'Hyposensitivity' Can Look a Lot Like Misbehavior

When my son was two years old, he slipped and hit his lip on the bathtub. I initially thought he was fine, as he didn’t cry very much, and there wasn’t a lot of blood. However, in the next few days, as his lip started swelling up and he developed two black eyes, I realized he was hurt much more seriously than I initially thought. As it turned out, this high pain tolerance, combined with his hyperactivity, were some of the early signs that my son is hyposensitive.  

“The way we process sensory information is really foundational to how we understand the world,” says Stephanie Okada, an occupational therapist with Total Spectrum Counseling, who specializes in treating people with sensory differences. For people who are hyposensitive, “their sensory system is not registering that information in the same way that most people are.” Instead, it will often take a higher level of sensory input, to register in a similar way to someone who isn’t hyposensitive. Hyposensitivity falls under the umbrella of sensory processing disorder—when someone does not interpret sensory stimuli in the way that a neurotypical person does.     

A hyposensitive kid is “that tornado kid, who moves around like a bulldozer,” Okada says, the kid who is always running, jumping or crashing into things, always putting things into their mouths, or who is always clinging or squeezing. All of these behaviors represent a hyposensitive child’s attempts to get the sensory input that they need, which happens to be much higher than what their peers need.  

Having a hyposensitive child can be a lot of fun, as their creativity is often only outmatched by their enthusiasm. It can also be challenging, as satisfying their needs, while also keeping them in one piece, can be incredibly tough.  

Seek out support 

In addition to the five senses that most people are aware of, which include touch, taste, sound, vision and hearing, there are three additional senses. These include proprioception, which is the body’s awareness of where it is in space; interoception, which is the body’s awareness of its internal state, such as hunger or sleepiness; and vestibular, which is our body’s awareness of movement.  

The confusing part about having sensory differences is that hyposensitivity and hypersensitivity can often go hand in hand, in a way that is different for each person. “You can be hyposensitive or hypersensitive in any of those areas, in any combination,” Okada says. These sensitivities can also wax and wane over time.  

If your child is showing signs of hyposensitivity, it’s important to seek out the expertise of an occupational therapist who is familiar with treating children with sensory differences. Depending on their needs, they may also benefit from either physical therapy or speech therapy. Hyposensitivity is often comorbid with other conditions, such as autism or ADHD.  

Change your perspective 

Hyposensitivity can lead to a lot of behaviors that, if a parent doesn’t know what the underlying reason, can look like misbehavior. However, in the context of understanding these differences, this can help parents understand that the behavior isn’t intentional, and in fact, represents a child’s attempts to get what they need. “Your child isn't necessarily misbehaving or doing XYZ on purpose, they're doing the best they can with the skills they have available to them at the moment,” Okada says.  

“Understanding differences can be stigma-busting,” says Andrew Kahn, a psychologist with the nonprofit organization Understood, which supports people with learning differences. “If we have awareness in advance, it becomes a lot harder to become angry or overly punitive towards a child who really isn’t doing something intentional.” As Kahn notes, in the absence of this understanding, “they’re going to become angry and more aggressive if they get negative messaging without empathy, and it’s going to be part of a negative cycle for them.”  

Create rituals 

Keeping a hyposensitive kid safe often requires working with them to make sure they aren’t rushing headlong into dangerous situations. One way of doing this is by establishing a set of rituals and rules. “Parents who have hyposensitive kids need to create some rituals for themselves, on a day-to-day” basis, Kahn says. This can include regular check-ins, which includes scanning their bodies for any bruises, cuts or bumps that may have gone unnoticed. 

This can also include creating routines to keep them safe, such as practicing walking, rather than running, into a new space, or practicing giving an apology after bumping into people, as what feels like a small bump to them may feel like getting hit by a truck to the other person. It can also help to establish safety rules, such as making sure they are wearing protective equipment when playing sports.  

Encourage sensory play 

Hyposensitive kids need more stimulation than their peers. Helping them get what their bodies need often means encouraging sensory play, whether it’s taking them to a playground, so they climb, jump or crash into as many things as they need; letting them play with finger paints, clay or sand, to get tactile input; or letting them play with water. By giving them this sensory input, you’re letting them self-regulate, which will help them be calmer and more focused in other settings.   

Lean into their strengths 

Hyposensitivity can also come with a lot of strengths, whether it’s their boundless energy, nonstop curiosity, or their gross motor skills, which often develop as a result of all their jumping, crashing and running. Finding ways of encouraging these strengths can go a long way toward keeping them happy and healthy. This could include finding them a sport that they love, helping them explore their interests, or finding activities that they are good at, and that they enjoy.