SPD Support

Sensory Modulation

General Modulation

_______ atypical eating habits (very picky, eats at odd times, always wants to know 'what is for dinner,' etc.)

_______ unusual sleeping habits or sleep schedule (for a teen)

_______ hard to fall asleep in unfamiliar environments; may not do sleep-overs

_______ experience difficulty switching from one activity to another

_______ gets engrossed in one single activity (like video games) for a long time and seems to tune out everything else

_______ very high or very low energy level

_______ very resistent to change in daily life and surrounding environment

_______ must always be in control of environment and warn people what to do/not to do to be comfortable

Over-Responsiveness

_______ sensitive to the feel of certain fabrics or textures, especially with clothing

_______ bothered by clothes (tags, seams, ties, belts, turtlenecks)

_______ limited wardrobe; may wear shorts, skirts, or pants exclusively

_______ wear the same clothes for extended periods of time

_______ bothered by "light touch"; someone lightly touching/caressing skin

_______ excessively ticklish

_______ may shy away from hugs, or get irritated by them

_______ wash hands excessively (after touching certain objects or textures)

_______ dislike showers, baths or getting splashed

_______ hygiene issues; don't like the feel or smell of deodorant, soup, toothpaste, etc.

_______ discomfort from haircuts or hair brushing

_______ avoid touching messy objects, or other textures found to be undesirable

_______ can't stand to be dirty

_______ avoid foods with certain textures or flavors (limited diet)

_______ hesitant or avoidant of trying new foods

_______ must touch object with one hand if the other hand already touched it; balance touch sensations

_______ distressed by certain everyday odors

_______ irritated or overwhelmed when people come to the house or when in crowded places

_______ sensitive to noises that most people are not bothered by (microwaves, flushing toilets, fans, voices, vaccuum cleaners, etc.)

_______ avoid using things that vibrate, or are brightly colored or flashing

_______ can't sleep if room isn't completely dark and/or quiet; wake up at the slightest noise or light

_______ distressed by bright lights or the sun

_______ afraid of heights

_______ motion sickness (from cars, planes, boats, amusement park rides, etc.)

_______ avoid crossing the midlines (moving arms/legs across the mid-section of body)

_______ can get dizzy very easily

_______ ears turn reddish when in a state of overload

_______ clench fists and toes a lot

_______ difficulty with noise, activities, and light in classrooms

_______ overwhelmed, upset, or angery when over stimulated

_______ don't go to parties or hang out with friends often

_______ have a difficult time in stores, movie theaters, sporting events, concerts, etc.

Under-Responsiveness

_______ appear lethargic or lazy and unmotivated; low energy level

_______ overly calm and passive demeanor

_______ don't respond typically to sound of own name

_______ don't notice or care about noises peers would notice

_______ not bothered by pain; may not even notice getting burns, cuts, or bruises

_______ don't notice dangers in the environment (may walk out right in front of a car)

_______ won't catch self with hands when falling to protect body from injury

_______ don't prefer to interact with peers or adults; content to be the observer and not the 'do'er

_______ don't notice being dirty or get bothered by it

_______ last to notice when a person enters the room

_______ difficult to get up in the morning; may sleep through the alarm

Sensory Seeking

_______ very high energy level, hyperaactive; often believed to have ADHD, whether it is true or not

_______ love to touch and be touched, have to touch everything

_______ frequently tip chair on back two legs

_______ restless when sitting through a class or a movie

_______ fidget and "fiddle" with things all the time; pens, pencils, rubber band, anything within reach

_______ self-destructive (bang head, pinch, hit, cut, bite, or hurt self)

_______ thought to be a trouble maker, hitting, shoving, pushing, or knocking into other people

_______ frequently shake leg

_______ often engage in repetitive, meaningless, and self-stimulating activities

_______ often touch, twist, or pull on hair

_______ attached to comfort objects or activities some find childish (sucking on thumb, sleeping with a favorite plushie, etc)

_______ need excessive movement (swinging, rocking, bouncing, or rocking self constantly)

_______ always chewing on things (clothes, pencils, hands, fingers, etc.)

_______ prefer foods with very strong tastes and flavors

_______ crack knuckles often

_______ love crunchy foods (popcorn, carrots, chips, nuts, pretzels, etc.)

_______ need to be under heavy blankets or wear tighter pajamas to fall asleep; likely to roll up in blankets

_______ need consistant sound or white noise to stay asleep (fan, nature tape, music, etc.)

_______ need a lot of sensory input to fall asleep (rocking, singing, bouncing, rubbing skin, etc.)

_______ have to smell everything; use smell to determine whether or not to like something or someone

_______ seek out crashing activities, or ways to provide deep pressure to the body

_______ a thrill seeker; loves fast, dangerous sports (skateboarding, snowboarding, dirt biking, football, hockey, etc)

_______ too forceful around animals (not gentle enough)

_______ seek out fast, spinning, and/or upside down carnival rides

Sensory Discrimination

_______ unable to identify objects by touch alone

_______ have a hard time finding things in a desk, pocket, purse, or bag, especially when not looking

_______ difficulty locating items in a cupboard, drawer, in the closet, or on a grocery shelf

_______ difficulty heating water to the correct temperature for baths or showers; may burn self or use water that is very cold

