorder?

How autism and sensory processing disorder are linked. SPD is a condition that affects the way that the brain communicates with the rest of the body. When the brain of an individual with SPD receives sensory information through the nervous system, it has trouble converting those signals into typical reactions.

Does sensory processing disorder qualify as an ADHD diagnosis?

He says that sensory processing disorder, in his professional opinion, is not a diagnosis but instead a description of behaviors. While some of the techniques used in sensory integration therapy can help co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety, he says sensory integration therapy does not help with ADHD symptoms.

Is SPD the same as autism spectrum disorder?

ASD and SPD are not the same, but the overlap between them is significant. Both are brain-based differences, neurological conditions that impact a child’s development. Furthermore, SPD is similar to ASD in that it doesn’t indicate a low level of cognitive ability.