Sensory

A guide to sensory overwhelm in children: why it happens and what helps — written for Australian parents.

Sensory overwhelm: why it happens and what helps
Why some children are easily overwhelmed by everyday sights, sounds, and textures — and practical strategies that actually help.6 min read

What the sensory guide covers

Sensory overwhelm: why it happens and what helps explains sensory processing, what overwhelm looks like in children, and how occupational therapy can help. It also gives strategies to use while you wait for an assessment, such as warnings before a change, a quiet space to calm down, and shorter visits to places your child finds hard.

If your child reacts strongly to noise, clothes, food, lights or movement, the sensory sensitivities page lists the services that help and providers across Australia. You can also find an occupational therapist near you.