Sensory Processing Difficulties
About Our Senses
Our senses are what help us to understand what is going on in our environment and how to respond to it, they do this by receiving sensory stimuli from around us and sending it via the central nervous system to our brain.
The most well-known senses are:
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Visual (Sight) |
The sense of sight. How our brain receives and interprets images of our external world and light and darkness. |
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Auditory (Hearing) |
The sense of hearing. How our brain receives and interprets sounds occurring in our external world and from our body. |
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Tactile (Touch) |
The sense of touch. How our brain receives and interprets messages about contact with our skin, whether from humans or objects. It helps a child to detect light touch, deep pressure, texture, temperature, vibration and pain. |
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Gustatory (Taste) |
The sense of taste. How our brain receives and interprets sensations in our mouths including texture, bitter, sweet, salt and sour. |
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Olfactory (Smell) |
It helps us differentiate between thousands of odours and determine if they are pleasurable, foul, dangerous, faint or strong. |
In addition to these there are three lesser-known senses:
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Proprioception (Body Awareness) |
The sense of external body awareness. How our brain receives and interprets the edges, position and placement of all the body parts. |
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Vestibular (Movement & Balance) |
The sense of movement, balance and coordination. How our brain receives and interprets messages regarding our bodies' trajectory, alignment and physical balance. |
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Interoception (Sense of the internal state of your body) |
The sense of the internal body. How our brain interprets messages from body systems for regulation. Interoception helps us to know if we are hungry, thirsty, hot, cold or any other feeling that starts within our bodies. As some of our emotions are linked to physical sensations, interception also helps with emotional regulation. |
What is Sensory Processing?
Sensory processing describes how our body receives and interprets information from the world around us. It's an automatic neurological process (happens in the brain) and is responsible for how we experience, understand, and react to (or ignore) the information from our senses.
Sensory modulation refers to the brain’s ability to focus on the information we need whilst filtering out the information that isn’t required. The brain’s ability to do this allows us to respond appropriately in the environment whilst remaining at a suitable level of arousal, however, in some people, it doesn't work as efficiently as it should which can affect daily living, schooling, socialising and behaviour.
What are Sensory Processing Difficulties?
Sensory processing difficulties occur when the brain struggles to filter the sensory information leading to a 'neurological traffic jam'. This can be overwhelming for the person experiencing it, and as we can not switch off our senses, input continues to filter through adding to the overload. This can cause huge distress, anxiety and dysregulation which is often observed by behaviour changes that are tricky to navigate if unable to understand or mitigate the underlying cause.
Who does it affect?
Up to 16% of the general population in the UK are affected by sensory processing difficulties. Sensory processing difficulties can be a standalone condition called sensory processing disorder or it co-occur with other conditions such as autism, ADHD, OCD, dyspraxia, genetic syndromes and learning disabilities (1). They can also be linked to early trauma or attachment disruptions due to the function being part of the central nervous system.
Sensory difficulties are not screened for by default in children even when they are being assessed for other conditions such as those listed above. Like with all SEND there is a wide spectrum of sensory difficulties which often creates challenges to participate in daily life for those affected.
Further Information
Sensory Integration Education has an abundance of information on Sensory Processing and Integration. They also have a FREE online short course for parent carers to help them understand sensory processing and integration.
Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust has a short video course is designed to help you understand and support your child's sensory processing needs.