Although at first glance it may be easy to mistake these two words for each other, they actually mean two very different things. One is the underwhelming need to create additional sensory information, and the other is the feeling of discomfort to such stimuli.
Hyposensitivity and hypersensitivity describe two very different feelings. Here is a breakdown of each.
When a child feels experiences hyposensitivity, they may:
- Increase the volume of the music or television
- Touch things excessively
- Put objects in their mouth
- Constantly seek movement
But when a child experiences hypersensitivity, they may:
- Feel discomfort from common sounds
- Smell things others can’t
- Feel overwhelmed by unfamiliar play areas
Speech therapy is a fantastic tool to help your child with one of these disorders. They will help your child focus on the sounds they’re hearing and the things they’re seeing or smelling, and become comfortable with their current state. If left untreated, one of the side effects may be a delay in speech development. This is because their brain is struggling to process their surroundings. So it’s best to catch it early on and take the proper measures. If you think your child is experiencing one of these disorders, reach out to one of our therapists for guidance.
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