Ask the doctor: What is sensory processing disorder?

Published: April, 2010

Q. My son always seems to be in trouble at school. His elementary school teacher told me she thinks he has sensory processing disorder. What is that?

A. Sensory processing disorder is a term used mainly by occupational therapists to describe children who have trouble integrating different types of sensory information, such as images, sounds, tastes, and smells.

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