SPD Signs

Oversensitive to Sensation.

  • Touchy about light touch, textures, clothing, ordinary affection.
  • Picky about food.
  • Bothered easily by noise, odors, bright light
  • Fearful from movement experiences, like elevators, escalators, roller coasters, going fast, or spinning
  • Avoid eye contact

Undersensitive to Sensation.

  • Slow to get moving; tire easily
  • Seem oblivious to environment
  • Seek intense sensation, like loud noise, spicy food, strong perfumes
  • Crave roller coasters and fast movemen
  • May not notice if cut or bruised
  • Hard to get up in morning
  • Thrill seeker, ignoring potential danger
  • Seek stimulants -- caffeine, tobacco, cocaine
  • Hyperactive & fidgety

Coordination Problems.

  • Clumsy, awkward, or accident-prone
  • Poor balance
  • Rigid & tense posture or floppy & slouching
  • Jerky movements
  • Poor fine motor coordination?? sloppy handwriting

Underachiever.

  • Fail to work up to capacity
  • Learning problems but normal intelligence

Poor Attention.

  • Distracted
  • Driven
  • Perseverate on small detail
  • Unaware, spaced out
  • Hyperalert, not processing
  • Turned inward

Poorly Organized Behavior.

  • Disorganized, distracted, spacey
  • Problem following directions or adapting to new situation
  • Frustrated, aggressive or withdrawn when encountering failure
  • Compulsive, obsessed
  • Impulsive
  • Rigid, controlling, short-tempered

Poor Self-Concept.

  • Feel weird, crazy, different & inept
  • Feel you disappoint, anger & frustrate
  • Feel lazy, bored, unmotivated, depressed

Emotional Instability.

  • Unable to unwind & self-calm
  • Emotionally labile
  • Emotionally flat
  • Withdrawn, shy
  • Explosive
  • Inappropriately loud, silly, attention getting

Coordination Problems.

  • Clumsy, awkward, or accident-prone
  • Poor balance
  • Rigid & tense posture or floppy & slouching
  • Jerky movements
  • Poor fine motor coordination and sloppy handwriting