Some kids can walk into a busy classroom, a loud birthday party, or a bright grocery store and โtune it out.โ Other kids feel that same moment like a siren in their nervous systemโtoo loud, too scratchy, too bright, too fast. If your child melts down over tags, covers their ears at ordinary sounds, avoids swings, or seeks intense movement nonstop, youโre not imagining it. Sensory sensitivities are real, and behavior therapists for sensory sensitivities can help children build coping skills that actually work in everyday lifeโat home, school, and in the community.
At the Social Behavior Education Center (SBEC), we provide evidence-based behavioral services in Orange County, California, with a supportive, family-centered approach designed to help neurodiverse children thrive.
What sensory sensitivities can look like in daily life
Sensory differences can show up as hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) or hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness)โand many children experience a mix across different senses. National Autistic Society
Here are common patterns families notice:
Sound, light, and touch triggers
- Covering ears, avoiding hand dryers, or distress during assemblies
- Squinting under fluorescent lights or resisting bright rooms
- Strong reactions to hair brushing, nail clipping, seams, socks, or food textures
Movement and body awareness challenges
- Fear of swings, slides, elevators, or uneven surfaces
- Constant jumping, crashing, spinning, or pacing
- Difficulty sitting for meals, circle time, or homework
Emotional regulation and behavior signals
- Tantrums that escalate quickly when environments change
- โOppositionalโ behavior that often starts right after sensory overload
- Shutdowns, avoidance, or bolting (elopement) when overwhelmed
When a childโs nervous system is overloaded, behavior is communication. The goal of behavior therapists for sensory sensitivities isnโt to โpush throughโ discomfortโitโs to teach skills that reduce distress, increase independence, and improve quality of life.
How behavior therapy supports sensory sensitivities
Many families ask: โIs this occupational therapy or behavior therapy?โ In real life, children benefit most when teams work together. Behavior therapy (including ABA-based strategies) focuses on what happens before, during, and after a behaviorโthen teaches practical, functional alternatives.
1) Identify patterns with a behavior lens
A BCBA-led team can look for triggers like:
- Time of day (fatigue, hunger)
- Specific settings (classroom noise, crowded stores)
- Transitions (leaving preferred activities)
- Demands that feel too big during sensory stress
This helps families stop guessing and start planning.
2) Teach replacement skills that are doable in the moment
Instead of only trying to reduce โproblem behavior,โ we teach communication and regulation tools such as:
- Requesting a break (verbally, with visuals, or a simple signal)
- Using coping routines (breathing, sensory breaks, movement breaks)
- Practicing transitions with predictable steps and reinforcement
- Building tolerance gradually, without flooding
3) Build safety and independence through gradual exposure
A careful, child-centered plan can increase tolerance for challenging sensations over timeโlike grooming routines, loud environments, or new texturesโwhile keeping the child successful. This is where behavior therapists for sensory sensitivities in Orange County, California can make a measurable difference, especially when strategies are consistent across home and school.
Why visuals and structure often โunlockโ calmer days
Children who struggle with sensory processing often do better when the world becomes more predictable.
Helpful tools include:
- Visual schedules (โFirst/Then,โ morning routine charts, transition cards)
- Choice boards to reduce power struggles (โshirt A or B?โ)
- Countdown timers and clear finish lines (โ2 minutes, then breakโ)
- Social stories and role-play for noisy or new places
These supports arenโt โbabying.โ Theyโre scaffoldingโlike training wheels for regulation.
Orange County support that fits real family life
If youโre searching for behavior therapists for sensory sensitivities and want care close to home, SBEC serves families across Orange County, California with flexible options such as in-home, school-based collaboration, and telehealth depending on needs.
Our team provides free initial consultations and culturally sensitive support, including services in Farsi for families who prefer care in their native language.
๐ Get a free consultation
And for Iranians abroad, SBEC can provide free initial consultation to help you understand behavior support options and next stepsโeven if youโre not currently located in the U.S.
Evidence matters: being smart about sensory โtreatmentsโ
Parents are often offered many sensory approaches. Some can be helpful, especially when individualized and tied to daily functioning. At the same time, itโs important to stay evidence-informed and avoid promises that sound too good to be true.
For example, sensory integration approaches have mixed findings across the broader research landscape, and families benefit from asking, โWhat goals will this change in everyday lifeโand how will progress be measured?โ
For a plain-language overview of sensory processing differences in autism (including hyper- and hypo-sensitivity), you can read more here: National Autistic Society
What a strong plan looks like at SBEC
A practical plan for sensory sensitivities usually includes:
Collaborative assessment
We listen carefully to whatโs happening at home and school, and we identify the highest-impact moments (morning routine, homework time, community outings, etc.).
Individualized skill-building
We teach communication, tolerance, emotional regulation, and adaptive skillsโso your child isnโt just โgetting throughโ the day, but growing into it.
Parent training that sticks
Parents shouldnโt get a long list of โshoulds.โ You deserve a plan you can actually useโsimple steps, realistic routines, and coaching that matches your family culture and schedule.
Data-driven progress monitoring
We track whatโs improving (and what isnโt), so your childโs program evolves as they grow.
Insurance coverage and how to start
SBEC works to make care accessible. In the middle of planning, one question always comes up: โWill insurance cover this?โ We accept major plans including Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, Magellan Health, Evernorth Behavioral Health/Cigna, and Blue Shield of California.
If you want to talk through coverage and the best starting point for your child:
๐ Get a free consultation
Taking the next stepโwithout pressure
When sensory sensitivities drive daily stress, families often feel isolatedโlike everyone else has an instruction manual you didnโt receive. Youโre not alone, and support can be practical, compassionate, and measurable.
SBEC proudly serves families across Orange County, California, and weโre ready to help you build calmer routines, stronger coping skills, and more confident independenceโone small win at a time. And remember: Iranians abroad can get free initial consultation from our team as you explore options and next steps.
Call (949) 259-8786 or email Drtorabicounselling@gmail.com to begin.
