Sensory Processing Disorder
Authored by: The DrSensory Editorial Team
Reviewed by: 🛡️ DrSensory Clinical Review Board
Last updated: June 2026
Key Takeaways
- The goal of SPD treatment is to help individuals better process sensory input and respond in ways that support daily functioning, emotional regulation, learning, and social interactions.
- Occupational therapy using Sensory Integration Therapy is the most widely recommended treatment for SPD, with activities tailored to each person and made play-based for children and task-oriented for adults.
- A sensory diet is a personalized daily plan of sensory activities, usually developed by an occupational therapist and adjusted over time, that provides the right amount and type of sensory input to support self-regulation, focus, and behavior.
- Treatment is personalized based on the type of SPD (modulation, discrimination, or motor-based) as well as the individual's age and lifestyle.
- Beyond occupational therapy, other therapies such as speech, physical, behavioral, feeding, and vision or auditory therapy may complement treatment depending on a person's specific challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best therapy for sensory processing disorder?
Occupational therapy is the most widely recommended treatment for SPD. Through Sensory Integration Therapy, occupational therapists help children and adults gradually improve how they process and respond to sensory input, with activities tailored to challenges like sensitivity to touch, sound, movement, or balance.
What is a sensory diet for a child with SPD?
A sensory diet is a personalized daily plan of sensory activities designed to meet a child's unique sensory needs and help with self-regulation, focus, and behavior. Examples include jumping on a trampoline or wall pushes, using weighted blankets or compression vests, and scheduled movement breaks or oral sensory tools.
Can occupational therapy help my child's SPD meltdowns?
Yes. Benefits of occupational therapy with sensory integration include reduced sensory meltdowns or shutdowns, improved focus and attention, enhanced body awareness and motor coordination, and better tolerance to sensory environments.
Are there other therapies besides OT that help with SPD?
Yes. While occupational therapy is the core of SPD treatment, speech therapy can help if SPD affects communication, physical therapy assists with gross motor or balance issues, behavioral therapy supports emotional regulation and anxiety, feeding therapy addresses sensory-related picky eating, and vision or auditory therapy helps when SPD overlaps with those processing disorders.
What sensory tools can we use at home to help with SPD?
Home-based tools that support regulation include weighted lap pads, noise-canceling headphones, chewelry (chewable jewelry), body socks, fidget tools, and swing chairs. These can be used alongside professional therapies.
