Pediatric Occupational Therapy in Charlotte

As a child with visual hypersensitivity, when it was time for recess my favorite part was when everyone was still in line waiting to be released. Getting on the bus at the end of the day gave me anxiety. I was happiest when it was time for everyone to sit at their desks, I was miserable in those moments where kids were milling freely around between activities or during social times. 

You can imagine from what I’m saying that it was difficult for me to interact well with my peers. I was the shy kid and I was awkward within myself. Even if I was naturally shy to begin with, because of how easily overwhelmed I was, I avoided social situations and this resulted in it being more difficult for me to make friends and interact successfully with people as I got older.

Not interacting with peers meant less running, jumping, climbing, baseball, basketball, soccer, dancing, etc. I am now not good at group sports. They’re very hard for me. Avoiding these activities resulted in not developing skills that maybe I could have had. Maybe I’m not well coordinated, but maybe I could have been a good enough ball player in school if I’d been able to get myself up to the bat.

Ultimately the negative impact of being visually hypersensitive as a child was inhibited development of social skills and physical abilities. Children are supposed to play freely and easily with other children. If we’re not doing that, then there is reason for concern.