Exploring daily tasks to understand the clothing needs of children with sensory hyperreactivity

Le résumé fourni par la source

Children with sensory hyperreactivity may experience clothing-related tactile stimuli as particularly distressing, resulting in discomfort, anxiety, irritability, and behavioural outbursts, potentially creating barriers to participation in daily tasks. It is therefore imperative to identify children's clothing needs to minimise overreactive responses. Using the clothing taskscape (Tullio-Pow & Strickfaden 2015) as theoretical framework, this study explored daily tasks to understand the clothing needs of children with sensory hyperreactivity. Mothers of children aged 5 to 15 years with sensory hyperreactivity participated in a five-day online diary study. Online diary entries captured children’s interactions with clothing during daily tasks, followed by a clothing-related shopping task. Findings indicated strong preferences for soft fabrics and avoidance of scratchy, hard, or itchy fabrics. Seamless garments and clothing without labels were consistently preferred. The tasks of dressing and clothing shopping within the taskscape were identified as particularly challenging, often triggering distress, avoidance behaviours, and emotional outbursts. Mismatches between clothing and task demands negatively affected both children and mothers. The findings highlight the importance of user-centred clothing design and informed clothing selection strategies that align with the tasks performed by children. Improved understanding of sensory clothing needs can support educators, caregivers, and occupational therapists in promoting participation and well-being among children with sensory hyperreactivity during task performance.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.