Some children who appear to have great difficulty focusing and attending to tasks are actually struggling with sensory integration. Their sensory system sends errant signals—for example, their nerve endings shout “Pain!” when the tag on their shirt touches their skin. Or they cover their ears when they hear unexpected sounds because their sensory system tells them that the noises are too loud.
These children are bombarded and overwhelmed by their inner environments, which can make learning much harder for them. If your child exhibits a number of symptoms in the checklist below, then check out the resources at the end of the post for creative ways to help your child succeed at (and enjoy) learning!