The Sense: Touch
(Tactile Processing)
What is the Tactile System?
The Tactile system is our sense of touch. We all receive information regarding the world around us through our tactile system with information from receptors in our skin . This system has two functions- discriminative and protective. Discrimination allows us to determine where and what is touching us. Protection tells us if we are in danger. Both functions are important, and both systems must be in balance and interpret input properly in order for the tactile system to function effectively.
What would I see if my child has difficulty processing tactile information?
Under Reactive Tactile System: Decreased sensitivity/awareness to touch.
This child may:
o Have decreased sensitivity to pain
o Have poor body awareness when vision is occluded
o Not realize they dropped an item they were carrying
o Not be able to discriminate objects by feeling them
o Know that he was touched but not be aware of where
o Be slow to respond
o Not notice others
o Use poor judgment in regard to personal space
o Drool or leave food to remain on face
o Leave clothing twisted on body
o Seek out tactile experiences often in combination with inappropriate behaviors
o Be a messy eater
o Be unaware of messy hands and/or face
o display an unusual need to touch people or objects
Over Reactive Tactile System: tactile defensive or overly sensitive to tactile information
This child may:
o React emotionally/aggressive/cry) to light touch sensation
o Be excessively ticklish
o Have difficulty sitting next to or standing in line next to other children
o Walk on tiptoes to minimize contact with ground
o Overreact to painful experiences
o Avoid messy textures during play and craft activities (i.e. painting, gluing, etc.)
o Not like having skin exposed (often wears hood over head, long sleeves in summer, etc.
o Be a picky eater, refusing certain food textures
o Withdraw from splashing water, resists getting face wet
o Not like self care activities (i.e. brushing teeth, combing hair, washing face, etc.)
o Stand still or “move against traffic” in group activities and keep visual tabs on
others
o Prefer certain types of clothing fabrics, or long sleeves regardless of weather
o Avoid going barefoot or avoids wearing shoes
What can I do to help support my child at home?
q Allow the child to participate in messy play, such as finger painting, foam soap, and introduce textures to your child: cloths of different textures, finding toys hidden in sand/rice/bean buckets, and gluing items onto projects (feathers, sand, macaroni, etc.)
q Light touch is alerting and can be irritating to a sensitive child. Firm touch is usually preferred, such as wiping firmly with a washcloth to clean face.
q Vibration and deep pressure activities may also help address tactile processing problems.
q Allow children to have a fidget toy to manipulate if nervous or seeking this type of movement, such as a small koosh ball, rubber band, or squeeze ball.
q When a child is not noticing that he still has food on his face, you can use a mirror to help him see or firm touch at the spot to give more sensory awareness.
q Change temperature in room to change alertness: colder is more alerting, warmer is calming.
q It’s beneficial to do deep pressure/proprioceptive activities before and/or after tactile play as it is very relaxing and calming. Children with tactile defensiveness often seek out this type of behavior and/or frequently request “more” when they receive it.
∙Bear hugs
∙Pressure Vests
∙Shoulder presses/squeezes
∙Hot Dog Roll (can use therapy ball, sleeping bag, mats, and heavy blankets)
∙Clapping/rubbing hands together or down on surface or high fives
∙Brushing Protocol
∙Vibrating Pen
∙Ball pit
∙Bubble wrap to squeeze or walk on
GENERAL RULE:
o Firm or sustained touch tends to be soothing, and light and/or brisk touch tends to be alerting (tickling, tapping, lightly rubbing, etc.)