What is Sensory Processing? 🧠
Sensory processing is the way the brain receives, organizes, and responds to information from the senses.
Why does it matter? Because sensory processing is happening all day long and affects how children (and adults!) move, focus, and participate in everyday activities.
When we hear “senses”, most of us think of the five traditional senses: touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell. But there are also two "hidden" senses that play an essential role in sensory processing.
🤸 Proprioception – The sense that tells us where our body is in space through signals (sensory receptors) in our joints and muscles. Proprioception is the brain’s ability to understand which position our limbs are in without needing to look at them. It allows us to touch our nose with our eyes closed.
🌀 Vestibular Sense – Located in our inner ears, this is the system that helps us maintain balance and keep our head upright against gravity while walking and running. It also enables spatial orientation - knowing where we are in space, such as which way is up and down even when our eyes are closed. This sense helps us coordinate movement and plays an important role in how we hold and control our body during movement.
These 2 hidden senses: Proprioception + the Vestibular Sense together, provide us with body awareness and support smooth, coordinated movement.
Our sensory systems are working behind the scenes all the time.
A child's brain is constantly taking in information from both their body and their environment. Sensory processing is the brain's ability to make sense of that information and respond appropriately, allowing children to learn, play, and participate successfully in daily life.
So what does sensory processing look like when it is working well?
Children are regulated, meaning they can maintain a calm, alert state. They can:
Focus, learn, and play.
Respond appropriately to sounds, touch, and movement.
Regulate their responses to sensory input, emotions, and everyday situations.
When there are sensory processing challenges ⚡
Sometimes a child's nervous system may respond differently to sensory information. This can make everyday activities feel harder than we might expect. It’s important to note that children can have a mix of sensory responses; a child may be sensitive to certain sensory experiences while also seeking out other types of sensory input.
Sensory Over-Responsiveness (Sensitivity) 🔊
A child may:
Cover their ears in response to loud noises.
Avoid certain textures, such as specific clothing fabrics, foods, or types of touch.
Avoid messy play, like sand, paint, or sticky foods.
Become overwhelmed in busy or noisy environments.
Sensory Seeking or Under-Responsiveness (Craving Input) 🏃♂️
A child may:
Be constantly moving, jumping, crashing, or climbing.
Seem unaware of pain or getting dirty.
Need lots of sensory input to stay engaged.
Love spinning, swinging, or fast movement.
Touch everything around them.
Why sensory processing matters
Sensory processing forms the foundation for many important skills, including:
Attention and learning
Emotional regulation
Motor skills, such as climbing, drawing, and self-feeding
Daily routines like getting dressed and brushing teeth
Sensory processing is how a child’s nervous system interprets and responds to sensory information from their 5 senses plus their 2 hidden senses. When we understand a child's sensory needs, we can better support them and provide modifications to the environment to help them feel more regulated, comfortable, and successful in everyday life.
Vivi Kesselman OTR/L
