Defiance or Tactile Defensiveness – Autism Parenting Magazine

An occupational therapy assistant shares tips for understanding and coping with tactile defensiveness.

Michael struggles to get ready for school each morning and is often late. His mother reports that he seems to overreact to every task he is asked to do. When it’s time to get dressed, his clothes are “too scratchy.”

When he combs his hair, he complains, “It’s too pokey.” Even eating his breakfast is a challenge, with him moaning, “This oatmeal is slimy.”

Michael seems to cry and complain about almost everything that has to do with getting ready, and mornings have become a dreaded part of the day. His parents aren’t sure what to do.

They have been told that these behaviors are just a part of being a kid, but Michael’s mom can’t get away from the idea that something else is going on with her son. Michael exhibits symptoms of tactile defensiveness.

What is tactile defensiveness?

Tactile defensiveness is a term used to describe an individual who is overly sensitive to touch. Sometimes, even a light touch can feel painful to someone with tactile defensiveness. It is commonly reported by both children and adults with autism.

Jean Ayres, an American occupational therapist and clinical psychologist, thought that tactile defensiveness occurred because the brain is paying too much attention to light touch, and instead of taking cues from the discriminative pathway, the brain keeps focusing on the light touch and perceives it as a threat. The body then goes into a “fight, flight, or freeze” response. The individual, in turn, feels extremely uncomfortable and just wants to get away from the cause of the discomfort. (Lane,2019) Symptoms of tactile defensiveness may include the following:

• Being unable to tolerate the feel of certain fabrics or clothing against the skin
• Avoiding messy or sticky textures such as glue or fingerpaint
• Dislikes being touched by others
• Is greatly bothered by the feeling of tags in their clothing
• Dislikes certain food textures and is sensitive to mixing different food textures
• Avoids brushing teeth
• Dislikes having fingernails or toenails cut

These are just a few of the symptoms, and tactile defensiveness is not a formal diagnosis given by a doctor, but your doctor can refer your child to an Occupational Therapist (OT). An OT would complete a Sensory Profile of your child to determine areas of concern, and implement coping strategies enabling your child to overcome their sensory sensitivities. (Solomon,2021)

Here are a few simple things you can incorporate now, if you suspect tactile defensiveness in your child:

• Use a firmer touch with your child; don’t squeeze, but avoid touching them lightly
• Give them heavier items to carry, such as bags of groceries; the heavier weight may feel relieving to them
• Encourage them to explore different textures; let them choose some new play dough or fingerpaint

With the right help, many children and their caregivers are able to learn coping strategies and can overcome the discomfort of tactile defensiveness.