How Occupational Therapy Helps Kids with Sensory Processing Challenges

LHAHealing Designs
Oct 14
3 min read

For children with sensory processing challenges, everyday experiences like bright lights or loud sounds can feel overwhelming.

Here’s how occupational therapy helps kids build confidence, calm, and control.

Parent learning occupational therapy techniques for child with sensory issues

How Occupational Therapy Helps Kids with Sensory Processing Challenges

Children with sensory processing challenges often experience the world in a more intense way. What feels like “too loud” or “too bright” to them can make simple tasks — dressing, eating, or focusing feel impossible.

That’s where occupational therapy (OT) comes in.

At Legacy Healthcare Advantage, we work alongside pediatric occupational therapists to help families create home routines that make life easier, calmer, and more enjoyable for their children.

Understanding Sensory Processing Challenges

Sensory processing refers to how the brain interprets and responds to input from the senses — sight, sound, touch, movement, taste, and smell.

When this process is disrupted, a child may be hypersensitive (overreactive) or hyposensitive (underreactive) to certain sensations.

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA, 2023), sensory processing issues affect up to 1 in 20 children, and are especially common among kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD.

(Source: AOTA Pediatric Sensory Integration Guidelines, 2023)

What Occupational Therapy Does

Occupational therapy helps children build the skills they need to engage in daily life.

For sensory challenges, OTs design personalized activities that help regulate responses to touch, sound, or movement.

Common OT goals include:

Improving focus and attention in class
Reducing meltdowns or avoidance behaviors
Enhancing coordination and body awareness
Building independence with dressing, eating, or play

(Source: Journal of Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 2024)

Sensory Integration Techniques in OT

Many therapy sessions use play-based techniques known as sensory integration therapy to help children process sensory input safely.

Examples include:

Occupational therapist helping a child with balance exercises.

Swinging or balancing for vestibular (movement) regulation
Brushing or massage for tactile desensitization
Weighted blankets or vests for deep pressure input
Visual and auditory control using low-light and sound-adaptive tools

(Source: Frontiers in Psychology, Sensory Integration Review, 2023)

These activities strengthen the child’s nervous system, helping them react more calmly and predictably to daily sensations.

How Parents Can Support Sensory Needs at Home

Consistency is key. Occupational therapists often guide parents to continue sensory strategies in daily routines.

Try these simple home-based techniques:

Create a quiet sensory corner for calm-down time.
Encourage messy play (like sand or shaving cream) to build tactile tolerance.
Practice heavy work (carrying soft weights, pushing carts) to improve focus.
Use visual schedules for structure and predictability.