Touch or Tactile Sensory Warning Signs

What can I do?; Sensory Warning Signs;Milestones Birth to 24 months; Milestones 2 to 5 years

Oversensitive -- Undersensitive -- Poor Perception and/or Discrimination

Touch
Overreactive   Avoider
As an infant, did/does not like to be held or cuddled; may arch back, cry, and pull away.   Avoids selected textures in clothing selection.
Distressed when diaper is being, or needs to be, changed .   Avoids touching certain textures of material (blankets, rugs, stuffed animals) .
Bothered by clothes: certain materials, tags, seams, pantyhose, ties, belts, turtlenecks.   May want to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants year round to avoid having skin exposed .
Bothered by rough bed sheets (i.e., if old and "bumpy") .   Refuses to wear new or stiff clothes, clothes with rough textures, turtlenecks, jeans, hats, or belts, etc. .
Distressed by clothes rubbing on skin; may want to wear shorts and short sleeves year round, toddlers May prefer to be naked and pull diapers and clothes off constantly .   Avoids crowds and hides, disappears, or acts out when guests come over.
Prefers to wear clothes that totally cover the body or no clothing at all.   Avoids group situations for fear of the unexpected touch .
Pulls at hats and accessories.   Avoid touching anything messy.
Appears fearful of, or avoids standing in close proximity to other people, especially in lines.   Avoids art activities like painting or playdoh.
Overly exited/aroused when people come to the house or when in crowded places.   Avoids messy activities (mud, sand).
Bothered by hands or face being dirty.   Avoids/dislikes/aversive to "messy play", i.e., sand, mud, water, glue, glitter, playdoh, slime, shaving cream/funny foam etc. .
Complains about tape or glue on skin.   Avoids/refuses stickers/fake tattoos.
Dislikes being dirty.   Dislikes kisses, will "wipe off" place where kissed .
Distressed about having hair, toenails, or fingernails cut .   May avoid putting hands in sand, finger paint, glue and other “messy” activities.
Hate the feeling of being dirty or sticky, may wash hands or body excessively   Pushes washcloth/towel away.
Responds with alarm when face/body is washed.   Washes hands constantly and/or only touches things through fabric or with fingertips.
Rigid rituals in personal hygiene.   Avoids walking barefoot/crawling on surfaces such as sand, rugs, or grass.
Hates to be barefoot or hates to wear shoes and/or socks.   May walk on toes only.
Sand at the beach is irritating.   Walks on toes.
Difficulty eating foods with mixed textures, or one particular texture.   Won’t wear shoes (or prefers only one shoe type).
Difficulty trying new foods, and changing from set meal plans   Is a picky eater, only eating certain tastes and textures; mixed textures tend to be avoided as well as hot or cold foods; resists trying new foods .
Picky eater, distressed by certain tastes and textures of food, and may hate mixing foods and textures   Avoids haircuts, hair washing.
Inability to tolerate temperature extremes in foods   Resists brushing teeth and is extremely fearful of the dentist .
Overactive gag reflex   Avoids touch (not a ‘huggy’ or ‘cuddly’ kid)
Complains about having hair brushed; may be very picky about using a particular brush.   Avoids using hands for play .
Cries when hair is washed and dried.   Defensive about others touching body.
Difficulty with getting hair cuts   Reacts emotionally or aggressively to touch.
Difficulty brushing teeth (toothpaste may burn)   Resists friendly or affectionate touch from anyone besides parents or siblings (and sometimes them too!) .
Extremely negative about dental work.   Frequently rub skin firmly after it is exposed to light touch
Difficulty handling changes or extremes in outside temperature  
A raindrop, water from the shower, or wind blowing on the skin may feel like torture and produce adverse and avoidance reactions .  
Difficulty washing face or body, being splashed, or adjusting to cold or hot water temperatures  
Becomes fearful, anxious or aggressive with light or unexpected touch, when touched from behind or by someone/something they can not see (such as under a blanket).  
Dislikes physical touching, especially light touch or gentle caress.  
Distressed by others touching, especially light touch or gentle caress. Would rather be the "toucher" than the "touchee". May not like being hugged.  
If touch perceived as a threat they may act with physical or verbal aggression.  
May have poor social relationships.  
Prefers hugs to light touch.  
React extremely or even violently when being touched.  
May overreact to minor cuts, scrapes, and or bug bites .  
Very sensitive to pain.  

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Touch
Underreactive   Seeking
Leaves clothing twisted on body.   Frequently hurts other children or pets while playing .
Doesn't interact with others. Is hard to engage, an observer and not a 'do'er.   Thoroughly enjoys and seeks out messy play .
Doesn't notice others.   Mouths objects excessively.
Uses poor judgment regarding personal space.   Constantly chews on things, bites nails or fingers, sucks thumb, and/or grits teeth.
Allows food and drool to remain on face.   Has a preference and craving for excessively spicy, sweet, sour, or salty foods.
Doesn't seem to notice if hands or face are dirty.   Loves crunchy foods (popcorn, carrots, chips, nuts, pretzels, etc.).
May not be aware that hands or face are dirty or feel his/her nose running .   Cracks knuckles often.
Difficulty manipulating tools and toys.   Craves touch, may touch constantly or indiscriminately.
Doesn't seem to notice when someone brushes or touches arm or back.   Craves vibrating or strong sensory input .
Is not aware of being touched/bumped unless done with extreme force or intensity .   Feel the need to touch everything or everyone, craving certain textures.
Lethargic, hard to get going, appears "lazy" and unmotivated.   Frequently shakes leg.
Mouths objects frequently. Chews on pencils.   Has to fidget and "fiddle" with things all the time; pens, pencils, rubber band, anything within reach.
Slow to respond.   Loves to touch and be touched, has to touch everything.
Does not react to painful experiences.   May become even physically violent in search of touch.
Doesn't seem to notice pain. Will get shots/cuts/bruises and hardly feel a thing.   May crave touch, needs to touch everything and everyone .
  Often touches and twists own hair or other's hair.
  Often try to balance out touch sensations on either side of the body, like touching something with your left hand and then needing to touch it with your right hand.
  Repeatedly touches surfaces or objects that are soothing (i.e., blanket) .
  Seeks out crashing and "squishing" activities; may jump on furniture or run into other people.
  Seeks out surfaces and textures that provide strong tactile feedback .
  Great difficulty settling down for sleep.
  Loves to sleep under multiple sheets or heavy blankets.
  Bites lips or insides of cheeks.
  May be self-abusive; pinching, biting, or banging his own head .

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Touch
Poor Perception and/or Discrimination
Has difficulty with fine motor tasks such as buttoning, zipping, and fastening clothes.
May not be able to identify which part of their body was touched if they were not looking.
May be afraid of the dark.
May be a messy dresser; looks disheveled, does not notice pants are twisted, shirt is half un tucked, shoes are untied, one pant leg is up and one is down, etc..
Has difficulty using scissors, crayons, or silverware.
Continues to mouth objects to explore them even after age two.
Has difficulty figuring out physical characteristics of objects; shape, size, texture, temperature, weight, etc..
May not be able to identify objects by feel, uses vision to help; such as, reaching into backpack or desk to retrieve an item.

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