If you’re a parent exploring Occupational Therapy (OT) for your child, you’ve likely come across the word “sensory” more times than you can count. But what does it really mean?

Why do OTs talk about sensory systems so much, and how does this relate to your child’s development and everyday life? This blog will introduce you to the eight sensory systems, how they work together, and why understanding them is crucial for supporting children’s growth and participation in meaningful activities.

 

 

What are the Sensory Systems?

Our sensory systems are part of our nervous system, which takes in information from the world around us through our senses, processes it, and helps us interpret and respond to our environment. While many people are familiar with the five traditional senses, there are actually eight sensory systems:

Visual (Sight): How we interpret what we see, such as shapes, colors, and movement.

Auditory (Hearing): How we process sounds, including volume, pitch, and rhythm. 

Olfactory (Smell): How we recognise and interpret different scents/smells.

Gustatory (Taste): How we identify and respond to flavours/taste.

Tactile (Touch): How we perceive sensations through our touch, our skin, and our mouth like through pressure, texture, and temperature.

Vestibular (Balance and Movement): How we sense our body’s position and movement in space, controlled by structures in the inner ear.

Proprioceptive (Body Awareness): How we sense where our body parts are and how they move, informed by receptors in muscles and joints.

Interoceptive (Internal Body Signals): How we recognise internal cues like hunger, thirst, the need to use the bathroom, or emotional states.

 

So what is ‘Sensory Processing’?

Sensory processing refers to the way the brain interprets and responds to sensory input. This process can be broken down into three key areas: Sensory Modulation, Sensory Discrimination, and Sensory-Motor Integration. Each plays a distinct role in how we experience and respond to the world around us.

1. Sensory Modulation

Sensory modulation is the ability to regulate responses to sensory input in a way that matches the demands of the situation. Difficulties with sensory modulation can result in:

  • Over-responsiveness: Children might be hypersensitive to sensory input, such as covering their ears in response to loud sounds or avoiding certain textures in food or clothing.
  • Under-responsiveness: Some children might seem unaware of sensory input, such as not noticing when their name is called or appearing clumsy and unaware of their body position.
  • Sensory seeking: Others may actively seek out sensory input, such as spinning, crashing into furniture, or chewing on objects to meet their sensory needs.

2. Sensory Discrimination

Sensory discrimination involves the brain’s ability to differentiate between and interpret sensory input accurately. Challenges in this area might look like:

  • Difficulty distinguishing between similar sounds, such as “b” and “d.”
  • Trouble identifying where their body is in space, which can affect balance and coordination.
  • Difficulty identifying textures, shapes, or sizes through touch, such as not recognizing objects in their pocket without looking.

Children with sensory discrimination difficulties may require more time to process sensory input or might misinterpret information, leading to frustration or difficulty with certain tasks.

3. Sensory-Motor Integration

Sensory-motor integration refers to the brain’s ability to use sensory input to guide motor actions. This is crucial for coordinated movement and physical tasks. Difficulties in this area can look like:

  • Trouble planning and executing movements, such as catching a ball or using a pencil.
  • Difficulty transitioning between activities due to poor integration of sensory and motor information.
  • Challenges with postural control or balance, making activities like sitting upright or climbing more difficult.

 

 

How do Sensory Systems Develop and Work Together?

From birth, children begin learning about the world through their sensory systems. These systems work together to help us make sense of our environment, interact with others, and perform daily tasks. For example:

  • A child learning to eat uses their gustatory, olfactory, tactile, and proprioceptive systems to explore food textures, tastes, and how to chew.
  • Playing on a swing involves the vestibular system for balance, the proprioceptive system for grip strength, and the visual system for tracking movement.

When sensory systems develop smoothly, children are better able to regulate their emotions, focus on tasks, and engage in meaningful activities. However, some children may experience sensory differences, leading to challenges in processing or responding to sensory information.

 

Why do OTs focus on Sensory Processing and Systems?

