Sensory Processing and the Teenage Years

ByHeather Greutman Hours

Affiliate and Referral links are used below to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission on any purchases made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I want to welcome Sara, an Occupational Therapist to the blog today to share about sensory processing and the teenage years.

Children with sensory processing disorder continue to grow up and age into teenagers and adults. Do you wonder what happens to kids with sensory processing challenges as they age into teenagers? As we know, all children are different and unique, but some of these children may still have difficulty with sensory processing as they become teenagers.

Sensory Processing and the teenage years.

Sensory Processing and the Teenage Years

Teens are presented with new experiences and expectations. Typically they want to gain more independence and control over their life, they are going through hormonal changes through puberty and they are presented with new social experiences.


How do we support teens with sensory processing difficulties?

As a parent, teacher, or therapist you need to be able to change your mindset for teens. They are no longer your little child who needs all of your help to help them with their sensory challenges. You need to help foster where they are developmentally and help them through these new situations.

Allow them to make their own choices: They are going to want to explore more independence and make their own choices. We can get so used to making sensory choices for our kids (especially if they weren’t able to verbally tell us what they needed), but as they get older they may want to be able to make their own choices.

In the moment they may need extra guidance and support from you to help them make that choice. For example, if they are starting to get frustrated and show some signs of anger, having choices laid out for them to help them calm down can be helpful. Present accommodations and activities to teenagers and let them decide which they would like to use. Honor and respect their choices and encourage them to engage in problem-solving with you.

Self-Regulation and Self-Esteem: Learn to respect that teens may be more emotional during this time of life. Learn to recognize signs of anxiety and depression and seek out medical advice from a health professional with any concerns. Try these activities to help with emotions: deep breathing, mindfulness, yoga, spending time outdoors, Tai Kwan Do, and meditation.

The Environment: Teens may start to have a little more control over their environment and let you know what upsets them in their environment. Consider the lighting, sounds, and smells in the environment that the teen is in. Do they let you know that certain sounds are distracting to them? Talk with your teen and listen to them. Together you can problem-solve how to best set up their environment to help with attention and focus and help them complete everyday tasks.

Find sensory strategies that are meaningful to teenagers: Teenagers have different views on what they will like compared to when they were younger. Teens may develop different sensory preferences and may need different sensory activities presented to them. The best way to find out how to support your teen's sensory needs is to find an occupational therapist or professionally trained in sensory processing to help your teen with one-on-one treatment and evaluation.

Movement activity ideas:

  • Getting involved in group sports activities
  • Running
  • Yoga
  • Pilates
  • Skateboarding
  • Skiing
  • Gymnastics
  • Going on amusement park rides
  • Swinging in a hammock
  • Bike riding on a trail
  • Calming Activity ideas:
  • Swinging
  • Rocking
  • Yoga
  • Going for a walk
  • Chewing gum
  • Spending time in a quiet, dark space

These are just a few sensory activity ideas for teens to try. Check out these and many more in the ebook Making Sense of the Teen Years: A Sensory Processing Guide.

Teenagers are going through new changes and we need to learn how to best support their sensory needs during this time of life. Check out how to best support them in the ebook Making Sense of the Teen Years: A Sensory Processing Guide.

You can also find these two free guides:

Sara is a sister to a teenage brother who is on the autism spectrum. Her family created the blog called www.learningforapurpose.com to share valuable resources they have learned as a family on their journey to help her brother become an independent adult. She currently works as a pediatric occupational therapist and her mother is a special education teacher who now homeschools her brother. Together they provide professional knowledge and their family's experiences to provide you with resources to help you in your everyday life adventures. You can find Sara and her family's blog at Learning For A Purpose and on Facebook and Pinterest.

You May Also Like: 

Sensory Processing Overload Signs in the Classroom. Plus a free printable download of sensory overload signs.

Heather Greutman, COTA

Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based OT services for preschool through high school. She uses her background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies for parents, educators, and therapists. She is the author of many ebooks including The Basics of Fine Motor Skills, and Basics of Pre-Writing Skills, and co-author of Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators.

CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
All information on the Website is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for medical advice from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult with a medical professional if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. The information on the Websites does not replace the relationship between therapist and client in a one-on-one treatment session with an individualized treatment plan based on their professional evaluation. The information provided on the Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.

Do not rely on the information on the Website as an alternative to advice from your medical professional or healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment as a result of any information provided on the Website. All medical information on the Website is for informational purposes only.

All activities outlined on the Website are designed for completion with adult supervision. Please use your own judgment with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY The Website was developed strictly for informational purposes. You understand and agree that you are fully responsible for your use of the information provided on the Website. Growing Hands-On Kids makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees. You understand that results may vary from person to person. Growing Hands-On Kids assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear on the Website.