Questions covered in this Blog
- What is the role of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in individual performance
- Strategies to handle Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) related issues at work
- How does an unseen challenge (SPD) impact workplace performance?
- How does a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issue bring challenging situations to work?
- How do you overcome Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)-related issues individually?
- What are the ways you can handle and overcome a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issue in your organization?
- What are the legal rights of employees in your organization who have issues with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or any disability?
Sensory Processing Disorder vs. Performance
In your professional life, you always worry about your performance because you know that it is the key that will take your career to the next level. For this purpose, you used different common approaches to find the reasons behind your poor performance, but you couldn’t succeed.
Sometimes you have to see your workplace sensory environment, particularly Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)-related issues, because it has a significant impact on your performance, e.g., making an easy task complex and challenging for you.
In our Blog
In this blog, we will discuss the role of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in the workplace, evaluate the issues that you face with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and its impact on your performance at work, and then find ways to overcome this issue at the organizational level.
Before going into any discussion, let’s understand what Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is.
What is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)?
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is basically a condition where the brain does not easily and effectively understand and respond to sensory information from the environment. e.g., if an individual has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), then any ordinary stimuli like light, noises, and tests become annoying for that individual and lead to unusual reactions.
Key Issues Related to Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
The Workplace as a Sensory hazard
If you have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), then you have sensory issues at the workplace, even with light and background noise. This sensory environment is annoying for you and impacts your ability to focus on the task, collaboration, and performance at work. While others may not even be bothered by this light or sound.
Example
Suppose you are working with your colleague in a big hall where you all work together. There is a bright light in the office, and if you are going with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), you will not be able to concentrate on your job because of this visual discomfort. When you are not comfortable at work, it is obviously hard for you to focus on your job properly and perform well.
Communication Hurdles with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Issue
You know better how important communication is, and with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), you will face communication difficulties, especially when you cannot ignore unnecessary stimuli or signals that are not relevant to the current situation that you are going through. This will be a challenge for you to understand any verbal and non-verbal exchanges, especially when you are working with a team. Your collaboration with your team will be less, and this will have a negative impact on overall team performance.
Example
Suppose your boss gives a project to you and your colleague. Your team members decided to discuss the key aspects of this project.
If you have a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issue, then you will lose your focus, struggle to interact with your team properly in case of any noise around you, and disrupt teamwork.
Even though the situation is common at work for other employees when they are together for group discussions.
Impact on Concentration and Focus
If you cannot ignore unnecessary stimuli around you, you won’t be able to focus on the task that is given to you at work, and once you lose your focus, your probability of making a mistake will be higher. This will result in you being a less productive employee at work simply because of the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issue.
Example
Suppose you are an accountant for your company and are making a report. If you have an issue with avoidable stimuli, then you will lose your focus and start making mistakes in the report. Here you may think:
How can I improve my focus at work? (If I have a Sensory Processing Disorder issue) or Can I completely overcome my sensory processing disorder issue?
You can improve your focus only by practicing to ignore unnecessary stimuli or signals. The more you try to ignore such stimuli, the more it will help you develop your focus on work.
However, you should also understand that you cannot completely get rid of this problem, or maybe your situation is more complicated, e.g., you have an internal distraction issue, but you can try to overcome it by following some steps that train your mind to ignore singles around you at work.
Social Dynamics and Workplace Relationships
A person with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) has an issue with socializing with colleagues at the workplace. It is also hard to understand non-verbal cues during interactions with colleagues and superiors.
While you are aware of social dynamics at the workplace, it plays a very key role in positioning yourself with colleagues and building a long-lasting relationship. Here you may think:
Why is it hard to make a relationship or social interaction at work? (If you have a Sensory Processing Disorder issue)
If you have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), which is a neurological condition of your brain in which you avoid meeting in a crowded place, are very sensitive to touch, or have a problem with physical contact with colleagues, then, of course, you would not be able to socialize properly or make any relationship easily, and your colleagues would also have the same feeling for you when they think about social interaction with you at work. After understanding the difficulties, the question is:
Why is social interaction important in the workplace?
Social connection facilitates a deeper understanding of one another as well as the potential strengths and weaknesses that each person has. As a result, you try to create an environment where each of you supports your colleague to complete the task properly and improve performance and productivity collectively.
Stress and Mental Health Implications With Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
If you cannot control or ignore these avoidable sensory challenges at the workplace, then sooner or later your mental well-being will be affected badly due to the fact that you feel stress and fatigue every day because of this Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) related challenges.
This means that our mental well-being is negatively affected by the stress that we experience every day at work, as we don’t avoid sensory challenges. But the questions may raise here:
How does stress affect our performance at work?
How do you correlate stress with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)?
Let’s find the answer to these two questions.
If you are under stress or have fatigue at work every day because of your Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issue, you cannot avoid everything around you easily. This will, of course, lead to losing your productivity over time because a healthy mind can be a resilient mind.
Stress is strongly correlated with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) due to the fact that when you cannot control your SPD-related issue, it brings stress and more fatigue for you.
