You often hear occupational therapists talk about the importance of the sensory system. Starting in utero the sensory system begins to develop and continues throughout infancy. During this stage, your baby's sensory system is crucial for their daily functioning (eating, sleeping, self-soothing...) and their milestone attainment.
For older children, the sensory system helps with regulation, behavior, and attention- very important for their participation in activities of daily living and success in the academic setting.
Let’s first quickly review the senses!
The senses you most likely learned in school:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Touch
- Taste
- Smell
But wait there's more… Let’s break these down:
Movement or Proprioception - this sense helps you move in a coordinated fashion and have an awareness of your body in space
Balance or Vestibular - this sense enables you to feel grounded and have an awareness of motion
Interoception - this sense is all about feeling your body’s signals like thrust, hunger, or the feeling of a full bladder
What is Sensory Processing?
Sensory processing is the body's ability to receive, organize, and respond to sensory information. Sometimes our brain does not receive this information properly causing a maladaptive response or behavior. When this response or behavior is significant enough, it may be due to a sensory processing disorder.
For more information on sensory processing disorders or to find out if further assessment of your child’s sensory system would be beneficial, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me!
Emily Schreiber, OTD OTR/L