Hypersensitivity To Touch

I have a 7yo son that has a real issue with his clothes. He will NOT wear jeans.




They have to be the "sports pants" or "windbreaker" type pants. They also have to have the strings so the pants can be tied and tied VERY tight. He has other clothing issues like T-shirts where the neck has been stretched out. He will not wear them if thats the case. Socks have to be just so. We have spent hours in a store trying to find shoes that he'll wear because none of them feel right.

It becomes very frustrating and I dont know where to start with him. I try to let him just wear the clothes that are comfortable for him but sometimes I run out of clothes in the dresser because none of them feel right.

According to the checklist I have narrowed it down to Hypersensitivity To Touch. There are a few other items on the checklist that he does as well.



Comments for Hypersensitivity To Touch

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Nov 06, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I don't know how to cope and I am autistic
by: crstlgls

I am autistic and have just this problem. I hate showering because the water hurts. I can change it to more of a drip showerhead by adjusting the flow dial, but I do not know how to shower with an oversensitivity to touch as bad as mine is. An OT is very expensive and most are private pay only.

How do I deal with this and still manage to keep myself clean?
Dec 15, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		What could I have?
by: Anonymous

I struggle with a good number of sensitivity problems. There's that I can't handle certain every day objects like wooden pencils. I HAVE to use mechanical pencils. I also can't touch certain types of fabrics or paper ex. Napkins. I have high sensitivity to most mint products, where I will sneeze uncontrollably for minutes at a time.

While this all can somewhat easily be avoided doing in real life, I can't handle others doing it, or even thinking about me or others doing it. But at the same time a fork scratching a plate or styrofoam rubbing together don't affect me. Could you elaborate on what it could possibly be?
Dec 16, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		going through the same
by: Mrs. Crawford

I completely understand. I am 27 years old and my problems got worse a couple of years ago. There are so many things I cannot touch. Especially after getting my hands wet. It makes it difficult to take a shower or wash dishes. I won't even go swimming with my son. Another problem that I have is sound. Certain sounds make me cringe just like hearing nails on a chalk board. I'm cringing thinking about it. That is another problem. The mere thought of anyone touching certain things or hearing certain sounds makes me cringe. I am glad that there are others out there but I wish there was something to do about it. If anyone finds anything out please email me at carlandmarie2011@gmail.com. Thank you very much.
Apr 30, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		puffy coats under seat belts
by: Anonymous

i dont have kids but im sure it can be rough im 39 years old and i have a disability and issues so i know how a lot of you feel hang in there things will get better. the 1st comment caught my interest a little bit. concerning having coats zipped under seat belts. its not safe to do that in the event of a crash a puffy coat can cause compression making the seat belt not as snug as you think it is. of course you want your kids coat zipped i dont even have kids and i have zipped coats for kids many times. but if u look it up you will see articles
on it. unzip the coat hook the belt then zip there coat i would zip it up at least halfway.
Dec 26, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		my 4 year old has issues
by: lost

My little guy is almost 5 and will wear nothing but sweatpants. Even then they have to be certain kinds, not too tight in the waist...and heaven forbid they have cuffs on the bottom! He will only wear t-shirts, nothing with buttons, socks are an absolute nightmare, shoes and boots are always an issue. He does not like anything tight or restrictive..especially having his coat zipped up while wearing his seatbelt. He gets easily over-heated in the car and stores, which usually results in a meltdown and hyperventilation. I don't know what to do.
May 16, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		All three of my kids... 5,9,11 years old
by: Anonymous

All three of my kids, now 5, 9, and 11 years old have been this way. The girls (9 and 11) grew out of it in the past couple of years. I ordered special seamless socks for them, bought tagless shirts, couldn't go anywhere near fireworks, etc etc etc. The touch and sound sensitivity has always been an issue with all of them. But like I said the girls seem to have pretty much grown out of it. I am now dealing with this with my son. Clothes are mostly the issue, and when anyone other than myself or my husband wants to hug him (this does not go over so well with in laws who think I have spoiled him - grrrrrrrrrrr). Anyway, knowing that my girls overcame it gives me hope for my son. I hope it gives some of you on this website hope too. I can't tell you how much I empathize with all the posts I have read!!!
Apr 21, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Not just the little ones!
by: LittleAzMama

I hear and understand all of your frustrations! As a mom, my child is pretty laid back with clothes and wears what is pink, sparkly, pretty, ruffled, princess sleeved or what ever else she decides is 'perfect!' No, I understand because it is me who has the sensory issues. I was diagnosed with a very mild version of ADHD at 17 which I had learned to work for me. But sometimes you don't realize that things from the past can pop up at horrible times!

