What Is Sensory Processing? A Beginner’s Guide for Parents and Educators
Sensory processing is the way our brain receives, organises, and responds to information from the world around us. This includes sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movement, and even internal sensations like hunger, temperature, or the need to go to the bathroom. For most people, this process happens automatically and seamlessly. However, for some children, sensory processing can be challenging, leading to behaviours that may seem unusual, unpredictable, or hard to manage.
Dr. A. Jean Ayres, an occupational therapist and educational psychologist, described sensory processing as the brain’s ability to take in sensory information, interpret it effectively, and produce an appropriate response. When this process doesn’t work smoothly, it can result in what she termed ‘sensory integration dysfunction,’ now commonly referred to as sensory processing difficulties. This can manifest in various ways, such as being overly sensitive (hypersensitive) or under-responsive (hyposensitive) to certain stimuli.
For example, a child might cover their ears at the sound of a vacuum (hypersensitive to auditory input) or seek intense movement like spinning or jumping to feel regulated (hyposensitive to vestibular input). Some children may fluctuate between these responses depending on the environment, their emotional state, or even the time of day. A child might be overwhelmed by the hum of fluorescent lights at school but crave noisy, energetic play at home.
Sensory processing difficulties can affect a child’s daily life in many ways, from how they handle transitions to their ability to participate in classroom activities or social interactions. A child who struggles with processing auditory information might find noisy environments overwhelming, leading to withdrawal or meltdowns. Another child may crave tactile input, constantly seeking out messy play, fidgeting with objects, or even chewing non-food items.
Understanding sensory processing helps parents, educators, and therapists create environments and strategies that support children’s unique needs, enhancing their ability to learn, play, and engage with the world. This can involve simple adjustments, such as providing quiet spaces, offering sensory tools like noise-cancelling headphones, weighted blankets, or chewable jewellery, and incorporating movement breaks throughout the day.
Recognising sensory processing as a spectrum rather than a fixed condition allows us to approach each child with curiosity and empathy. It’s not about ‘fixing’ behaviours but understanding the underlying sensory needs and creating supportive environments where every child can thrive. As Carolyn Dalgliesh puts it in The Sensory Child Gets Organized, “When we understand the sensory world of our children, we begin to see their behaviours as communication, not defiance.”