Sensory Processing
Sensory Processing is the brains ability to take information from the body and environment and respond to it.
Overview
In occupational therapy services, we commonly work on all things related to sensory processing. Our sensory systems are complex and interconnected, playing a huge part in our ability to attend and respond to our everyday environment. A helpful way to think about the relationship between sensory systems is the idea of a “sensory bucket.” This metaphor is used to describe how our bodies manage sensory information throughout the day. When a person’s sensory bucket is full, this is when we are able to feel regulated: meaning calm, alert, focused, and able to follow directions. However, when the bucket overflows (meaning a child has received too much sensory input) or is empty (child has not received enough sensory input), this can lead to behaviors such as meltdowns, hyperactivity, or tantrums. Everyone’s bucket is a different size, meaning that each individual has a unique threshold for the amount of sensory information that they need in order to remain regulated.
Regulation is having the right level of arousal or energy for the activity
Our 8 Sensory Systems
5 Common Senses:
Visual – what we see (light, colors, movement)
Auditory – what we hear (sounds, volume)
Gustatory – taste
Olfactory – smell
Tactile – touch (textures, temperature, pressure)
3 Hidden Senses:
Proprioceptive – body awareness, knowing where our body is and how much force to use
Vestibular – balance and movement
Interoception – internal signals like hunger, thirst, and emotions
Hypersensitivity (Small Bucket)
When a child is hypersensitive, their bucket is small and fills quickly. They need less sensory input to feel regulated. Because their system is over-responsive, normal daily inputs, such as tags on clothing, buzzing lights, or distant noises, fill their bucket quickly.
These children may:
Cover their ears at normal sounds
Avoid bright lights
Be sensitive to clothing textures
Become overwhelmed in busy environments
OTs help by teaching coping strategies and modifying environments to support regulation.
Hyposensitivity (Large Bucket)
When a child is hyposensitive, their sensory bucket is large. They need a lot of input to feel regulated, meaning that they likely are always searching out for additional input.
These children often show “sensory-seeking” behaviors, such as:
Constant movement (jumping, spinning, climbing)
Crashing into objects
Loving tight hugs or squeezing
Seeking loud sounds, bright lights, or strong textures
Appearing inattentive
They are typically not intentionally trying to misbehave by demonstrating these behaviors. Instead, their body is trying to get the input it needs before they are able to feel calm and focused. Occupational therapists help by providing safe ways to “fill their bucket” throughout the day through functional activities.
What Can Dysregulation Look Like?
Aggression
Uncontrollable Laughter
Anxiety
Slow movements
Delayed Response
Hiccups
Avoidant Behaviors
Baby talk
Constantly Moving
Sensory Diets
In occupational therapy, we frequently work to create a sensory diet, which means building the right amount and type of sensory input into your child’s daily routine. It may look like we are “just playing,” but we are carefully determining how much input your child needs before transitioning to tasks or to remain seated to complete activities.
Please refer to the attached handout for additional information about our sensory systems. As always, feel free to message or ask in person with any follow-up questions!