28/07/2026
Having connective tissue conditions can underlie both hypermobility and dyspraxia.
The link between this and neurodiversity - is that connective tissue conditions can also impact the senses.
Collagen is one of the body’s essential building blocks. In people with connective tissue conditions, collagen works differently.
This difference changes the way the senses take in information and the way they mature.
It also changes the way each neurodivergent child experiences the world around them.
Here are just a few examples of sensory differences:
⭐️ Hyper-vision differences – intense Myopia (short-sightedness) can create a “zoomed in” visual experience, meaning the world may appear visually busier than it does for their peers. This can lead to both overwhelm and an intense focus on specific visual input.
⭐️ Hypo-vision differences – Visual differences such as astigmatism and binocular vision difficulties can make it harder to maintain focus in busy environments, leading to challenges with concentration.
⭐️ Hearing – Hypermobility affecting the ears can change the way sound is conducted and influence the rate at which the auditory system matures. Some children may hear a wider range of sounds, creating a blanket of noise that makes it harder to access speech during early language development.
⭐️ Skin – Connective tissue differences can make the skin more sensitive, meaning clothing may feel scratchy or even painful. These differences can also alter pain perception, with some children being either hyper-aware or hypo-aware of pain.
⭐️ Inflammation – Connective tissue differences and hypermobility can also be exacerbated by inflammation, which is linked to both physical and psychological stressors.
Until we begin researching sensory differences more deeply, we will never fully understand neurodivergence.
That is why we need to move towards the Neurosensory Divergence Framework.
Within this framework, sensory access is considered the driving force that shapes neurology and, ultimately, neurodivergent traits.
Motor ➡️ Sensory ➡️ Neurology ➡️ Traits
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