People with ADHD may experience heightened sensitivity to clothing. Individuals may feel triggered by the texture of certain fabrics and how they feel against their skin. Choosing clothing that doesn’t irritate the skin or feel restrictive can help.

A person with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can often experience stimuli, such as touch and sound, more intensely.

It can cause them to feel easily overwhelmed by their environment and find it difficult to regulate their emotions and reactions to stimuli that others may easily ignore or filter out.

This is similar to Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), where the brain processes and responds intensely to sensory information. While the symptoms of ADHD and SPD can overlap, they are caused by different brain functions and often require different treatment options.

Learn more about the relationship between sensory overload from clothing in ADHD, the causes, and how to manage the symptoms.

Yes, ADHD can often cause heightened sensitivity to clothing. It can cause individuals to feel significant discomfort from how certain clothing feels against their bodies.

A 2024 study found a direct link between ADHD and touch sensitivity. The study authors noted that an overload of sensory information could affect functioning and should be considered by healthcare professionals when creating a treatment plan to help improve overall quality of life.

Sensitivity to clothing can include feeling irritated or uncomfortable by:

  • the texture of fabric, such as woolly or itchy material
  • tight-fitting or restrictive clothing
  • the smell of clothing
  • seams or tags on clothing

Every individual can experience clothing sensitivity differently. Some people may react more strongly to stimuli like fabric textures, while others may feel triggered by the smell or fit of a piece of clothing.

Common symptoms of sensory overload can include:

Children with ADHD may display the above behaviors when overstimulated, as well as throwing a tantrum or trying to get away and hide.

If you or your child is experiencing sensory overload from clothing, the following management techniques may help.

When choosing clothing:

  • Opt for comfortable fabrics that don’t irritate the skin, such as cotton.
  • Remove tags from clothing or choose tag-free garments.
  • Pick clothing that meets individual comfort needs, such as loose-fitting or lightweight garments.

When getting dressed:

  • Create a daily dressing routine that promotes feelings of comfort and calm.
  • Ensure there are options when choosing what to wear to avoid additional pressure.
  • Leave enough time to get dressed to reduce the chances of feeling rushed or stressed.

When caring for children with ADHD, it is important to ensure they feel they can form boundaries and maintain autonomy over their clothing. This can look like including them in as many aspects as possible when deciding on what to wear and how they get dressed.

This can help promote a low-pressure daily dressing routine and reduce frustration.

If you find that sensory overload is significantly affecting your day-to-day life, consider speaking with a healthcare professional, even if you do not have a diagnosis of ADHD.

They can speak with you about your symptoms and triggers, and consider a diagnosis of SPD. They can also work with you to create a treatment plan to help you improve your management of sensory input.

Yes, ADHD can cause clothing sensitivity. People with ADHD may feel overstimulated by the texture of certain fabrics or the fit of clothing against their bodies.

Sensory overload from ADHD can look different for each individual, but it may result in feelings of overwhelm, irritability, or restlessness. Some people may react by trying to block out the stimuli, such as putting their hand over their ears if they are triggered by sound.

Yes, ADHD can cause physical sensory issues. Individuals may experience heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as:

  • bright lights
  • loud noises
  • rough textures in both food and fabrics
  • strong smells

People with ADHD may experience heightened sensitivity to clothing, such as feeling discomfort from how certain fabrics feel against their bodies.

It can cause a person with ADHD to feel easily overwhelmed by their environment and find it difficult to regulate their emotions and reactions to stimuli that others may easily ignore or filter out.

Choosing clothing that doesn’t irritate the skin or feel restrictive can help. It can also be helpful to create a calm and comfortable dressing routine that offers different clothing options and reduces anxiety.

If you find that sensory overload is significantly affecting your day-to-day life, consider speaking with a healthcare professional, even if you do not have a diagnosis of ADHD.