Raising a child in India is a journey filled with unique joys, cultural richness, and the strong embrace of family. When that journey includes a child who thinks, learns, or experiences the world differently—a neurodivergent child—it becomes a path of profound discovery. This guide is intended to be a supportive roadmap for Indian families, offering clarity, empathy, and practical guidance. It seeks to move beyond fear and confusion, reframing the conversation around neurodiversity not as a problem to be solved, but as an opportunity to understand, celebrate, and advocate for the unique mind of your child. This is a journey toward not just acceptance, but empowerment, helping you navigate the path ahead with confidence and hope.
What is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)? A Clear Guide for Indian Parents
Understanding Your Child’s Inner World: The Brain’s Traffic Controller
At the heart of how we experience the world are our senses. For most, the brain seamlessly manages the constant flow of information from sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. However, for some children, this process is a daily challenge. Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition where the brain has difficulty receiving and responding appropriately to sensory information.1 In Hindi, the concept of sensory processing can be understood as
संवेदक प्रक्रमण (Samvedak Prakraman), which describes the brain’s fundamental process of organizing sensory signals.
A helpful way to understand SPD is to imagine a traffic controller inside the brain. In a typically developing brain, this controller directs the flow of sensory signals smoothly. In a child with SPD, the traffic controller can get easily overwhelmed, leading to sensory “traffic jams.” This can cause the child to have reactions that seem extreme or confusing to others. It is important to know that SPD is not just a feature of other conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or ADHD; it can also be diagnosed in neurotypical children who show atypical reactions to certain sensory stimuli. Understanding this helps frame the issue not as a flaw, but as a difference in processing.
The Two Sides of the Sensory Coin: Hypersensitivity and Hyposensitivity
SPD manifests in two primary ways: hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) and hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness). A child can experience one, the other, or a mix of both across different senses.
Hypersensitivity (Sensory Avoiding):
Children with hypersensitivity, or sensory over-responsivity, have an exaggerated reaction to sensory input. Everyday sensations can feel intensely uncomfortable or even painful.2 In an Indian home and community, this can look like:
- Aversion to Sounds: A child may have a full-blown meltdown not out of naughtiness, but because the sharp, piercing whistle of a pressure cooker is physically distressing. The loud, clanging bells during a temple aarti, the sudden roar of a motorcycle on the street, or the cacophony of a crowded sabzi mandi (vegetable market) can be overwhelming experiences, described as a “constant cacophony” and “visual explosion” that assaults the senses.
- Picky Eating: This goes beyond simple fussiness. A child might gag on the texture of common vegetables like doodhi (bottle gourd) or bhindi (okra), or refuse to eat rice mixed with dal because the combined textures feel chaotic and unpleasant in their mouth.
- Aversion to Touch: A child might pull away from a grandparent’s loving hug or cry hysterically when their hair is being oiled. This is not a rejection of affection but a reaction to the sensation being too intense.
- Overwhelm in Social Gatherings: Large family functions like weddings, with their bright lights, loud music, strong smells of food and perfume, and crowds of people, can trigger a “fight-or-flight” response, leading to what looks like a tantrum.
Hyposensitivity (Sensory Seeking):
On the other side of the coin, children with hyposensitivity, or sensory under-responsivity, show a reduced or delayed response to stimuli. They often crave intense sensory input to feel regulated. This can manifest as:
- High Pain Threshold: A child might fall while playing cricket in the gully and get up without a tear, which may seem “brave” but is actually a sign that their brain isn’t registering pain signals typically.
- Constant Movement: These children often appear hyperactive. They might crash into sofas, walls, or people, not to be destructive, but to get the deep pressure input their body needs.
- Need for Oral or Physical Input: They may constantly seek tight hugs, enjoy being squeezed, or chew on their shirt collars, pencils, or other non-food items. This is their way of giving their nervous system the input it craves.
Beyond “Ziddi” and “Badtameez”: Reframing Challenging Behaviors as Communication
In the Indian cultural context, it is common for a child’s misunderstood sensory-driven behaviors to be labeled as being “ziddi” (stubborn) or “badtameez” (ill-mannered). A child who screams in a crowded mall or refuses to wear a particular festival outfit is often seen as defiant. However, it is crucial for parents and families to understand that these behaviors are not willful acts of misconduct; they are the child’s desperate attempts to communicate profound distress.6 A tantrum is often a neurological response to being completely overwhelmed, not a behavioral choice.
This misunderstanding can create a painful cycle for both the parent and the child. When a child has a sensory meltdown at a family gathering, relatives or onlookers may pass judgment, triggering the parent’s deep-seated fear of “log kya kahenge?” (what will people say?). This social pressure can lead to feelings of shame and frustration in the parent, who may then resort to scolding or punishing the child. This punishment, in turn, increases the child’s stress and sensory dysregulation, worsening the very behavior the parent is trying to stop. This negative feedback loop can lead to isolation, conflict, and burnout for the entire family.
Breaking this cycle requires a fundamental shift in perspective. Parents can become their child’s advocate by learning to translate their behavior for others. For instance, instead of apologizing for “bad behavior,” a parent can explain, “It’s not that he is being rude to his aunt; the strong smell of her perfume is making him feel sick and dizzy. Could we please sit in a quieter room for a few minutes?” This simple act re-frames the situation from one of discipline to one of accommodation and empathy, protecting the child and educating the family.
Parent’s Toolkit: Finding Support and Creating a Calm Haven
The journey with SPD is not one that parents have to walk alone. The primary professional who can help is an Occupational Therapist (OT) trained in Sensory Integration Therapy. The goal of this therapy is not to “cure” the child but to help their brain adapt and learn to process sensory information more effectively. OTs use fun, play-based activities to provide the child with the sensory experiences they need in a structured way.
An OT will often work with the family to create a “sensory diet,” a personalized plan of activities designed to meet a child’s unique sensory needs throughout the day.2 This might include activities like jumping on a trampoline, swinging, playing with textured materials like dough or sand, or having quiet time with weighted blankets.
