About 5 to 16% of the general population have sensory differences that impact daily functioning.

Difficulties in sensory processing can profoundly impact quality of life.

As clinicians, we need to recognize and address these issues so that we can improve

relationships and adaptive abilities

of individuals from an early age all the way through adulthood. In this podcast, Mara and I will

discuss how providers can identify sensory challenges to address these barriers and provide

effective care in children and adolescents.

Dr. Virginia Spielman and Sarah Shown join us today to help us unpack this topic.

Dr. Spielman is the executive director of the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing,

and Dr. Shown is the director of research at the Star Institute as well.

Welcome to the Carlatte Psychiatry podcast. This is a special episode from the child

psychiatry team. I'm Dr. Josh Fader, the editor-in-chief of the Carlatte Child

Psychiatry Report, co-author of the Child Medication Fact Book for Psychiatric Practice,

second edition just coming out, and of course the other book prescribing psychotropics.

And I'm Mara Government, a licensed clinical social worker in Southern California with a

private practice. Before we begin, let's briefly discuss the concept of sensory processing

disorder and its subtypes. The concept of sensory processing disorder, or SPD SPD refers to the impact of problems related

to how the brain processes sensory information or stimuli.

Take a moment and think about how sensory processing relates to health and well-being and

how your experience of the sensory world can interfere with everyday life.

Sensory over-responsivity is the subtype of SPD that most mental health professionals recognize

and has the most face validity. These patients are distressed by sensory experiences

...