The family of Giovanna Ewbank and Bruno Gagliasso always attracts attention and has a large following on the Internet. Especially from her children, Titi, Bliss and Xian, who are always a delight for the web. The actress recently opened up about Bliss, who was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder.
The revelation was made during the recording of an episode of the Quem Pode podcast, Pod, with the participation of journalist and presenter Manoel Soares.
What is a sensory processing disorder?
Also known as TPS, the disorder affects the senses and makes them more sensitive. In the words of Giovanna Eubank, Bless “hears more of all of us, feels more aromas and textures”.
This happens because the child has difficulty processing the information he receives from her senses. That is, they feel very uncomfortable with certain sensory stimuli.
In Bless’s case, Ewbank noted that her son’s behavior began to look different during the pandemic. According to her, the 8-year-old boy was very easily distracted (“he blew himself up”) and did some “weird” things.
After her son was suspected of having autism spectrum disorder, the actress sought medical help and discovered the condition.
In normal situations, the brain processes a stimulus (smell, texture, light) and gets used to the information. However, people with TPS experience a breakdown in processing and the brain is unable to “overcome” this stimulus, making it unpleasant for those experiencing it. Or, however, they can try the opposite – the brain does not react to the stimulus, and it needs to work more to smell, hear sounds, etc.
What are the symptoms?
In general, sensitive people with sensory processing disorder may exaggerate loud noises, very bright lights, and even the texture of clothing. Also, they may have more trouble with fine motor skills.
According to the Child Mind Institute, some children can become desperate to get water on their faces if they are hypersensitive. In a sensitive context, they may like loud noises and often put things in their mouths, for example.
In the case of Bless, Ewbank reported that she complained of certain smells, such as onion, she hated walking barefoot on the grass and the noise of mosquitoes bothered her.
Therefore, it is important to notice any signs in the baby, as the condition is very worrisome on both counts.
Is TPS the same as autism?
Although most parents suspect that painting is associated with the autism spectrum, this is not the norm. There are children with other disorders, such as ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and developmental delays, that have nothing to do with autism.
At the same time, TPS can be part of the autism spectrum, which requires a medical evaluation for a correct diagnosis.
Diagnosis and treatment
The identification of a sensory processing disorder requires a multidisciplinary investigation, with the participation of pediatricians and pediatric neurologists. Because it is a condition not recognized in the medical manual, it needs specialists with experience in the subject, since the diagnosis is clinical.
There are no specific tests to detect TPS. Therefore, the doctor himself will rely on the information of the child’s parents, educators and guardians. Some tests can be performed to check for intolerance or lack of reaction to a stimulus.
In parallel, the team can perform other tests to observe or rule out other disorders such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.
For care, the child will need frequent follow-up with psychologists, speech therapists, neurologists and others. The inclusion of specialists depends on the TPS score.
Finally, parents and people around the child must learn to listen and understand the needs and discomforts. It is very important not to scold a child for complaining or behaving differently. Especially if the child has other conditions: affection, acceptance and active listening are essential for her to feel better.