NORWICH – As human beings, our senses gather the information we need to perceive, process and interact with the world around us. For those suffering from sensory processing disorders (SPD), where the central nervous system does not organize or process the information it receives into appropriate behaviors and responses, the world can be a confusing, frustrating place.

For children with an SPD, school in particular can be a challenge.

“Sensory disorders impact a child’s ability to interact with peers, with the ability to attend to tasks and therefore their ability to learn,” explained Karen Randall, director of Chenango County Head Start.

In recent years, she said, her staff has noticed an increase in the number of kids with sensory issues and requested more training to ensure they are meet the needs of these students.