Sensory Processing

Sensory integration

What is sensory integration? 

Sensory integration is the ability to take in, sort out, and make sense of information from our surrounding environments, so that we are able to function and interact successfully. 

What is sensory integration dysfunction? 

There is dysfunction when one or more of the sensory systems is unable to efficiently process incoming sensory information, resulting in undesirable reactions or inability to participate successfully in the child’s daily routine. 

What are the seven sensory systems? 

• Tactile (touch) 
• Proprioceptive (input to muscles and joints) 
• Vestibular (movement) 
• Auditory (hearing) 
• Visual 
• Gustatory (taste) / oral processing 
• Olfactory (smell) 

Tactile system

The tactile system includes two branches.  

1. Discriminative: provides information about what type of touch and characteristics about the object being touched. Common characteristics of dysfunction include: 

• Difficulties with grasping school tools/in-hand manipulation 
• Difficulties with task performance without vision 
• Decreased environmental exploration 

2. Protective: provides information regarding touch that can alert our body of potential harm. 

Hyperresponsive 

• Responds emotionally to touch 
• Sensitive to grooming and dressing tasks 
• Difficulty standing close to others 
• Avoidance behaviors 
• Low threshold for pain 
• Holds small objects in hand to defend self 

Hyporesponsive 

• Excessive touching 
• Under reactive to harmful touch 
• Messy eater 
• Awkward in-hand manipulation 
• High threshold for pain 
• Decreased body awareness 

Proprioceptive system

The proprioceptive system allows for the awareness of the position of muscles and joints. It is important for determining and implementing the appropriate amount of force needed to complete tasks and executing smooth, coordinated body movements. Specific functions are to improve body awareness and contribute to motor control and motor planning. Characteristics of proprioceptive dysfunction include: 

• Deliberately falling and crashing
• Rough with peers and toys 
• Tends to slump, and lean when sitting or fall out of chair 
• Unaware of safety concerns/takes excessive risks 
• Stomps feet, slams doors 
• Clumsy and appears uncoordinated 
• Prefers tight clothes 
• Prefers enclosed spaces 
• Poor grading of force (i.e. throwing a ball, writing with a pencil) 

Vestibular system

The vestibular system is the sensory system that responds to motion or change of head position. It is noted to have an influence on muscle tone, posture, bilateral motor coordination and balance. It is considered the unifying system of the brain and is responsible for regulation of arousal, speech and language development, motor planning and concentration. Characteristics of vestibular dysfunction include: 

Hyperresponsive 

• Intolerant of unexpected movement 
• Dislikes playground equipment 
• Hesitant with stairs, curbs 
• Needs to have feet on the ground 
• Tends to be tense and rigid 

Hyporesponsive 

• Seeks out movement experiences 
• Constantly moves, or fidgets 
• Decreased attention/focus 
• Poor balance/clumsiness 
• Difficulty calming down 
• Irregular sleep patterns 

Auditory system 

The auditory system allows us to interact with and respond to sounds in our environment. Characteristics of auditory dysfunction include: 

• Difficulty working with background noise 
• Difficulty following directions 
• Difficulty responding to name 
• Responds negatively to unexpected loud noises 
• Difficulties localizing sound 

Visual system 

The visual system allows us to interact and respond to sounds in our environment. Characteristics of visual dysfunction include: 

• Visual distractibility 
• Avoids eye contact 
• Sensitive to light 
• Seeks out visual stimuli 
• Difficulties finding objects in competing backgrounds 
• Difficulties with puzzles 
• Difficulties with reading 
• Difficulties with spacing when writing 

Gustatory system (taste) 

Receptors help us identify certain tastes (spicy, sweet, sour, bland). Characteristics of gustatory dysfunction include: 

• Excessive pickiness with foods 
• Strong adverse reaction to certain foods 
• Resistive to tooth brushing or face washing 
• Puts things in their mouth (nonfood) 
• Gags easily 
• Resistive to eating utensils 

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