Is Migraine a Sensory Processing Disorder?
Key Questions
- What is a sensory processing disorder?
- Is migraine considered a sensory processing disorder?
- Why do normal stimuli feel intense or painful for people with migraine?
- Does sensory processing difficulty worsen with chronic migraine and lessen with improvement?
- What is happening in the brain when allodynia occurs, and why is it important?
- How is migraine similar to and different from sensory processing differences in conditions like autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
- What changes can people make in their surroundings to help with light, sound, scent, or motion sensitivity?
- Besides medication, are there skills or habits that can raise the brain’s tolerance to sensory input over time?
- What can someone do during an acute episode of migraine or sensory overload?
Amaal J. Starling, MD, FAHS, FAAN
Neurologist
Mayo Clinic
Dr. Amaal J. Starling is an associate professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. She joined the Mayo Clinic in 2012 and is currently a consultant within the Department of Neurology and the program director for the Headache Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Starling received her MD from the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. She completed a transitional year residency, a neurology residency, and a headache fellowship at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Dr. Starling is an active member of numerous migraine advocacy organizations, including the American Headache Society (AHS), the American Migraine Foundation, and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). She is also involved in events supporting migraine, including Headache on the Hill, Miles for Migraine, and the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy. Dr. Starling is currently serving on the AHS board of directors and is the chair of the AHS Advocacy Committee and a member of the AHS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. Dr. Starling has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the AHS Above and Beyond Award for Service, Manfred D. Muenter Award for Excellence in Clinical Neurology, the AAN Annual Meeting Residency Scholarship, the 2012 Spirit of Mayo Clinic Award, and the Mayo Brothers Distinguished Fellowship Award.
Dr. Starling has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and abstracts related to her fields of interest, which include migraine, concussion, post-traumatic headache, neuromodulation, and telemedicine. Dr. Starling’s hope is that her research and advocacy will advance care for people with migraine, post-traumatic headache, and other headache disorders. She envisions a future in which all people with headache disorders receive personalized, effective, and well-tolerated treatment options to improve their quality of life.
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The American Migraine Foundation (AMF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of research and awareness surrounding migraine, a disabling condition that impacts more than 37 million men, women and children in the United States. The AMF was founded in 2010 to provide global access to information and resources for individuals with migraine as well as their family and friends.
