Hypertactility can be a real pain to live with – literally! The tags on your clothes constantly itch and rub. The feel of fabric on your skin can be a constant distraction. You sneeze when you encounter sunlight. Fragrant perfumes and foods with great texture illicit strong, negative reactions. You may even be more ticklish than normal!
Individuals suffering from hypertactility often fidget more than others and avoid social contact to relieve some of the symptoms. And really, who can blame them? It takes a lot of energy to not run screaming into the night when any encounter with sound or feel can be a painful experience. Individuals who experience hypertactility use extreme amounts of energy coping and compensating for the many uncomfortable and distracting sensations in their lives. And, as was discussed in previous posts, these compensatory responses can be misinterpreted as behavioral problems.
One of the main focuses of Neurodevelopmental Therapy is helping individuals with hypertactility become more comfortably in their own skin. By helping the brain build new pathways – the pathways it needs in order to appropriately take in tactile stimulation – Neuro can help improve the quality of life for hypertactile individuals.
