In my experience working with children and families, one of the most common concerns I hear about is sensory issues. These challenges can show up in so many ways—from intense reactions to bright lights and loud sounds to discomfort with certain textures or even struggling to handle a lot of sensory input at once. These experiences aren’t just quirky preferences—they can seriously affect a person’s ability to function, learn, and feel calm in their daily life.
This is where ABA therapy comes into play. ABA offers a structured, evidence-based approach that helps us understand what’s driving those sensory-related behaviors—and more importantly, how we can support someone in managing their sensory world with more ease and confidence.
What are Sensory Issues?
Let’s break this down. Sensory issues—sometimes called sensory processing disorder—happen when the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information from the senses. While we all experience sensory input differently, individuals with sensory sensitivities often experience the world in a much more intense or unpredictable way.
Some people are hypersensitive—meaning they’re overly responsive to sensory input. A flickering light, a crowded room, or a scratchy shirt might feel completely overwhelming. Others might be hyposensitive, meaning they don’t register sensory input as strongly. These individuals might crave sensory stimulation, like spinning, jumping, or touching everything in sight.
It’s not just about comfort. Sensory challenges can make it difficult to focus, stay calm, participate in everyday routines, or feel safe in certain environments. And it’s critical to remember—these aren’t behaviors someone can just “get over.” Sensory issues are rooted in the brain’s processing systems, and they require real support.
The Core Principles of ABA Therapy
At its core, ABA is all about understanding behavior—why it happens, what it means, and how we can use positive reinforcement to encourage growth and learning. We break skills down into manageable steps, reinforce progress, and tailor every piece of the plan to the individual’s needs.
In the context of sensory issues, I use ABA to look beyond the behavior itself and explore what sensory triggers might be involved. What’s causing distress? What’s helping? What can we build into the person’s environment or routine to support them better?
This isn’t a cookie-cutter therapy. Every child (or adult) I work with has a unique sensory profile—and that means every plan is just as unique.
Helping Manage Sensory Overload with ABA
One of the areas where ABA is incredibly effective is in supporting individuals through sensory overload—that moment when everything feels too loud, too bright, too much.
Using a blend of assessments, observations, and ongoing data collection, we identify sensory triggers and build custom strategies for managing those moments. That might mean teaching a child to recognize when they need a break, or gradually helping them tolerate sounds or textures that currently feel overwhelming.
ABA helps individuals build both awareness of their own needs and the skills to cope with them.
Building Sensory Integration Skills with ABA
Sensory integration is all about how the brain organizes and makes sense of input from our senses. For individuals with sensory processing difficulties, building stronger integration skills is key to helping them feel more regulated, focused, and engaged.
Within ABA sessions, I weave sensory-based activities into our learning goals. These might include movement, textures, sounds, or body awareness games—whatever aligns with the child’s interests and needs. We make it fun, but we’re also building real-life functional skills.
Techniques I Use to Support Sensory Challenges
There are a number of evidence-based ABA techniques I use to address sensory difficulties:
Sensory Desensitization
This involves slowly and gently exposing someone to a sensory experience they currently find challenging. For instance, a child who avoids certain textures might start by simply looking at the material, then touching it with a tool, and eventually working up to interacting with it directly—always at their own pace and paired with positive reinforcement.
Teaching Self-Regulation
A huge part of my work involves helping kids (and their families) learn tools for emotional and sensory self-regulation. This could be deep breathing, access to a quiet corner, or using fidgets or visuals to signal when they’re feeling overwhelmed.
Creating Sensory-Friendly Environments
Sometimes, the best strategy is changing the environment itself. I often recommend adjustments to home, school, or therapy spaces to better support someone’s sensory profile. This could be anything from dimmer lighting to using noise-reducing headphones or adding a sensory break area.
Key Strategies That Promote Sensory Integration
Here are a few go-to strategies I regularly use with my clients:
Sensory Diets
I often create a sensory diet tailored to the child’s sensory profile. This just means incorporating intentional sensory activities throughout the day—like jumping on a trampoline, using resistance bands, or engaging in calming tactile play.
