Jerusalem, 13 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Nearly half of young children who survived the October 7, 2023 attacks developed atypical sensory responses, causing everyday sounds, movement and touch to be experienced as overwhelming threats, according to new research, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced on Monday.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Occupational Therapy, is among the first to document how trauma from war can reshape the way children physically experience the world, not just emotionally but neurologically, the researcher who led the study told The Press Service of Israel.
“The children presented exceptional patterns of sensory processing, with many disorders. What we’ve seen is that 54 percent of the children showed disorders, well above average. And the more the child had emotional anxiety, the sensory patterns were more acute,” Professor Yafit Gilboa from the School of Occupational Therapy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem explained to TPS-IL.
The study followed 37 children from communities near the Gaza border who were directly exposed to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack. Around 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 were taken as hostages to Gaza.
Ten months after the attacks, and while displaced from their homes, many children continued to show significant disruptions in how their nervous systems processed routine sensory input, the study found.
For these children, ordinary stimuli such as a soft touch, lights or background noise were no longer perceived as neutral, Gilboa said. Instead, they often triggered heightened sensitivity or avoidance, placing the children in a near-constant state of alert.
The findings, based on parental responses to a standard questionnaire, suggest that the impact of trauma extends beyond fear and anxiety, affecting basic sensory functions that shape how children interact with their surroundings.
According to the study, the implications are particularly significant given the developmental stage of the children studied. Early childhood is a critical period for learning, social interaction and brain development. When everyday environments become overwhelming, these processes can be disrupted.
Against the backdrop of ongoing security tensions and frequent air raid sirens, the study highlights how persistent exposure to stressors may continue to shape children’s sensory and emotional responses long after the initial trauma.
The study’s practical applications center on recognizing that trauma can make everyday sounds, touch and movement feel overwhelming. The study Calls for earlier screening of sensory issues in healthcare settings, greater integration of occupational therapy into trauma care and tailored interventions that help children regulate their nervous systems.
It also suggests that schools and caregivers adapt environments by reducing sensory overload, creating calm spaces and using structured routines. In broader terms, it supports designing child-friendly shelters and emergency spaces and shaping long-term recovery policies that treat sensory regulation as a core part of trauma rehabilitation.
Gilboa recommended integrating occupational therapists into treatment teams to help identify sensory challenges early and provide practical tools for families. Adjusting environments and responses to sensory triggers, she said, could help children regain a sense of safety in daily life.
“Occupational therapists can diagnose disorders in sensory processing and provide help that promotes everyday functionality, adapted to the developmental stage of the child. It’s as important as receiving emotional psychological help,” Gilboa said.