Meet 16-year-old Rose.

This is Rose, a 16-year-old young person with sensory processing differences. Due to her challenges with processing sensory information, she has difficulty making friends and her behaviour is often misunderstood by her family members, teachers and other individuals she comes into contact with. To see how challenges with sensory processing and integration can affect teenagers in everyday life, take a look at a typical day in Rose’s life.

6.00 am

The alarm clock goes off, and it’s time for Rose to get out of bed. However, she is exhausted again and does not feel like waking up. She had a difficult time falling asleep again and found her pillow too uncomfortable and lumpy. An ambulance also drove past in the early morning hours and disturbed her sleep after she finally got comfortable.

Sensory Processing Challenge: Over responsivity to tactile and auditory sensory input

icon of an alarm clock against a yellow background

7.00 am

Rose is in the kitchen getting her breakfast and also sorting out her packed lunch for school. She isn’t hungry yet, so she doesn’t feel like doing this right now, but her mother is insisting that it is important that she eats something healthy before school.

Sensory Processing Challenge: Altered Interoception - inability to recognise hunger

icon of a juice cartone against an orange background

8.00 am

Rose is ready for school but not feeling very comfortable. Her jumper is scratching her but unfortunately she misplaced her favourite hoodie at school. As she has already lost three school hoodies this year, her parents have said that she has to make do with the usual school jumper until the end of the school year. To make matters worse, her period has started and Rose finds the feeling of sanitary pads very uncomfortable. She has heard from friends that period pants might be more comfortable but hasn't tried them yet as they are very expensive.

Sensory Processing Challenge: Sensitivity to textures, poor organisational skills

icon of a hoodie against a blue background

9.15 am

Rose just arrived at school. She is half an hour late and is feeling very stressed. She got on the wrong bus by accident and then had to get off and change buses. After misreading the map, she went in the wrong direction and then had to get off and ask for help again. Her teacher was supportive but Rose's day got off to a bad start as she missed important instructions at the start of the school day.

Sensory Processing Challenge: Difficulties with spatial awareness and directions

icon of a bus against a yellow background

1.00 pm

It is lunchtime and Rose's friends have gathered in the school cafeteria. It is always packed and Rose finds lunchtime stressful due to the noise and busy environment. She has such a difficult time keeping herself calm that sometimes she goes to the school library instead for a quiet space. This means that she is often on her own and doesn't have many friends as they all prefer to hang out together in the cafeteria.

Sensory Processing Challenge: Sensitivity to noise

icon of a packed lunch against a red background

5.00 pm

The school day has finally ended and Rose is attending a yoga class for the first time today. Her school counsellor recommended that she attend this class to help her with her anxiety. Rose hopes that she gets a spot near the front of the class or in front of a mirror to help her copy the moves correctly.

Sensory Processing Challenge: Difficulties with praxis (motor planning), emotional regulation

icon of yoga pose against a pink background

7.00 pm

Rose is finally home and is hoping that her mother stocked up on her favourite shower gel and body lotion. She prefers unscented bath products and is also particular about the containers these come in. She still has to finish some school work too, as she did not manage to complete everything she needed to do at school. Rose is also hoping that she will have a better night's sleep tonight.

Sensory Processing Challenge: Sensitivity to smells and textures

icon of shower gel bottle against a green background

Rose's sensory processing challenges may include:

  • Being under or over-sensitive to sounds, textures, flavours, smells or other sensory input

  • Having difficulty carrying out new activities

  • Having difficulty with bumping into things and knowing where your body is in space

  • Seeking or avoiding certain types of movement

  • Having difficulty with emotional regulation

  • Having difficulty making sense of internal signals from your body like hunger or thirst

In Summary

The teenage years are already stressful for young people with many changes and transitions. For young people with sensory processing and integration differences, this time can feel extra challenging as they are trying to make sense of and deal with physiological changes and extra responsibilities. In addition, being a teenager with sensory processing and integration differences can be isolating to many young people who don’t feel comfortable with the type of activities their peers enjoy.

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