_______ frequently break things (apply too much pressure)

_______ frequently drop things (don't apply enough pressure)

_______ get disoriented and/or lost easily in stores, buildings, etc.

_______ difficulty watching or concentrating on a movie/tv show when there is background noise or distractions

_______ difficulty remembering or understanding what people are saying

_______ difficulty following directions if given two or three at one time

_______ can not complete concentrated tasks if noises present

_______ speak too loud or too soft

_______ difficulty with speech and annunciation; may stutter or have an impediment

_______ frequently bump into things or knock things over

_______ difficulty judging how much pressure to apply when doing tasks or picking something up

_______ often reverse numbers and letters or process them backwards

_______ difficulty telling time on an analogue clock

_______ difficulty distinguishing different tastes and/or flavors of food or drinks

_______ difficulty lining up numbers correctly for math problems

_______ get confused between similar looking letters (such as b, p, d, q, and g)

_______ often hear things wrong, especially if they are similar sounding words (such as "car" and "card" or "cart")

_______ difficulty keeping up in classroom environments

_______ afraid to learn how to drive; is definitely not racing to get behind the wheel!

Sensory-Based Motor Abilities

_______ have been considered a klutz; clumsy, uncoordinated, accident prone, etc.

_______ have difficulty riding a bike or performing well in sports

_______ late to reach a wide variety of physical developmental milestones

_______ difficulty walking or balancing on uneven surfaces

_______ difficulty with fine motor tasks, such as buttoning, zipping, tying, playing games with small parts, etc.

_______ confuse right and left

_______ prefer sedentary tasks, avoiding sports or physical activities

_______ difficulty with handwriting; hard to read, write slowly, get wrist cramps

_______ use just one hand while holding objects; hard to use both sides of the body together

_______ can't keep a good grip on objects; weak grasp

_______ easily fatigued with physical tasks

_______ a messy eater, often spill and drop food; awkward with utensils

_______ often knock things over when reaching for them or something nearby

_______ have difficulty pouring drinks

_______ frequently drop items

_______ often hum or talk to self while concentrating on a task

_______ difficulty with motor tasks requiring several steps

_______ difficulty learning new motor tasks (new games, new movements, etc.)

_______ floppy body, noodle-like

Social and Emotional

_______ dislike changes in routines, needing consistancy

_______ can be described as defiant, stubborn or uncooperative

_______ very emotional and sensitive, crying or getting angry a lot

_______ distressed when transitioning from one activity to another

_______ may have separation anxiety (afraid to be alone or away from parents)

_______ prone to having meltdowns and outbursts

_______ may have excessive reflux, allergies, ear infections or digestion issues

_______ need comfort objects (blanket, stuffed animal, etc.) to remain calm

_______ engage in constant non-purposeful activities (spinning, rocking, staring at certain objects, etc)

_______ not interested in hanging out with peers

_______ wander around aimlessly a lot; often lost in thought

_______ can't seem to finish projects or tasks

_______ difficulty making decisions; often unsure or lack an opinion

_______ seen as rigid, bossy, and controlling

_______ prefer solitary activities over group participation

_______ often impatient and/or impulsive

_______ don't always register or understand social cues and non-verbal language

_______ difficulty with authority figures

_______ trouble relating to and socializing with peers

_______ difficulty accepting defeat or forgiving self

_______ frequently get angery or frustrated

_______ depression

_______ strongly prefer people with certain energy levels or voices (intonation, volume, pitch, etc.)

_______ difficulty establishing eye contact, focusing on objects or tracking them with eyes

_______ frequent panic or anxiety attacks

_______ have many fears and/or phobias

_______ can't let foods touch each other on a plate, have to wear clothes a certain way; have many OCD-like symptoms

_______ easily distractible and often unorganized

_______ easily startled

_______ difficulty seeking out and maintaining relationships

_______ don't have many (or any) friends

_______ have not been on a date, or even considered dating

Internal Regulation

_______ difficulty getting to sleep at night

_______ very unpredictable sleep/wake cycle

_______ respiration too fast or slow for the appropriate state of arousal

_______ sleep a lot; often not alert, responding, working, playing, or interacting

_______ have a very hard time waking up

_______ heart rate issues (unnecessary speeding, not slowing down or speeding up when needed)

_______ over or under sensitive to bowel and bladder sensations

_______ over or under sensitive to the sensations of hunger and thurst

_______ chronic, irregular, and inconsistent bowel and bladder activity

_______ always feel hungry or don't ever want to eat

The above checklist was editted by Dan Travis and reposted from sensory-processing-disorder.com with the original author's permission.