Sensory processing
Help, I feel everything at once!
Does the ticking of a clock drive you mad while someone else needs it to fall asleep? Everyone registers and processes sensory information in their own way.
Sensory processing as a mixing desk
Our senses work together like the knobs of a mixing desk. The brain selects and combines information so we can respond appropriately in class, at home, on the road or at work. If one channel is set very sensitive or less sensitive, it influences behaviour and energy.
More than five senses
Besides hearing, sight, touch, smell and taste, three internal systems play a big role. Proprioception tells you where body parts are and how much force you use. The vestibular system registers movement and balance. Interoception helps notice signals such as hunger, thirst, heartbeat and tension.
How differences become visible
- Auditory sensitivity can make sounds overwhelming, or make someone seek out strong sounds instead.
- Touch influences how clothing, physical contact, dirt or materials are experienced.
- Proprioceptive processing plays a part in pen pressure, posture and the need for firm movement.
- Vestibular stimuli can make swinging wonderful or quickly trigger nausea.
- Interoception helps recognise bodily signals and respond to them in time.
When support helps
Everyone is over- or understimulated at times. When this disrupts learning, sleep, relationships or daily activities, an occupational therapist can take a sensory profile. Together you then look for strategies and environmental adaptations that fit better.
This information is general and does not replace personal medical or therapeutic advice.
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