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Consultant psychologist Bijal Chheda says sensory overload may help explain some children’s difficulties at school, including trouble focusing, distress over clothing, fidgeting and exhaustion. These signs can have other causes, so recurring problems that affect learning or wellbeing should be discussed with the school and an appropriate health professional.
A MadeForMums report outlines seven signs that psychologist Dr Bijal Chheda says could point to sensory overload at school, including difficulty concentrating, discomfort with uniform and exhaustion after class. The guidance matters to families because these behaviours can be mistaken for misbehaviour, but none of the signs alone establishes a cause.
Chheda, a consultant psychologist and founder of Nos Curare, says that a classroom’s background noise, movement and competing distractions may make it harder for some children to focus, even if they can concentrate on an activity at home. Attention difficulties can also have other possible explanations, including ADHD and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. The report advises parents to seek professional guidance if an ongoing pattern affects learning.
Other signs described include resistance to a school uniform because of a scratchy fabric, seam or label; frequent fidgeting; and intense distress after a seemingly small problem. Chheda says movement can help some children regulate themselves, while a meltdown may follow hours of coping with an overwhelming environment. She recommends allowing a distressed child time to settle before discussing what happened.
The report also lists difficulty with assemblies, repeated stomach aches and being unusually tired after school. Assemblies may combine amplified sound, bright lights and crowds. Chheda says prolonged stress can cause real stomach discomfort, though recurring or worrying pain should be discussed with a health professional. A quiet period after school and comfortable clothing may help a child decompress, according to the report.
When School Strain Affects Wellbeing
Recognizing a recurring pattern may help parents and teachers consider what is happening around a child, rather than focusing only on behaviour. If noise, crowds, clothing or unexpected changes repeatedly precede distress, that information could help families discuss practical adjustments with the school.
The report does not present sensory overload as a diagnosis or a single explanation for classroom difficulties. Concentration problems, tiredness, stomach pain and emotional reactions may have different causes. Looking at when and where they happen can help guide a conversation, while professional advice can help address concerns about a child’s learning, health or development.
Seven Patterns Across the School Day
The report follows a child’s day from getting dressed to returning home. Its examples are classroom distractions, uniform discomfort, fidgeting, meltdowns, assemblies, stomach aches and after-school exhaustion. Chheda links these possible signs to the sensory demands of school, such as noise, movement, bright lights, crowds and physical sensations from clothing.
Some suggestions in the report include asking a child what feels uncomfortable, considering a softer layer or removing an irritating label, and discussing possible access to a quieter space. It also mentions noise-cancelling headphones or a fidget tool as options that may help some children. These are presented as possible adjustments, not as a guaranteed solution for every child.
“The source describes the signs as ways sensory overload “can show up at school.””
— Dr Bijal Chheda, as quoted in the MadeForMums report
What the Signs Cannot Establish
The report provides general guidance rather than an assessment of any individual child. It does not establish how common sensory overload is, nor does it provide research findings or a method for distinguishing it from other causes. The source excerpt ends before completing its final sentence about when parents should seek further support, so any additional advice from the original report is unavailable here.
It is also unclear whether any particular adjustment will help a given child. Persistent stomach pain, difficulties with attention, meltdowns and tiredness can each warrant different kinds of support. A parent’s observations may identify a pattern, but they cannot by themselves confirm sensory overload, autism, ADHD or a learning difficulty.
Discuss Recurring Patterns With School
Parents who notice repeated difficulties can record what happened beforehand, where it took place and how it affected the child. The report suggests speaking with the school to find out whether staff observe similar triggers or patterns during the day. Families can then discuss whether a practical adjustment or further support may be appropriate.
If a pattern is affecting learning or wellbeing, parents can seek guidance from an appropriate professional. Concerns about possible autism should be discussed with a healthcare professional who can consider the child’s wider development and whether assessment may be useful. The report does not identify a specific next policy change, deadline or follow-up announcement.
Key Questions
What are the seven signs described in the report?
They are difficulty focusing in class, discomfort with school uniform, frequent fidgeting, intense reactions to small problems, difficulty with assemblies, repeated stomach aches and exhaustion after school. Each may have other explanations.
Do these signs mean a child has sensory overload?
No. The report says none of the signs automatically means sensory overload. They are possible clues to discuss in light of a child’s circumstances and any other concerns.
What should parents do if the pattern keeps happening?
Parents can note possible triggers and ask the school whether staff see similar patterns. If the difficulties affect learning, wellbeing or a child’s ability to cope, the report advises seeking professional guidance.
Can stomach aches be related to school stress?
Chheda says prolonged stress can cause genuine stomach discomfort, but the report cautions against assuming that is the cause. Persistent or worrying pain should be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional.
Source: rss
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