Overstimulation in children is becoming increasingly more common in today’s fast-paced world. With advancements in technology, packed schedules and highly stimulating environments, it’s no wonder children are likely to feel overwhelmed. Overstimulation occurs when the body can’t properly process stimuli from the external environment. This can manifest as tantrums, meltdowns, overreactions to food or clothing textures, or hypersensitivity to external environments. Children who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, OCD, or sensory processing disorder may experience overstimulation more frequently than their peers.
Occupational therapist Lindsay Cattell OTRL of Children’s Detroit Medical Center discusses what overstimulation may look like in children.
She said sensory overstimulation/ sensory processing difficulties may affect one or more of the following senses: hearing, smell, touch, taste, and sight. Different signs that may alert you that your child is overstimulated include:
Emotional: Yelling, screaming, tantrums, or crying over things that may not seem like a big deal. Social withdrawal, avoiding interaction with others. Refusal to talk or communicate. Difficulty focusing, anxiety. Irritability. Restlessness.
Physical: Hitting, kicking, self-harm behaviors, increase in energy. Hiding. Closing eyes, covering the face, placing hands over their ears. Insomnia. Running away from specific situations or places. Difficulty concentrating.
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Some of these behaviors may arise during busy times of the day, such as getting ready to leave the house, getting home from school, recess, playtime with other children, changes to daily routine, changes in dietary preferences, new rules being established, prolonged screen time, noisy or overcrowded environments, cramming in too many activities into their schedule, bright lights, or loud noises. Each child’s tolerance to overstimulation varies depending on their personality and environment.
There are many ways you can help your child cope with overstimulation.
Some practical solutions that keeping a daily routine and trying to stick to it as much as possible. Providing a quiet space with dim lighting can be helpful, such as their bedroom, if they feel overwhelmed. Reducing screen time and taking regular breaks from long activities are important. Help your child communicate their needs by talking with them. If they tend to get overstimulated often and easily, tools such as noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, or weighted blankets may be helpful. As a parent, modeling calm behavior can help your child see how they should act when overstimulated.
If you notice any of these signs in your child, you can call your child’s primary care physician and make an appointment to discuss these behaviors. Some of these behaviors may be normal developmentally. Keep a record of when these behaviors occur and what happened to trigger them. This may help the provider be able to narrow down an accurate diagnosis.
The primary care physician may recommend your child see another specialist such as a child psychologist. A physician may recommend a referral to an occupational therapist like Cattell who can assist with “addressing sensory processing deficits.”
Cattell said, “OTs help address sensory processing deficits by creating an individualized sensory diet through modifications and adaptations, as well as accommodations such as the use of noise-canceling headphones. The combination of an occupational therapist addressing individualized sensory needs and the execution of the individualized care plan used consistently in the home environment will help a patient engage with their environment and increase independence with activities of daily living.” An individualized care plan can help patients learn to tolerate and even thrive in their previously overstimulating environment.
Overstimulation is a complex experience that affects each child differently. While it can be challenging to address, early recognition of behaviors and symptoms combined with early intervention can make a significant difference. Creating routines, providing calm environments, and getting support from professionals like occupational therapists, parents, and childcare providers can teach children how to manage their sensory challenges and thrive. Through recognition, education,and proactive care, we can help children navigate this overstimulating world with greater confidence and ease.
