Sensory issues are often misunderstood and not always diagnosed early in childhood. Whether your teen has just received a diagnosis, or it is something that you’ve been aware of for some time, there are several ways that you can help to make his life less of a struggle.

A complete understanding of sensory issues and how they impact your teen can put you in a better position to help your teen find his path forward.

Defining sensory issues

Sensory concerns are often seen in children, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum or in those with ADHD or anxiety. That said, an individual does not need to be on the spectrum, have anxiety or ADHD to struggle with sensory concerns. Conditions such as sensory processing disorder (SPD) impact how the brain processes stimuli or sensory information.

Stimuli typically include what you hear, see, taste, smell, or touch. Those who struggle with sensory issues may be highly sensitive to stimuli that others may not be. You may be able to listen to music while holding conversations with family members without issue, but your teen may struggle with it. It can prove to be overly stimulating for his senses.

Some of the most seen sensory sensitivities could include:

• Loud sounds, or multiple sounds all at once
• Lights that are too bright
• Problem filtering out noises in the background
• Issues with depth perception
• Struggling with an understanding of personal space
• Sensitivity to touch, particularly unexpected touch
• Trouble with multiple stimuli

Remember that sensory issues can look and feel different between individuals. Your teen may be absolutely fine listening to multiple conversations and music at the same time but may struggle with a hand on his arm or with being hugged.

What causes sensory issues?

By and large, the medical community does not yet have a direct answer as to what could be responsible for sensory issues. There is some thought that there could be a genetic connection. There is also a school of thought that there is a strong connection between sensory issues and autism. It’s important to reiterate that the majority of those who have sensory issues do not have autism.

Tips for helping your teen cope

Finding the right type of therapy for your teen with sensory issues is an important part of helping them to better cope and potentially heal. Therapy allows teens to learn how to cope with their challenges better.

Several types of therapy could potentially prove beneficial to your teen. Keep in mind that the type of therapy that works best for your teen’s needs will need to be focused on his type of sensory issues.

Examples of therapy that can help with sensory issues:

• Sensory integration therapy. The therapist will work with your child to experience stimuli in very limited amounts in a controlled space. This lets your teen experience the stimuli without getting too overwhelmed by them. Your teen will then be able to develop healthy coping skills.
• Sensory diet. Often, a sensory diet will be used to supplement other types of therapy for sensory issues. It’s important to note that a sensory diet is not a typical food diet. It is a series of sensory activities that your teen can participate in at home and school. Each of the activities is designed to help your teen organize his day to stay focused and on track. The sensory diet will be customized based on the need of the individual.
• Occupational therapy. This therapy can help teens with fine and gross motor skills, including their handwriting or throwing a ball.

The world outside your controlled home environment can prove difficult for your teen to handle. Getting your teen help can potentially help them get some relief from their sensory issues.

Considering float pods to help teens with sensory issues

Have you heard about float pods and float therapy?

This form of therapy can offer relief for those struggling with a wide range of physical and mental health concerns. There are several benefits to using a float pod, many of which can offer great relief for those who struggle with sensory issues.

Some of the ways that a float pod can potentially help your teen with sensory issues include:

• Float pods are light-proof and sound-proof. This can offer great relief for a teen who gets overwhelmed by sounds and loud noises.
• The water in the float pod allows your teen to experience a weightless environment. He’ll be able to feel relief from the physical tension that he may feel due to his anxiety.
• Float pods often have minerals mixed with salt-saturated water, including magnesium. Magnesium is often used as a muscle relaxant.
• Time spent in a float pod, away from overwhelming senses, has been shown to reduce blood pressure, decrease the heart rate, and overall help the individual feel total body relaxation.
• The temperature inside the pod is kept at a steady level to provide a seamless experience for the individual. Once the pod is closed, the person inside it will genuinely feel like they are floating.
• The complete lack of stimuli to the senses can allow your teen to truly relax and let go of the tension he’s been holding onto.
• If your teen struggles with ADD or ADHD and constantly fidgets, you may think that a therapy session in a float pod won’t work well for him. However, there are some things you can encourage so that he gets more out of the experience. Keep in mind that many of these tips are closely connected to meditation. Once your teen has the foundations of meditation, he should be in a better position to get the most out of his experience with float therapy.
• Encourage him to clear his mind. Instead of focusing on the things that bring him the most anxiety, he should simply be.
• Racing thoughts are often part of what many with sensory issues struggle with. This could be connected to anxiety, ADHD, or something else entirely. Focusing on breathing can help your teen disconnect from his racing thoughts.
• A part of meditation and float pods focuses on whole-body relaxation. If your teen can focus on the lack of stimuli against his skin and the feelings of weightlessness, he may feel the benefits of true relaxation.

Keep in mind that your teen may respond best to a range of therapies versus seeing total success with just one. Working with him to find the best solution for the sensory issues that he is struggling with will help you determine the best treatment direction.