Sensory processing: We all experience the world differently

Sensory processing is our ability to register, interpret and integrate the information coming through our sensing from our internal and external worlds. Our sensory system is constantly working to take in and make sense of the stimuli around us.

As I sit here typing this post, I can feel my body supported in my seat, the noise of the radio in the background and the clacking of my keyboard keys, the smell of lunch cooking on the stove, the view out my living room window. I feel hunger pangs as I wait for my lunch and the slight discomfort of shoulder tension while I work on the computer.

I started to really understand and be acutely aware of my sensory systems after a concussion in 2018. All of a sudden, I was sensitive to noise, distracted easily, I squinted my eyes against fluorescent light and the brightness of screens. Nothing was filtering like it used to and I started to have to manipulate my nervous system and my environment to be productive and engage like I previously had.

For most neurotypical people, our nervous systems go through a series of processes when presented with sensory information. We detect the input, we filter the input, organize and interpret it and then we respond.

Neurodivergent kids often process sensory information differently. For example sounds may be perceived as very loud, touch might feel really uncomfortable and sitting still might feel extra unbearable. The first step to understanding sensory needs is understanding the sensory systems and our eight senses:

1. Visual (Sight)

The visual sense allows us to perceive and interpret light, color, shape, and movement through our eyes. It plays a crucial role in how we navigate and understand the world around us, enabling us to recognize faces, read, and coordinate movements.

2. Auditory (Hearing)

The auditory sense involves detecting and processing sound waves through our ears. This sense is essential for communication, as it enables us to hear speech, music, and environmental sounds, helping us to interact with others and respond to our surroundings.

3. Olfactory (Smell)

The olfactory sense is responsible for detecting and identifying odors through our nose. It plays a significant role in taste, memory, and emotion, as certain smells can evoke specific memories and feelings.

4. Gustatory (Taste)

The gustatory sense allows us to perceive flavors through our taste buds on the tongue. It helps us enjoy food and drink, detect spoiled or toxic substances, and influences our appetite and digestion.

5. Tactile (Touch)

The tactile sense enables us to perceive pressure, temperature, pain, and texture through our skin. This sense is crucial for physical interaction with our environment, allowing us to feel sensations like warmth, cold, roughness, and softness.

6. Vestibular (Balance and Spatial Orientation)

The vestibular sense, located in the inner ear, helps us maintain balance and spatial orientation. It informs us about head movements and positions, contributing to our ability to move smoothly, stay upright, and coordinate movements.

7. Proprioceptive (Body Awareness)

The proprioceptive sense provides information about the position and movement of our body parts through receptors in our muscles, joints, and tendons. It allows us to perform coordinated actions without constantly looking at our limbs, such as walking, typing, or playing sports.

8. Interoceptive (Internal Body Awareness)

The interoceptive sense involves the perception of internal bodily sensations, such as hunger, thirst, heart rate, respiration, and the need to use the bathroom. It helps us understand and respond to our body's needs, contributing to overall well-being and self-regulation.

Sensory regulation is our ability to process information from our senses, and adjust our levels of arousal, attention and our responses. Our nervous system detects the input, filters the input, organizes and interprets it and then figures out how to respond. Sensory dysregulation is when you have an imbalanced nervous system and your arousal is too high or too low due to a perceived excess of sensory input, or not enough sensory input.