Sensory Processing
Did you know you actually have EIGHT sensory systems? They are the visual, auditory (hearing), olfactory (smell), tactile (touch), gustatory (taste, oral), proprioceptive, vestibular, and interoception systems!
Visual: I see you! Every day we receive input through our eyes to help us explore our environment and interpret what things are. The visual system is important in identifying letters, numbers, and colors. It is also critical for safety.
Auditory: Can you hear me now? Hearing includes not only the ability to actually hear the sound, but the ability to recognize the sound, the quality, and the direction! It can alert us to danger or provide calming techniques like white noise for sleep!
Olfactory: That stinks! Smell alerts us to potential harm or allows a child to enjoy food!
Tactile: Don't touch that! Or can I have a hug? The tactile system is responsible for sensations of pressure, vibration, temperature, movement and pain. The tactile system functions in 2 ways: protective and discriminative. The protective part is responsible for keeping a child from touching a hot stove or jumping off something high up. The discriminative component determines things like if a child was hugged and with how much force. It helps identify where someone was touched or what the item is that's hidden in your pocket. It provides feedback for movement with input through hands and feet. All the receptors located on your skin- that's tactile input just waiting to happen. Did you know early exposure to tactile input has a long-term effect on behavior and interpersonal development?
Gustatory/Oral: Yuck; I don't like how that tastes! The gustatory system is in charge of the interpretation and reaction to different types of foods. It can also look like your child chewing on things like marker lids or the neck of their shirt.
Proprioceptive: Whoa, where is my body? The proprioceptive system makes you aware of body positioning! It helps you know where every body part is, how it's moving, and helps determine how much force you need to complete certain activities like throwing a ball or swinging a baseball bat. These receptors are located in the muscles, joints, and skin, so for the kids who are always jumping off things- they may need some proprioceptive input!
Vestibular: I'm so off balance! The vestibular system helps determine head positioning and body position in space through coordination of eye, body, and head movement. It also helps a child use both sides of their body at the same time or regulate the amount of stiffness (tone) needed to engage with daily life. These receptors live in your inner ear.
Interoception: I am so hungry! Interoception gives us insight into how our internal body feels. It can give us clues of being tired, hungry, hot, cold, sick, or even the need of having to go to the bathroom!
Fun Facts…
You have 8 senses—not just 5!
The 8 sensory systems are visual, auditory (hearing), olfactory (smell), tactile (touch), gustatory (taste), proprioceptive, vestibular, and interoception systems.
Each sense plays a unique role! From seeing colors and hearing sounds to knowing when you're hungry or off balance, your senses help you navigate the world.
Sensory input shapes behavior. Kids may seek, avoid, or not notice sensory experiences—this affects how they play, learn, and interact.
Sensory overload can lead to big reactions that are different from tantrums—they’re not about getting their way, but about coping.
Therapists can help! Occupational therapists support children in understanding and managing their sensory needs through fun, personalized strategies.
Sensory input leads to HOW your body experiences it!
If a child has aversion or dislikes certain sensory experiences, we would say they are sensory sensitive or avoiding. If a child is more of a risk taker and enjoys sensory input, we would say they are more of a sensory seeker. If a child really doesn't seem to notice stimuli or experiences, we say they are a sensory bystander. Sensory overstimulation or too much input at once can create a sensory meltdown. These meltdowns may look like crying and yelling, eloping (or running away), trying to crash into others or the ground. The important difference to notice between meltdowns and a tantrum is meltdowns are created by too much sensory input whereas a tantrum is created by a child not getting their way or being told no.