What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

Sensory Processing Disorder or SPD is a neurological disorder causing difficulties with processing information from the five senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste), the sense of movement (vestibular system)and/or the positional sense (proprioception). For those with SPD, sensory information is sensed, but perceived abnormally.

SPD is its own diagnosis, but it can be linked to other neurological conditions, including autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, Developmental Dyspraxia, Tourette syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and speech delays, among many others. The meaning of SPD is not included in the DSM-IV, but the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation is trying to change that (See the bottom page of our "Glossary of Terms" Tab for more detail) There is no known cure; however, there are many treatments available. 

A YouTube Video explaining SPD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O6Cm0WxEZA

A Flyer from the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation explaining SPD:

http://www.spdfoundation.net/flyer_docs/Do_you_know_me.pdf

YouTube Video w/ Dr. Lucy Jane Miller explaining SPD: