1 day Ago By Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Children arguing, loud noise level from children, and messiness from toys and clutter were the most common causes of sensory overload experienced by parents Newswise — Sensory overload, or overstimulation through the five senses that feels like too much for the brain to handle, was reported by nearly three in four parents in Illinois, according to a survey from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The top three causes of parental sensory overload were children arguing, loud noise level from children, and messiness from toys and clutter.
“Sensory overload in parents has received little research despite being a very common experience, as our survey revealed,” said the report’s lead author Marie Heffernan, PhD , Director of Voices of Child Health in Communities at Lurie Children’s and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Parents are often overwhelmed, and our previous work found that more than half of parents reported their stress level had increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.” The survey on sensory overload included over 1,000 parents in Illinois from both urban and rural areas.
Parents living in metropolitan areas were more likely to report experiencing sensory overload (75 percent) compared with parents residing in more rural areas (55 percent). The survey results show that mothers and fathers experienced sensory overload at about the same levels. The likelihood of sensory overload also did not differ among parents of young children and parents of teenagers.
Parents who were married, however, were more likely to experience sensory overload (76 percent) than single parents (67 percent). The top causes of sensory overload in parents were: “To combat sensory overload, parents can start by knowing their triggers so they can plan to avoid them. For example, parents can try to avoid scheduling back-to-back activities that will be overstimulating or demand a lot of their energy,” said co-author Carolyn Foster, MD, MS , a pediatrician at Lurie Children’s and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
“We also encourage parents to prioritize downtime and self-care, as well as taking a moment to calm the senses when they start to feel overwhelmed. This is important for optimizing the wellbeing of the entire family.” Dr.
Foster is the Yaeger Family Research Scholar at Lurie Children’s. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child.
It is the only independent, research-driven children’s hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children’s resources are devoted to serving their needs.
Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.
S. News & World Report..
