How Sensory Processing Disorder Affects Communication

Boy blowing bubblesPerhaps you’ve heard of sensory processing disorder.

Maybe your child is affected by it.

It’s possible your speech therapist referred you to see an occupational therapist for sensory integration therapy.

Or maybe this is all brand new to you!

Every day, we are flooded by different types of sensory input…

  • light pouring in an open window
  • the sound of busy traffic outside
  • smelling freshly baked bread
  • wet raindrops falling on our skin

However, if your brain processes this sensory information typically, you may not realize how chaotic our daily environment can be.

If a child experiences sensory processing disorder (SPD), their brain interprets sensory input differently than children who are typically developing. SPD may present as hypersensitivity (a heightened, increased sensitivity to sensory input) and/or hyposensitivity (a decreased sensitivity to sensory input).

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Bilingual Language Development

Bilingual Language Development in ChildrenGroup of young children from different countries

Hearing your child say their first words… perhaps ‘dada’ or ‘mama’…is one of the most exciting moments in early childhood. This experience, which happens in all cultures and languages around the world, changes the way children interact with the environment around them. Developing expressive and receptive communication skills is an important process, and every child has their own way of communicating and processing information. This is particularly true in bilingual children. As our society is becoming more multicultural, it is common for young children to be bilingual. This makes it even more important for speech-language pathologists to understand the unique nature of bilingual language development in children. The brains of bilingual children develop differently than their monolingual peers. In many cases, bilingualism can positively affect development in more ways than just language.

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