Return to Sensory Processing Concepts
Sensation Avoiding refers to a pattern of sensory processing that is characterized by low sensory thresholds and an active self regulation strategy (Dunn, 1997); when people have a sensation avoiding pattern of sensory processing, they are bothered by input more than others. The Sensory Profile measures cover the life span, and use informant report to evaluate a person’s sensation avoiding tendencies. Children who have sensation avoiding patterns are rule bound, ritual driven and uncooperative. They engage in behaviors to limit the sensory input they must deal with. We hypothesize that they limit sensory opportunities because unfamiliar sensory input is difficult to understand and organize, or might even be ”threatening” to the nervous system. Rituals behavior provide a high rate of familiar sensory input, while simultaneously limiting the possibility of unfamiliar input. Dunn and colleagues have conducted national studies of infants, children and adults with and without disabilities, and have found that persons without disabilities of all ages seldom engage in sensation avoiding behaviors, and that people with disabilities such as autism and schizophrenia are significantly more likely to engage in a high amount of sensation avoiding patterns. When a person has sensation avoiding patterns, interventions are directed at making input less available, so that the person does not become overwhelmed and want to withdraw from participation in everyday life.
References(s):
Dunn, W. (1997). The impact of sensory processing abilities on the daily lives
of young children and their families: a conceptual model. Infants and Young
Children, 9(4), 23-35.
Suggested Reading(s):
Dunn, W. (2001). The sensations of everyday life: theoretical, conceptual and
pragmatic considerations. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 608-620.
Return to Sensory Processing Concepts