best books SPD

Top 5 Best Books on Sensory Processing Disorder for Parents 

If someone you love has been diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), the first thing to help you cope is to learn all about it. Thankfully, we now have plenty of books available on the subject, so you don’t have to grope around in the dark. 

In our family, SPD was one of the first conditions we learned about. This list of the top 5 books on sensory processing disorder for parents includes those recommended by our occupational therapist, as well as books that I’ve personally read and benefited from myself. 

5 Books to Start Learning About Sensory Processing Disorder 

Here are our recommended Top 5 books for you to start on your journey of learning about sensory processing disorder: 

1. Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues by Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peake

sensory smart child book

One of the most comprehensive resources on the subject of sensory processing disorder, Raising a Sensory Smart Child is considered a classic book in the arena. It will give you all the foundation that you need to work with SPD. 

In addition to helping you understand how sensory processing works, it also comes with practical solutions to help you deal with daily challenges. It gives helpful suggestions for sensory diet activities to help meet your child’s sensory needs. 

Then, the book also teaches you how to be an emotional support for your child, while also advocating for his needs at school or the other communities he’s involved in. But it doesn’t stop there: it also gives lots of parenting tips and strategies for empowering your child to thrive in the world. 

Lastly, it also includes recommendations for therapy and professional help. All in all, we believe this is an all-in-one tool that every parent of a child with SPD can benefit from! 

2. The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Differences by Carol Stock Kranowitz

Delving into the intricacies of sensory processing disorder, The Out-of-Sync Child is another book considered to be a classic on the subject. It focuses on a drug-free approach that has been proven to be a ray of hope for many parents. It shares many examples of over-responsiveness and under-responsiveness, to help you identify your child’s unique traits.

The book also recognizes the common misdiagnosis problem related to SPD, helping parents and professionals spot the differences. The revised edition adds more information on these misdiagnoses, such as ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities. 

3. Everyday Games for Sensory Processing Disorder: 100 Playful Activities to Empower Children with Sensory Differences by Barbara Sher 

Sensory Processing Disorder doesn’t have to be a burden! Thanks to this book, you can have access to 100 fun activities to play with your child. 

Everyday Games for Sensory Processing Disorder starts off with an overview of SPD, so if even if you don’t buy a different book, you can still get your foundational facts in place. But it’s also recommended as the perfect companion to the two classics on SPD, Raising a Sensory Smart Child and The Out-of-Sync Child.

Then, it gives you ideas for games that make use of materials that you can easily find around the house. The author also designed the games for different levels of development, letting you adjust them for older kids. 

4. Understanding Your Child’s Sensory Signals: A Practical Daily Use Handbook for Parents and Teachers by Angie Voss

Understanding Your Child’s Sensory Signals is a handbook with practical strategies for every parent, teacher, and caregiver. It covers more than two hundred of the most common sensory cues that you can detect in your child, while also giving ample explanation to help you understand your child’s unique sensory needs and processing differences. 

Formatted as a daily application handbook, you can use this book on a daily basis while also using it as a reference guide. It includes techniques that area applicable for children with SPD, ADHD, autism, and other developmental activities. 

5. Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) by Lucy Jane Miller 

Author Dr. Miller is an internationally renowned expert with over forty years of research and experience on sensory processing disorder. Sensational Kids gives you a unique glimpse into the world of SPD for a more in-depth understanding and wise decisions relating to treatment and coping strategies. 

It includes a detailed explanation of the four major subtypes of SPD, how it is usually diagnosed, and treatment strategies to help children with SPD thrive not just in school but also in life. 

Sensory Processing Disorder Books 

We hope this list of our top 5 favorite sensory processing disorder books has been helpful for you. We believe that awareness is the first step towards helping the neurodivergent persons in our lives thrive to the best of their potential. 

Investing in resources like books is a critical step in exploring the world of neurodivergence. Once we get a better understanding, we can then engage with others in the same boat, and eventually fully embrace the gift that these individuals are in our lives.