Understanding Sensory Dysregulation
Early pioneers in the field of sensory processing and integration typically viewed these experiences through the lens of specific deficits or diagnostic profiles. However, my goal is to strip away the clinical jargon. Instead of relying on a rigid diagnostic framework, I prefer a “bottom-up” approach—one that looks fundamentally at how our minds and bodies interact with and perceive our environments.
We frequently talk about emotional and sensory regulation when discussing early childhood, a stage where children rely heavily on co-regulation with a caregiver. Co-regulation is a foundational developmental process where two nervous systems essentially tune into one another, laying the groundwork for a child’s emotional, cognitive, and behavioral growth. As we mature into adolescence and adulthood, this responsibility shifts from external co-regulation to internal self-regulation—a concept beautifully detailed by Dr. Stuart Shanker in his book Self-Reg.
“To me, the core issue isn’t necessarily which specific sense is being overstimulated—whether it is auditory, visual, tactile, or olfactory. The real issue is the fundamental state of being out-of-sync. While I recognize established categories like sensory-seeking or sensory-avoiding behaviors, the sheer level of discomfort involved warrants focusing specifically on sensory dysregulation.” – Shaylynn Hayes-Raymond
If regulation means successfully syncing our biological, emotional, and mental needs, then “dysregulation” perfectly captures what happens when that alignment fails. It is within this framework of sensory dysregulation that I place experiences like misophonia, misokinesia, and general sensory overwhelm. When this occurs, the brain and body fail to seamlessly process incoming information, triggering an immediate state of distress and activating a fight-flight-freeze survival response.
To me, the core issue isn’t necessarily which specific sense is being overstimulated—whether it is auditory, visual, tactile, or olfactory. The real issue is the fundamental state of being out-of-sync. While I recognize established categories like sensory-seeking or sensory-avoiding behaviors, the sheer level of discomfort involved warrants focusing specifically on sensory dysregulation.
I readily acknowledge that this terminology isn’t flawless. However, it serves as a deliberate bridge connecting development, cognition, and a bottom-up view of the mind-body connection. In this context, sensory dysregulation simply describes any sensory system that is either overloaded by the environment or operating atypically. I intentionally steer clear of diagnostic labels like Sensory Over-Responsivity to avoid the clinical baggage of Sensory Processing Disorder. My priority is the lived, everyday reality of sensory experiences, rather than fitting those experiences into a diagnostic box.
