Hyposensitivity, also known as under-responsiveness, is a type of sensory processing disorder that can affect children with autism.

Hyposensitivity in a child is in contrast to hypersensitivity.

It occurs when the brain has difficulty processing and responding to sensory information. Children with hyposensitivity may have trouble detecting or discriminating between different stimuli, or they may be less affected by sensory information than typically developing children.

Children with hyposensitivity may have difficulty with touch, movement, and body awareness. They may have a high pain tolerance and may be less likely to flinch or withdraw from a touch or a prick.

They may also have a low awareness of their body in space which can result in clumsiness or poor coordination, they may also have trouble with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning clothes.

Additionally, children with hyposensitivity may have difficulty with proprioception, the sense of how their body is moving.

These children may need more movement and physical activity to feel alert and engaged, they may also have difficulty sitting still, and they may be more active or fidgety than other children.

Children with hyposensitivity may also have difficulty with auditory processing, they may have trouble paying attention to speech, or may be easily distracted by background noise. These children may also be more sensitive to certain sounds, or may not be bothered by loud sounds at all.

Possible impact

Hyposensitivity can have an impact on children’s daily life, it can lead to difficulties with learning, social interactions and self-regulation, children with hyposensitivity may have trouble understanding their own emotions, and may have difficulty following instructions or participating in group activities.

It is important for parents and caregivers to work with occupational therapists, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals to identify children’s specific needs.

They can create an individualised treatment plan that can help improve the child’s ability to process sensory information, improve their self-regulation, and to better access the environment and the people around them.

Summing up

In conclusion, hyposensitivity, or under-responsiveness, is a type of sensory processing disorder that can affect children with autism.

Children with hyposensitivity may have difficulty processing and responding to sensory information, which can impact their daily life, including their learning, social interactions, and self-regulation.

It is important to work with healthcare professionals to create an individualised treatment plan that can help improve children’s ability to process sensory information and to better access the environment and the people around them.

For more help with an autistic child you can review our archive or visit the UK’s National Autistic Society’s website.