Vestibular & Proprioceptive Sensory Issues

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I've seen quite a few sensory issue threads on the boards lately, but it always seems like there isn't much discussion about problems with other sensory modalities besides the five basic senses. Because there isn't nearly as much out there about vestibular and proprioceptive sensory issues or difficulties modulating internal regulation/"interoception", they intrigue me more. I'm interested in hearing from others about their experiences.

If you are unfamiliar with common sensory issues in these areas, this is a good, reputable "checklist" site to check out:
"Other" Sensory Systems

What I find weird about me is that I'm HYPOsensitive in my vestibular sense, but I'm HYPERsensitive in all other sensory areas. (I think the ambiguous hypo- vs. hypersensitive features of proprioception and internal regulation are largely because most people seem to flip-flop between hypo- and hypersensitive in these areas. I never can find good descriptions of one or the other. Always seems to be a mixed symptom list.) I find that very odd, because it just seems logical that I'd have trouble tolerating motion just like I can't tolerate fluorescent lights or certain types of clothing. But I LOVE motion and speed. The only time I don't "feel" tactile sensations, basically the only time I am truly 100% comfortable, is when I'm on a roller coaster. There is nothing I love more than the feeling of air time/negative Gs/weightlessness. I only get to properly stimulate my vestibular system a few days out of the year when I get to go to Cedar Point or some other amusement park, and I crave the sensation the rest of the year. I wish I had the room and money for a trampoline. I would use it every day to get negative Gs!

I really like to swing on park swings and can do so for hours without getting nauseous. When I was a kid I used to spin and walk in circles a lot.

No motion sickness or dizziness issues with me, but I do have proprioceptive problems. My balance has always been a challenge for me.

I have issues with my vestibular sense (hypersensitive; if I'm sitting in a chair and someone tips it back slightly it feels like I'm falling through space, the same with any small, unexpected changes in head position) and my proprioceptive sense.

Its worth note that seeking is not the same as hyposensitivity. It is possible to both be seeking and hypersensitive at the same time. It's possible to be hyposensitive and not seek. What you are describing is seeking, not hyposensitivity. People often confuse this, because usually people who seek are hyposensitive and people who avoid are hypersensitive. It's not actually always that simple though.

Vestibular - its complicated, primarily hypersensitive, some seeking, possibly some hyposensitive,
Propioception- hyposensitive/ odd type of seeking
Introception- hyposensitive

And its not odd - most hypersensitive in general people really seek propioception, but some really seek vestibular. One of the two tends to help regulate the other senses a lot though - propioception is a lot more common. If you're having issues with sensory stuff and you know this, then what you want to do is build into your day a way to explicitly get the vestibular input that you crave, and you generally will function better. Even if you can't get a full trampoline, get yourself something. It's a therapy item.

As for a symptom list: http://spdlife.org/symptoms/index.html

Split into hyper/hypo/seeking/discrimination/etc and then by sense.

But why do people seek sensations? Because they are hyposensitive and are not getting the proper stimulation. Really, sensation seeking is really only seen with hyposensitivities. If you're hypersensitive, you want to avoid, not seek!

Really like to swing on park swings: Seeking

Can do so for hours without getting nauseous: hyposensitive

You can also have people like me who will have things like

I taste everything and even water has very strong tastes to me: hypersensitive
but I like to put habeneros in my food: seeking

Always have had balance issues. Also visual. I have issues sensing restroom urges. Also sensing pain. I once gave myself 2nd and 3rd degree burns on my hands not feeling the heat correctly while pulling sugar. Several other issues but won't list them all.

And I have both.

No, that's not true. People seek sensations because they want the sensations. This does not necessarily because of being hyposensitive. There are people who are hyposensitive who do not seek, there are people who are hypersensitive who do seek. There are people who are neither hypersensitive nor hyposensitive who seek. There are people who are both hypersensitive and hyposensitive who seek. Seeking is one sort of abnormal sensory process.

Seeking in the same sense that you are hyposensitive in isn't an uncommon occurrence but is by far not the only thing that occurs. The cases that include both hypersensitivities and seeking in the same sense tend to be more complicated cases.

To give you numbers.

Just hypersensitivity: 5%
Just hyposensitivity: 12%
Just seeking: 26%
Hyposensitivity/seeking: 14%
Hypersensitivity/seeking: 15%
Hyposensitivity/hyposensitivity: 5%
all three: 25%

(Citation: Sensational Kids)

Then you can be hyposensitive too, but what you'd described was just the seeking part, and seeking doesn't necessarily have anything to do with being hyposensitive.

I see what you're saying, but what I meant is that, if you are hypersensitive to a particular sensation, you won't seek it. I understand what you mean about being hypersensitive OVERALL and possibly seeking (like your example of spicy foods).

I'm saying I seek some of the same sensations that I'm hypersensitive to. Spice is one of those. I'm actually hypersensitive to spice. I also seek it instead of avoid it. I'm hypersensitive to all taste, and avoid some taste and seek others - spice I seek, salt I avoid.

Another example - I'm hypersensitive to light touch and it causes me immense discomfort, but I'll seek it anyways because it feels good and want it and... its hard to describe.


The common thing to do when you're hypersensitive is to avoid, but its possible to have things that you don't want to avoid, and can't avoid because you are active drawn to those same things, that you're also hypersensitive to. What ends up happening is having people who are dealing with more complicated sensory issues because their body is fighting back and forth. It's actually pretty interesting and pretty complicated. It's not just over-react or under-react. It's also everything else, and how does everything fit together, because there's whether you like or dislike things you over react or under react to, and there's whether you want to seek them or avoid them, and there's how well you are processing them. There's a lot going on.

SPD is complicated.

Oh, okay, I understand now. I was not aware of this, because I haven't ever read any descriptions of seeking out a hypersensitive sensation. I personally AM just overreacting from intense discomfort or (in very few cases) underreacting and wanting to seek a pleasant sensation for stimulation. That IS interesting how you still crave something that is uncomfortable. I've never experienced that myself, and I think it's poor how there aren't many descriptions out there of this possibility. I wish SPD were being studied more. I think it's fascinating and puzzling.

I experience all of the issues listed in the poll.
As an aspie with SPD, I can attest to the fact that some of my sensory seeking behaviors are the product of hypersensitivity, while others are from hyposensitivity. In the tactile department, I am generally hypersensitive and this drives me to seek out textures I find pleasurable (and drives me to avoid unpleasurable tactile stimuli as well). When I require more intense input, I will also engage in sensory seeking behaviors, as is the case for proprioception.

Yep. It's not something everyone does. It's a harder sort to deal with. Not all Occupational Therapists can deal with people like me.

I tend to prefer symptom lists that try to make it clear that seeking, hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity are all separate and all possible in the same sense. In some people, they can actually swap between hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity in the same sense, or have traits of both - I seem to possibly that in vestibular, but people who really do that confuse me. The idea that its either 'hypersensitive and avoiding or hyposensitive and seeking' is a common misconception though.

Hopefully it gets studied more. There are some good researchers. It needs more funding though. It's unfortunately unlikely to be able to be added into the needing more research section of the DSM-5, they weren't being very positive towards it and it only had one last chance - I've not heard results from that, but the one before that one had rejected it. If it got that it'd likely get much more funding and thus much more research. It needs much more of that.