Hearing a lawnmower, feeling a caress, hearing a background noise… For most children, these sensations are commonplace. But for those who have been exposed to war, they can become unbearable. A recent study highlights a phenomenon still little known to the general public: trauma can “reconfigure” the nervous system, to the point of transforming ordinary stimuli into real physical attacks.
When the senses become a source of danger
According to the researchers, nearly 48% of the children studied had sensory processing disorders. Concretely, their brain is no longer able to correctly interpret information from the environment.
Two opposing reactions can then appear:
- Extreme hypersensitivity (noises or contacts become painful).
- Or on the contrary sensory avoidance (the child flees certain sensations).
This phenomenon, sometimes described as a “sensory siege”, means that the outside world is no longer perceived as neutral. A simple distant sound can trigger an intense fear response, as if it were imminent danger.
A brain in a permanent state of alert
At the heart of this disorder is the nervous system. After a trauma, it remains stuck in “survival” mode. The brain, and particularly the areas involved in detecting threats, becomes hypersensitive.
Result: it no longer filters the information. Innocuous sounds, movements or even light contact are interpreted as warning signals. This constant hypervigilance prevents the child from relaxing and maintains chronic anxiety.
The study also shows a direct link between these sensory disorders and emotional difficulties: the more perceptions are disturbed, the more anxious or aggressive behaviors are marked.
A major obstacle to child development
These disruptions are not without consequences on daily life. Overwhelmed by stimuli, children have difficulty participating in school activities, concentrating or interacting with others.
However, these difficulties occur at a key period of brain development. Without support, they can lead to lasting delays, both socially and educationally.
Faced with this observation, researchers are calling for integrating more occupational therapists into care teams. Their role: to offer “sensory first aid”, with concrete tools to help the child relearn how to tolerate sensations (daily arrangements, soothing objects, adapted sensory programs).
This study reminds us that the scars of trauma are not only psychological. They are also inscribed in the body, at the very heart of sensations. Understanding these mechanisms is essential to better support children and allow them, gradually, to regain a feeling of security in the world around them.