What is Sensory Processing?

We all have our own unique sensory preferences. As we grow and develop, we figure out what our own bodies need to calm us or alert us. 

From the moment we get up in the morning until we go to bed, our sensory system guides us through each interaction we have with our environment which can shape our decisions, emotions and the connections we make.

As adults, we process sensory input from our environment, create an appropriate response, and make adaptations to our daily experiences.

The more we understand our own sensory preferences, the better we can support ourselves and communicate our needs. 

What is sensory processing and how does our sensory system work?

Sensory processing is the process of how our brain and nervous system receives, filters and responds to sensory information from the environment. 

This process is important for the brain and nervous system to be able to effectively register and interpret the sensory input from the environment to help make sense of the world around us. When we do this effectively, we successfully control the degree to which we are affected by sensory inputs.  

Sensory modulation is the ability to respond appropriately to sensory information and remain at an appropriate level of alertness for activities. It is how we regulate sensory input in order to prevent us from over or under reacting to sensations.

We all have our own sensory preferences (things we like and don’t like) and this can influence our choices and lifestyles.

Sensory integration difficulties occur when these systems have difficulty interpreting and responding to sensory stimuli correctly. This can then lead to difficulties in completing our day to day tasks.

You may see in children presentations of under-sensitivity (hyposensitive) where a child takes in too little sensory stimuli,  or oversensitivity (hypersensitive) where a child takes in too much sensory stimuli. For example, a child may be overly sensitive to sounds, leading to difficulty concentrating in the classroom or discomfort in noisy environments. Or, you may see a child seeking tactile input, touching everything around them to fulfill their sensory needs. 

Why is it important?

‘When a child is well-regulated, he adapts to changes in the environment, has a level of arousal and attention appropriate to the task, blocks out irrelevant information, attends to relevant information, and responds appropriately in direct proportion to the input. Behaviorally, sensory modulation thus refers to the observable ability of a child to produce “responses that match the demands and expectations of the environment” (Lane, 2002).’

Children’s sensory systems have to work a little harder to regulate their bodies and they require greater amounts of sensory input. The skills young children need to engage in daily activities and learning develop well if their sensory systems have received enough input and they are functioning properly, allowing their bodies to take in sensory information and create adaptive responses. Understanding of our own sensory systems, directly links with our ability to be able to regulate. For more information on self-regulation, please check out our blog post here https://www.cooeespeech.com.au/2020/07/how-do-children-learn-to-self-regulate. 

Being able to process sensory input is crucial in a child’s development and is integral to their overall growth and capacity to learn. This involves the brain receiving, interpreting and then responding to information that it has received through the senses.  This supports the development of a child’s emotional skills, cognitive skills, and social skills as it underpins a child’s ability to not only learn but adapt to their surroundings. 

Did you know we have eight sensory systems that deliver information to our brain? 

We have five outward-facing sensory systems (external)  and three “hidden” (internal) sensory systems. Let’s take a look at our sensory system…

1. Tactile ( sense of touch): The ability to interpret information coming into the body from the receptors in the skin. 
2. Auditory (sense of hearing): The ability to interpret information from what is heard.
3. Visual (sense of sight): The ability to interpret information from what is seen.
4. Gustary (sense of taste): The ability to interpret information from items in and around the mouth.
5. Olfactory (sense of smell): The ability to interpret smells. 
6. Vestibular (sense of balance and movement): The ability to interpret information relating to movement and balance. This sense interprets the information that comes into our inner ear to give our nervous system information about movement, head position, change of direction and gravitational pull. 
7. Proprioceptive  (sense of body awareness):  The ability to interpret where our body parts are in relation to each other and to the environment. This sense uses information from the nerves, muscles and bones to inform our nervous system about the position of our body in space. 
8. Interoception (sense of our internal state/organs): The ability to feel our internal organs and skin which allows us to understand the internal state of condition of our body (e.g. feeling hungry, tired, or full). If you would like more information on interoception and how interoceptive awareness is important for regulation, please check out our blog post by our OT Kiara here (https://www.cooeespeech.com.au/2023/08/what-is-interoception). 

The outward facing systems provide us with important information regarding our environment and help keep us safe, while our internal systems provide us with information about our internal world that keeps our bodies balanced, regulated and organises our movements. Together, these systems help to keep us safe and provide necessary information about what is happening around us. 

How can occupational therapists help?

When children have difficulties across various sensory systems where they cause frequent disruption to their daily tasks or routines, or impact their engagement in their learning environment, occupational therapists can provide a pivotal role in supporting sensory processing.

Occupational therapists can support children to understand their unique sensory preferences to be able to do the things that are meaningful to them, along with educating and empowering caregivers with strategies to support their child’s sensory needs across their environments. 

If you have any concerns with your child’s sensory processing, or you would like some more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Occupational Therapists via [email protected] or call us in the clinic on (07) 32654495. 

Edited and Updated by Helena Manicaros, 2024 (Occupational Therapist)

Originally written by Bre Surawski, 2019 (Occupational Therapist)

References:

Costa-López B, Ferrer-Cascales R, Ruiz-Robledillo N, Albaladejo-Blázquez N, Baryła-Matejczuk M. Relationship between Sensory Processing and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2021 Aug 31;10(17):3961. doi: 10.3390/jcm10173961. PMID: 34501408; PMCID:PMC8432132.

Dunn, W. (2007). Supporting children to participate successfully in everyday life by using sensory processing knowledge. Infant and Young Children, 20, 84-101.

Lane, S. J. (2002). Sensory modulation. In A. C. Bundy, S. J. Lane, & E. A. Murray (Eds.), Sensory integration: Theory and practice (2nd ed., pp. 101–122). F A Davis.