Every moment of our lives is shaped by sensory experiences—what we see, hear, touch, taste, and feel, both inside and outside our bodies. However, we all process this information in unique ways, influencing how we respond to the world around us. It is important we understand Sensory Processing and how our senses shape daily lives.
Some people may be highly sensitive to certain stimuli, while others might barely register them. Understanding sensory processing can help us recognize our individual needs, develop strategies for self-regulation, and create environments that support our well-being. By exploring how we engage with sensory inputs, we can better manage stress, enhance focus, and navigate daily life with greater ease.
The word “sensory” is used to mean a lot of things these days, which can be confusing, especially for parents of young children. Your doctor might say “your child has sensory needs”, but what does that mean?
Let’s start with the basics!
Did you know?
You actually have EIGHT, yes 8, senses!
The 5 basic senses people are often aware of include:
- Visual (sight)
- Auditory (hearing)
- Tactile (touch)
- Olfactory (smell)
- Gustatory (taste)
The other 3 senses include:
- Vestibular (balance, movement)
- Proprioception (sense of muscles and joints- awareness of body in space, coordination)
- Interoception (sense of internal organs)
Your sensory systems begin developing in utero and continue to develop after birth. They are intertwined, affected by many factors and can be complicated to understand.
Sensory systems are part of your nervous system. They take information from your environment and body, which are sent to your brain to process and in turn, you form a response to.
Examples:
- A fire alarm goes off – you cover your ears
- You feel hungry – you find something to eat
- You touch something sticky and don’t like it (or you love it!)
There is a threshold in which the majority of people have and tolerate sensory stimuli.
Others may have a lower or higher threshold, meaning they may be more sensitive or less sensitive to certain sensory stimuli.
- High Threshold (underresponsive)
- Children with high thresholds may appear underresponsive to certain stimuli, meaning it takes more input to elicit a response.
- Low Threshold (overresponsive)
- Children with low thresholds may appear overresponsive or sensitive to certain stimuli, meaning it takes less input to elicit a response.
Children may present with low registration, seeking patterns, sensitivity patterns or avoidance patterns. Keep in mind, they don’t need to just fall in one quadrant, and often fall in more than one, depending on the sensory system.
Chronic Resilience Lived Experience OT: Content created with support from resources by Tina Champagne and Winnie Dunn.
Sensory Modulation
Sensory modulation is an important part of sensory processing. Your brain interprets sensory information and forms a motor and behavioral response. Sensory modulation affects the ability to remain alert/engaged and not become too excited or too withdrawn for demands of tasks at different times and/or in different environments.
Occupational Therapy
Sensory processing delays or differences have a wide variety of causes. Children with sensory differences may struggle with attention, play, emotions, relationships, routines and activities of daily living.
Occupational therapy can support children with sensory processing difficulties. They will assess the child to determine their sensory profile and provide feedback, therapy and education about activities and strategies to best support development and regulation. Different sensory and sensorimotor activities can be used with children to help develop, regulate, improve attention and be more available to learn new skills.
Sensory strategies are often used to support children who are struggling. Sensory strategies are activities or adaptations in the environment used to help the child regulate and stay in the appropriate level of arousal. For example, a weighted blanket or dimmed lights may be used as sensory strategies. Sensory diets are also often used and are specific, structured activities done at certain times throughout the day to support sensory processing. Sensory diets use sensory strategies, but are a specific, structured, group of activities.
Written by: McKenna Donegon, MS, OTR/L – Leaps and Bounds Therapy OT
💬 Still Have Questions? We’re Here to Help.
At Leaps and Bounds Therapy, our occupational therapists are passionate about supporting children with sensory processing differences. If you’d like to learn more or schedule a consultation, we’d love to hear from you.
📞 Contact us at: (847) 242-1917 or admin@leapsandboundsil.com
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