Information and Sensory Processing and Their Impacts on Communication

Written by Karen James-Margarint, MA, C-SLPA

Just like computers process information in different ways and at different speeds, so do our brains. There are many different types of processing functions that our brains perform. Below I discuss two of the most common types of processing and their  potential issues that can have an impact on a child’s speech and language development. 

Information processing is how individuals perceive, analyze, manipulate, use, and remember information. The way a child receives, processes and interprets information affects the way s/he develops, learns and behaves.

Information processing can impact how a child communicates. For example, some children may process information more slowly and will therefore respond more slowly to language input. Another example might be when a child has consistent difficulty recalling information such as directions, lists, or what was just said to them.

Child wearing headphones. Photo by Ben Mullins.

Sensory Processing impacts how a child interacts with their environment. Children with sensory processing issues have difficulty processing information from the senses and responding appropriately to that information. Often, children with these issues have one or more senses that either over-or-under react to stimulation.

Signs that a child might have sensory processing challenges:

Over-sensitivity:

• Expressing that they think certain sensations are “too much”: clothing feels too scratchy, lights seem too bright, sounds are too loud, soft touches are too hard, and/or some food textures are too weird or even intolerable, which could lead to feeding issues

• Clumsiness and poor balance

• Behavior problems

• Unexpected or challenging reactions to the triggers mentioned above

Under-sensitivity (aka “sensory-seeking”):

Girl biting her pendant. Photo by Bailey Torres.

• Has a very hard time sitting still

• Can spin without feeling dizzy

• Does not pick up on social cues, like other kids expressing discomfort about their actions

• Does not recognize others’ needs for personal space

• Chews on inedible objects (i.e., hands, clothing)

• Problems with sleeping

• Does not notice when their nose is running or their face is dirty

• Seeks a lot of visual stimulation, i.e., electronics*

Sensory and information processing can impact how a child communicates in a myriad of ways. While kids with processing challenges may benefit from more than one kind of clinical support, a speech therapist can help with skills related to oral and written communication.

A child with sensory and information processing issues may:

• Be easily distracted and have difficulty focusing on a speaker

• Have difficulty locating source of sound

• Have difficulty with reading 

• Have poor articulation 

• Have weak vocabulary and immature sentence structure 

• Have difficulty following multi-step directions 

• Have trouble responding appropriately to questions or comments

• Respond more slowly to language input

• Have difficulty putting thoughts into spoken or written words.

• Act impulsively due to not processing information before responding

• Have difficulty recalling information such as directions, lists, or what was just said.

Strategies for helping your child at home:

Family sharing a meal. Photo by National Cancer Institute.

• A good strategy for parents to help their kiddos with slower processing is to be patient and give your child plenty of time to respond or react to something they have said, or have asked them to do, rather than continuing to repeat themselves. 

• Keep requests and questions simple and to-the-point.

• Break down instructions into small, clear parts.

• Speak slowly and clearly using as few words as possible, while making sure that sentences are grammatically complete.

• Use pictures to help your child understand and remember things.

• Try to reduce distractions in your home. For example, turn off the television when talking with your child.

Would you like to learn more about an SLP’s role on a child’s support team? Reach out to us!

*Source: https://familydoctor.org/condition/sensory-processing-disorder-spd/