Solution for Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) related matter at Workplace
After highlighting the complications related to SPD at the workplace and its outcomes, it is important to find a solution as well, because we know that this is a very serious issue at the workplace, but most importantly:
How you can overcome a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) related issue at the workplace?
How can organizations overcome Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) related matters effectively?
Let’s discuss the key points that help organizations tackle Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) related issues.
The Need for Workplace Accommodations
If an individual is skilled and well qualified but has an issue with a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), then you or your organization should accommodate such employees because this is a childhood issue, and you or your organization as a whole has to address this issue by making some simple adjustments.
Example
If your employee is going through a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issue, then you can overcome this issue by making a flexible schedule for such individuals, and most importantly, you can create a sensory-friendly workspace. These supportive attitudes and actions help individuals optimize their performance.
Advocacy and Awareness at Workplace
The best approach for you to handle Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issues at work is to bring awareness at the organizational level. If your employees are aware of this problem, then they will help you develop a culture of support and understanding within the organization. Here the question is:
How can you raise awareness in your organization about the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issue?
If you educate your employees and management about this issue, then it will automatically raise their awareness in your organization. You should also explain briefly to them the challenges that any individual faces with a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
The more they are aware, the more they will show a positive attitude toward employees who are having problems with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
Accepting Diversity and Inclusion
You know better that organizations always focus on diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a unique aspect of the human experience that needs to acknowledge and understand this diversity in how people process sensory information.
So if you accept diversity in your organization, you basically value the strengths and challenges of each individual at the workplace, including those facing Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issues. When you understand that everyone is unique and accept this difference, you will make your workplace environment healthy and supportive.
Legal Implications and Rights for Sensory Processing Disorder People
Even though organizations can overcome this issue in different ways, if we talk about rights and legal implications related to this matter, it is important to keep in mind that in many countries there are some laws to protect employees with such disabilities, especially Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), which is our key point. But the question is:
How can you protect your employee’s rights? (Employees with Sensory Processing Disorder issue)
You can protect and ensure their rights by giving them an equal chance to continue their job and play their role confidently within the organization. It should be your responsibility as a manager or organization itself to accommodate such an individual who has any disability or issue with their Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
If we put you in that position as an individual or employee of the company, then, of course, you may think.
How can I protect my rights in my company if I have a disability or issue with Sensory Processing Disorder)?
You can protect your rights if you know the rules and policies that your government has implemented for those who have issues with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or any other disability. If you know the rules and policies, you can easily face and handle this situation due to the fact that the country where you are working has some policies that empower you to handle any situation that you face because of your specific disabilities.
What we suggest to you here
Although understanding such rules and policies that help you at work is crucial, the most important thing is to work on your Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issue, take some steps to overcome this issue and continue your professional career confidently and effectively.
Here you may think:
How can I work on my Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in my personal space and overcome issues by myself?
What strategy can I use to overcome my Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issue (in my personal space)?
If you want to overcome this issue in your personal space or capacity, then we suggest you follow these points.
Strategy to overcome Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) individually
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Quiz
You can overcome this issue by taking an online Sensory Processing Discoder test that helps you understand and assess the issue that you may face, particularly sensory sensitivity.
Online support channel
Furthermore, you can join the community support group on internet even Facebook or any other platform where you will see people share their thoughts and approaches to dealing with this problem, and this will help you make any adjustments to your Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
Occupational therapists
Besides all these approaches, we suggest you find an occupational therapist because such therapists also use quizzes and assessment strategies for your sensory needs and then offer you better ways to overcome this issue in your personal space.
This would help you to overcome this issue in your personal space, but remember that we offer you solutions that may not always work but are of course useful generally to overcome the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)-related problem.
To sum up this discussion with final remarks, it is important to know what you achieved with this discussion
No doubt you can face complex situations at the workplace because of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), but it is critical to acknowledge and manage the effects of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). If you accommodate such individuals and bring awareness to your organization, then you can overcome this issue.
Furthermore, if you make an environment supportive and adoptable, then individuals with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or any other disability would be treated positively, which would allow them to use their skills and bring value to the organization effectively.
We have the capability to address this issue by leveraging our own capacities and implementing the strategic approaches we’ve previously discussed. By doing so, we can effectively minimize the impact of this issue and work towards betterment.
What’s the bottom line for you?
The bottom line is that an individual with a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) issue has a negative impact on their performance at the workplace, but this problem can be overcome individually and collectively at the organizational level.
What do we hope from you?
We hope that this discussion has improved your understanding of how Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) impacts individual performance at work and how to overcome this issue effectively at the personal and organizational level.
Important Note for Readers
In addition to exploring sensory processing disorder, which presents unique challenges in the workplace, you may also find value in understanding the role of sensory perception in optimizing your performance. Discover how leveraging sensory perception can become a powerful asset in your professional life by reading our brief article on the topic: ‘Sensory Perception and Performance: A Secret Strategy for Workplace Success.’ Take the next step towards maximizing your potential in the workplace.
If you have any questions to ask, you are welcome to leave a comment below or get in touch with us at support@workwisdoms.com
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