SPD
n. uncountablen. Stands for Sensory Processing Disorder. A condition where the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses. It can make things like loud noises or certain textures feel overwhelming or painful.
n. Abbreviation for Sensory Processing Disorder. A neurological condition in which sensory signals are not organised into appropriate responses. Often associated with neurodivergence, it involves hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to environmental stimuli.
Children with SPD might find loud music very distressing.
Occupational therapy can help individuals with SPD develop strategies to manage overwhelming sensory environments like busy shopping malls.
While not currently listed as a standalone diagnosis in the DSM-5, SPD is widely recognised by clinicians as a distinct set of challenges affecting how the nervous system processes tactile and auditory input.
Abbreviation
Borrowed from German SPD (“Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands”).
Commonly used as an initialism for Sensory Processing Disorder; usually takes a singular verb.