Sensory processing is an individual's ability to process sight, smell, sounds, touch, movement and taste.  How a child responds to these sensory stimuli can affect his/her mood, behavior, attention, impulse control, interaction with environment and motor patterns.

An integrated sensory system takes information through the sensory channels (registration), processes that information and organizes (modulation) the information for functional participation and growth. 

The sensory system: 

• Visual system - information received from the eyes through lighting, colors, movement.  click here for visual sensory strategies     Eye exercises

• Auditory system - information received by the ears from vibration , waves, humming, sounds in environment (nature sounds, music, drumming)  click here for auditory sensory strategies

             sounds in my ear

• Olfactory - information received from the nose by smelling  click here for smell sensory strategies

 smell as teaching tool

• Gustatory (taste) - information received through the mouth from chewing, tastes (sweet, salty, bitter), textures (chewy, crunchy, mushy) and temperature  click here for oral sensory strategies

Mouthing/Biting Activities       teeth grinding

• Tactile (touch) - information received through the skin receptors through touch of various textures and temperatures  click here for touch sensory strategies

 sensory pencil tool          fidget frenzy            vibrating tools

• Vestibular (movement) - information about position in space that is received by spinning, sliding, climbing, rocking, swinging  click here for movement sensory strategies

• Proprioception - information received by the joints from heavy work activities pushing, pulling, jumping, carrying  click here for proprioception sensory strategies

jumping                deep pressure shoulder 8s        rolling pin         taco roll       toe walking

Sensory preference checklist 

Sensory diet information