Hypersensitivity, which refers to someone who experiences an overload of sensory stimuli, has become quite well-known in recent times. But let’s not confuse it with a similar-sounding word: hyposensitivity.
The latter is basically the other side of the coin. It refers to someone having a reduced response to sensory stimuli. The individual with hyposensitivity feels less through their senses than they should. The neurological condition also affects the brain’s ability to process sensory input. Those with hyposensitivity experience a form of under-response from their senses, which can include each of the five senses, as well as bodily functions, including movement. Now you know the basics, let’s ask an important question: what does it feel like to have hyposensitivity?
Touch Can Feel Distant
How someone with hyposensitivity feels ultimately depends on the individual. Symptoms can show up across some or all of an affected individual’s senses. Sometimes, touch can feel faint, almost muffled, as though there’s a thin layer separating the skin from the world. Due to that feeling, affected individuals often seek stronger tactile contact. That means they might:
- Run fingers over fabrics.
- Press themselves against textured walls.
- Bump into things in order to feel something solid.
Coordination can feel uncertain, too. Basically, the body wants feedback, but the message never quite reaches home.
Sounds Can Feel Too Soft or Too Far Away
Everyday noises might fade into the background. Therefore, louder sounds can feel more satisfying. In order to register clearly, things like conversation, music, and television may need increased volume. Someone with this symptom of hyposensitivity can crave auditory input. So, they might do things like put their head close to a speaker when listening to music.
Taste Can Feel Faint or Overwhelming
Flavours may register weakly. Therefore, individuals can seek out strong flavours, such as salty snacks or sour candies. Also, the textures of some foods can feel wrong – sometimes even unbearable. So, eating can be intensely challenging for some people with hyposensitivity! And some individuals even lick inedible objects – just to feel something vivid. Eating can become less about enjoyment and more about chasing a sensation that’s strong enough to be noticed.
Sight Can Swing Between Extremes
Visual input can swing between extremes. For example:
- Bright lights or motion might go unnoticed.
- Tiny patterns or details pull in full attention.
- Reading or focusing for long stretches can drain energy fast, as if the eyes work harder to keep up.
As a result, the world can sometimes feel flat or distant, and other times it can feel too sharp. Therefore, vision can be caught between fatigue and fixation.
Smells Can Feel Dull or Faint
Scents that others find strong may barely register for someone with hyposensitivity. So, strong odours like lemon, mint, or curry, for example, can actually seem comforting. Some people with hyposensitivity even lean closer to sharp or unpleasant smells, as they search for an intensity that feels real.
Balance Can Feel Elusive
The world may seem slightly off-centre for some people with hyposensitivity. They could feel as though their stability depends on constant motion. Therefore, movement can become a way to feel at ease. So, some people with hyposensitivity often:
- Spin.
- Rock.
- Swing.
It’s like the body craves motion just to feel steady, using momentum as a substitute for calmness.
Internal Signals Can Feel Quiet
Internal signals that most people take for granted – such as hunger, thirst, or the need to use the bathroom- can fade into the background for some people with hyposensitivity. The body still sends signals. But they come through as weak or too late, thus leaving confusion about what the body needs. Sometimes meals can be missed without noticing. Other times, discomfort can appear suddenly and urgently.
Body Awareness Can Feel Unreliable
Lastly, the sense of where the body sits in space can feel unpredictable. Limbs may seem out of place, like they belong to someone else. And simple actions – such as walking through a doorway or pouring a drink can become awkward because the body’s internal map feels blurry. It can feel like coordination takes extra effort. So, tasks that rely on timing – like catching a ball or tying shoes demand focus that others would rarely think about.
Treatment Can Help the Body Tune In
Those with hyposensitivity can access treatment. Sensory integration therapy, which focuses on helping the brain and body connect through experience, is one of the most commonly utilised treatments. The therapy involves things like:
- Balance activities.
- Movement games.
- Using textured tools.
Such things can help individuals with hyposensitivity to rebuild awareness of touch, motion, and space. Other things that are used to help include:
- Art.
- Play.
- Fun tools like trampolines, scooters, and obstacle courses.
So, managing hyposensitive behavior can become easier when such techniques are used by professional therapists. The therapy can help individuals receive clearer signals from their bodies.
Summing Up
In short, hyposensitivity feels like the body’s senses speak in whispers. Things like touch, sound, taste, and movement arrive muted – leaving people to seek stronger input just to connect with the world.