Sensory Breaks
Scheduled breaks can make all the difference. Giving individuals a predictable time and place to reset their sensory system—especially in environments like school or busy public spaces—helps reduce overload and improves overall behavior and focus.
Sensory Tools
These are some of my favorite supports. Tools like weighted lap pads, chewable jewelry, or compression clothing can be incredibly effective in helping kids regulate themselves in a world that can feel overstimulating.
Using ABA Tools and Activities to Support Sensory Needs
Within ABA therapy, we often use targeted tools and activities to support the development of sensory processing skills.
For example:
- Weighted vests or blankets can help promote calm and focus through deep pressure input.
- Swings, balance boards, or obstacle courses provide valuable vestibular and proprioceptive input—great for kids who are always on the move.
- Fine motor activities with different textures (like finger painting or sand play) help expand tactile tolerance and build coordination.
All of these are carefully chosen based on the child’s specific goals, needs, and sensory preferences.
Behavioral and Emotional Benefits of ABA for Sensory Processing
While ABA helps directly with sensory challenges, I also see big emotional and behavioral shifts in my clients as they start to feel more in control of their environment. When a child learns to manage overwhelming input or advocate for a sensory break, it often results in:
- Fewer meltdowns or avoidance behaviors
- Better communication
- Stronger emotional regulation
- More confidence in social situations
That ripple effect is one of the most rewarding parts of this work.
Encouraging More Adaptive Responses
Let’s say a child screams or hits when they hear a loud sound. Through ABA, I can teach them a new response—maybe asking for headphones or moving to a quiet space. Over time, we reinforce those adaptive responses until they become second nature.
These kinds of behavior changes aren’t about suppression—they’re about empowerment.
Building Coping Skills for Emotional Regulation
Sensory overload often goes hand-in-hand with emotional dysregulation. So I focus a lot on helping my clients recognize their emotional states and practice healthy coping tools.
That might include using visuals to label emotions, engaging in deep breathing, or using social stories to navigate difficult situations. Over time, these skills help individuals feel more in control, which improves overall behavior, confidence, and resilience.
The Power of Collaboration: Therapists and Families Working Together
ABA therapy works best when it doesn’t stop at the clinic or therapy room. I always make a point to work closely with parents and caregivers to ensure consistency at home, in school, and out in the community.
I truly believe that parents are the most powerful part of the therapy team.
Parent and Caregiver Training
I regularly train families on everything from basic ABA principles to specific sensory strategies we’re using in sessions. Together, we talk about what’s working, troubleshoot challenges, and make sure parents feel confident supporting their child outside of therapy.
This might include:
- Learning how to use reinforcement effectively
- Creating a sensory-friendly home environment
- Recognizing early signs of overload
- Practicing calming techniques together
Ready to support your child’s sensory needs with a proven, compassionate approach? At True Progress Therapy, we specialize in personalized ABA therapy that helps children in New Jersey thrive—at home, in school, and beyond.
Reach out today to schedule your free consultation and see how we can help your child take the next step forward.
FAQs
Can ABA therapy help with sensory processing issues?
Yes! ABA therapy uses evidence-based strategies to teach children coping skills and adaptive responses to sensory input, making daily life more manageable.
What sensory issues can ABA therapy address?
ABA can help with sensitivities to light, sound, textures, and other stimuli by gradually teaching tolerance and developing regulation strategies.
Is ABA therapy effective for both over- and under-responsiveness to sensory input?
Absolutely. ABA therapy can be tailored to address both hypersensitivities and hyposensitivities through individualized treatment plans.
Sources:
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sensory-overload
- https://www.autismspeaks.org/sensory-issues
- https://familydoctor.org/condition/sensory-processing-disorder-spd/
- https://www.columbiadoctors.org/health-library/condition/sensory-processing-disorder/
- https://www.childrenscolorado.org/just-ask-childrens/articles/sensory-processing-disorder/
- https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/kids-zone/all/2022/05/does-my-child-have-sensory-disorder