Patients & visitors

Beyond Sensory

There can be many causes for dysregulation in children and young people, such as emotional dysregulation, lack of sleep, having an unmet need, needing time to build rapport & trust or lack of structure and routine.

Self-regulation is extremely important for children and young people but sometimes the dysregulation may be more than just sensory and is often a combination of many things.

Regulation Modulation

Things that are not sensory dysregulation:

Crying if told no
Pushing/hitting/biting when a toy is taken from them
Throwing toys or items when being asked to tidy up
Having a meltdown if they lose a game
Not wanting to leave a preferred activity

It is important to remember that children under the age of 5 are not yet equipped to handle intense emotions. Developing self-regulation, like many other elements of development, is not something children do by themselves. It is a process which grows from co-regulation, where adults and children work together. Every child is different and develop skills in their own time. Some children and young people will need ongoing help to self-regulate. For more information about the development of self regulation click here.

Sensory and emotional regulation are closely intertwined and sensory strategies can be helpful in managing emotions.

Emotional regulation is the ability to manage and respond to emotions in a healthy and adaptive way. This includes recognising, understanding, and managing emotions, as well as responding to them appropriately in different situations.

Whilst we as a service can support children, young people and their families with sensory dysregulation, emotional regulation is not within our scope of practice.

There are many good resources that can support you with understanding your child’s emotional regulation, including how to develop and manage this;