Sensory Processing

Learn about the five external and three internal senses that are the systems that comprise sensory processing. Discover why responses to sensory information can differ greatly from person to person.

Watch

Activities

Internal Senses

Review important facts about the three internal senses.

Always remember to follow the guidance of a sensory-informed occupational therapist when designing a plan to support sensory processing needs.

Proprioception:

Awareness of how our muscles are moving and where our body is in space. 

Vestibular:

Helps the brain to know where the body is in space (spatial orientation) and the speed at which it is moving. 

Interoception:

Ability to recognize and understand internal sensations about what is happening on the inside of the body.  

Proprioception:

Receptors in our muscles and joints send information to the brain.

Vestibular:

Receptors in the inner ear are activated when the head moves in any direction sending information to the brain.

Interoception:

Internal body organ receptors send information to the brain about what is occurring inside the body so the brain can decide what to do.

Proprioception:

Helps control the force and speed of movement.

Assists to maintain coordination of the body: muscle tone and balance.

Supports feeling calm, organized, and regulated

Vestibular:

Helps with balance, posture, muscle tone, paying attention, eye movement and adjustments.

Interoception:

Allows us to understand how we feel.

Informs us when we are hungry, thirsty, need to go the bathroom, pain, etc.

Helps us identify our emotions so that we are able to regulate our body.

Proprioception:

“Heavy Work” (activities that provide input in joints and muscles) activates proprioceptive receptors.

Includes: pushing, pulling, running, jumping, lifting, climbing, carrying weighted objects, yoga, or resistance band exercises.

Vestibular:

Access to locations, equipment, and opportunity to engage in various types of movement activities.

The amount, type, and frequency of movement needed can vary greatly from person to person.

Includes: swinging, walking, running, dancing, rocking, moving seats, or chairs.

NEVER force movement activities.

Interoception:

Intentional activities that help a person focus on a body part and the changes in the body part as they move or engage in an activity.

Activities that focus on building awareness of the internal body parts (example: breathing, heartbeat, stomach growling).

Connecting emotions to the body signals.

Visual support helps connect information.

What Could It Mean?

Read the following observations. Consider which sensory system might be involved and determine if the sensory input described is too intense or too muted.

Want to explore further? Check out the documents in the download section for more information and ideas for support.

Covering ears with hands, very distressed with vacuum cleaners and hand dryers

Bumps into people and things, jumps and crashes into things, heavy–footed.

Does not seem to react to pain or injury such as bruises or cuts, does not notice when face or hands are dirty

Seems distressed by bladder, bowel, hunger, heartbeat sensations

Picky Eater, limited food preference, cannot have foods mixed together (i.e. casseroles), gags easily

Difficulty noticing when sick and identifying ‘what hurts’

Dislikes feet off the ground, avoids swings and slides, prefers to sit/lounge

Decreased eye contact, dislikes visual clutter or disorganization, prefers using lamps

Downloads

Sensory Processing Characteristics Checklist

This checklist is an organizational tool for documenting observed sensory characteristics in an individual. The checklist is used to identify patterns of sensory characteristics, to assist in identifying where strategies and supports are needed, and to help provide information to the occupational therapist who is guiding the sensory plan development.

Download Sensory Processing Characteristics Checklist

Sensory Supports

This document offers suggestions of sensory supports that a team may consider when designing a sensory support plan for a youth. The suggested supports are organized in categories of the sensory systems to help align the sensory needs to potential sensory strategies.

Download Sensory Supports

Heavy Work Idea List

Incorporating heavy work activities throughout the day is an effective way to provide opportunities for deep pressure input to calm and organize the body and mind; regulate mood; and improve body awareness and coordination. Heavy work activities are those that incorporate pushing, pulling, carrying, reaching, and squeezing.

Download Heavy Work Idea List