Occupational Therapists talk about sensory systems because they play a foundational role in nearly every aspect of a child’s life. Sensory challenges can impact:

  • Daily Routines and Participation: A child might struggle with tasks like brushing their teeth due to tactile sensitivity (e.g., discomfort with the feeling of the toothbrush bristles), motor planning challenges (difficulty coordinating the steps involved), or sensitivity to gustatory or olfactory inputs (such as the taste or smell of toothpaste). Similarly, sitting at the dinner table could be impacted by proprioceptive needs (e.g., difficulty sensing where their body is in space), vestibular needs (e.g., feeling unsteady when sitting), tactile sensitivities (e.g., discomfort with the texture of the chair or food), or auditory sensitivities (e.g., being overwhelmed by the sound of others eating).
  • Social Interactions and Learning: Difficulty processing sensory input can make environments like noisy and busy classrooms overwhelming and difficult to focus on what’s the most important sensory input at the time.
  • Emotional Regulation: Sensory differences can lead to heightened anxiety, meltdowns, or difficulty calming down.

By understanding how sensory systems function, OTs can:

  • Identify whether a child’s behaviours are linked to sensory needs.
  • Develop personalised strategies and supports to help children process sensory input more effectively.
  • Create environments that reduce sensory overload or provide the sensory input a child seeks.

 

The Individual Sensory Profile

Every child is unique, and their sensory needs will vary. Some children might:

  • Seek sensory input, such as spinning, chewing on objects, crashing into furniture, or engaging in repetitive movements to fulfill their sensory needs.
  • Avoid certain sensory experiences, including loud noises, messy textures, bright lights, or crowded spaces, which may feel overwhelming or uncomfortable.
  • Have mixed responses depending on the situation, such as enjoying movement in one context but avoiding it in another, or seeking touch at times and avoiding it at others.
  • Show heightened sensitivity to specific sensations, like being overly aware of clothing tags or the texture of certain foods.
  • Require additional sensory input to engage, such as needing deep pressure or rhythmic movements to focus and feel calm.

Understanding these varied responses helps guide how we support each child’s sensory needs in a personalised and compassionate way.

An OT will work with you to understand your child’s sensory profile and how it influences their behaviour and experiences. This collaborative approach ensures strategies are tailored to your child’s specific needs and strengths.

 

When should I consider seeking support for my child?

Sensory differences are a natural part of human diversity. However, you might want to explore OT support if sensory challenges are:

  • Interfering with daily routines or tasks, such as struggling to dress due to discomfort with clothing textures, avoiding brushing teeth because of the feel or taste of toothpaste, or refusing meals due to the smell or texture of foods.
  • Leading to frequent meltdowns, frustration, or avoidance behaviours, such as becoming overwhelmed in noisy environments, refusing to participate in group activities, or withdrawing from social interactions.
  • Making social or learning environments particularly difficult for your child, including challenges with focusing in the classroom due to auditory distractions, difficulty sitting still during circle time, or avoidance of playground equipment because of fear of movement or balance issues.
  • Impacting emotional regulation, such as difficulty calming down after sensory overload or heightened reactions to seemingly minor sensory inputs.

If these challenges are affecting your child’s ability to participate in daily life, OT can provide valuable insights and strategies tailored to their sensory needs.

 

Next Steps If You Need Support

If you feel your child is facing sensory challenges that affect their daily life, seeking support from an Occupational Therapist can be a valuable next step. At Happy Learners, we can help you understand your child’s sensory profile and develop strategies tailored to their unique needs and strengths.

Here’s how we can help:

  • Assess your child’s sensory processing and identify areas where they may need support.
  • Collaborate with you to create a plan that addresses your child’s specific needs and empowers them to participate more fully in daily routines and activities.
  • Provide tools and strategies to help your child regulate their sensory input and build confidence in their abilities.

Want to enquire about OT with our team? Get in touch now!

Every child deserves to feel understood and supported. Taking the step to learn more about sensory systems and how they affect your child is a powerful way to help them grow and thrive.