My story began at 17 but problems started after I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disk and Degenerative Joint Disease and Fibromyalgia. My body has been under so much stress from the ever fragile vertebra and joints, that my normally ignored sensory issues have turned into an all consuming issue! A touch can send me into massive pain and is not been able to be under control. So going any where makes me crazy because I am constantly worrying that someone will bump me or we'll see a friend and they'll hug me. The symptoms becoming impossible to ignore, in my case, came after I was experiencing severe pain already from the degenerative issues in my back and neck. So it looks like my mild form of sensitivity to touch was super charged by my stress and physical distress. It has come to the point that I feel like I am going to peel off my own skin just to get out of the pain, anxiety, and all the creepy crawly & ant bite feelings. It is a crazy maker! I also dislike showers as it is overstimulating to my skins and nerves. Also I have tactile issues with clothing. It cannot be rough, or bumpy or it couldnt just feel weird!So far my Neutontin has help curb some of those sensory issues which relives the stress as well. Also an anti anxiety could help to reduce the freaking out and induce healing calm.

Hang in there, it is hard but a lot of the kids will let you know what helps them and try and accommodate it until they become older and you can have a conversation on the what and why's. The reason I believe that is does get better as they get older is because they have learned to adapt and the growing body might be more sensitive than an older non growing one. But just a guess!
Feb 03, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		My daughter
by: Lisa

I cried for nearly an hour when I found this website after googling "my 7 year old still takes tantrums". Since she was a toddler, she has had these problems; she won't wear socks that feel funny, she doesn't like certain dresses because they're loose around the waist, half her pants fall down because she's really thin (so she hates pants) she takes tantrums over jeans, she takes fits over going to the theater, the vacuum being on, the toilet in walmart, people clapping and being asked to do up her own zippers. She also has a very hard time doing things like buckling her seat belt when she can't see it. Many people may say she's spoiled, which irritates me to no end, because she's not; even long past the point where she knows she's not getting her way, she is still rolling around on the floor in her jeans screaming in agony.

After reading the checklist, I noticed that (in the hypo areas) it describes me perfectly, as well. I was going crazy trying to figure out what could be wrong with Emily, starting to think autism, but it has to be this, and I am taking this checklist to our doctor asap.
Dec 10, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I understand!
by: Anonymous

My son is 7 and has the exact same problems. He won't wear jeans at all, just sport pants or "comfy" pants. The drawstrings have to be tied very, very tight. Socks and underwear drive him crazy. Tshirts with embroidery, he won't wear sweaters, jerseys. He loves to wear shorts and plain tshirts as well.
Aug 17, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Kids aren't the only ones.
by: Jennifer

I know how you feel. I am 40 and am very sensitive to touch. I have gone through a Utah winter without socks cause I can't stand them falling down to my toes. It took me a whole summer wrapped in a blanket with just my back exposed to get used to having air blow on me from a table fans.
I solved the sock issue with knee highs that don't fall down and teva sandals for when its warm enough. Most Tshirts now are tagless now too.
May 23, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		There is hope!
by: Anonymous

I'm happy to report that my son (now 16) has been wearing jeans all through high school. He was EXTREMELY picky about what he would wear (I hear you with the windbreaker pants - have a zillion pair of those!) He cut out the tags on all his shirts, would wear nothing that buttoned, snapped, or zippered - Everything you are all talking about. We went through several really hard years and did clinic-based OT for a year. He was a huge proprioceptive seeker, among other things. With the therapy, and maturity, he conquered just about all of it. He can get his hair cut without incident and will wear, pretty much, whatever the occasion calls for. Peer pressure is what did it with the jeans. Especially GIRL pressure. He loves the ladies! He's driving and doing all the things "other kids" do. Hang in there, Moms. I know it's hard but there is hope!!!
Apr 29, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Losing it....
by: Paige

Sounds very similar to my situation. My son is 7 and every morning is extremely painful and frustrating. We have to have certain shirts, underwear, pants, and shoes. Socks are our downfall and am currently waiting on SEAMLESS socks I ordered from an autism website. Pray that this helps at least that situation. I think the only thing that makes him happy is to be naked!!!! Any touch is unbearable. My daughter (13 now) was the same and for some reason am just now realizing they must both suffer from a sensory disorder. My son refused and still refuses to have his hair cut, do art projects that require his hands and are messy, and taking a shower sends him over the edge!!!! I feel horrible because he is miserable and I am losing my mind trying to deal with it! The frustration is boiling over!!!! Will check into therapy and self-help ASAP! I wish all of you luck!
Apr 27, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I know how you are feeling...
by: Jackie C

I have a 9 year old daughter who will not wear jeans only sweats and we just got done with a 5 hour shopping trip to find shoes and socks. Currently she has one pair of socks she will wear so I am washing them everyday. She will only wear plain t-shirts because any kind of iron on or embroidery feels funny and the shirts have to be tagless. Mornings at my house are frustrating at best. We have been going through this since she was about 2 with her socks but things seem to be getting worse. I am now in the process of reading some books to help me understand what is going on. Good luck with your son.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to SPD checklist.