Imagine driving along the freeway and it starts to drizzle...you are able to maintain driving safely and ignore the few rain drops (the brain at this point sees the sensory input as irrelevant/not important). Then it starts to rain just a bit harder...you really start to notice it now...they it begins to pour down...at this point you HAVE to use your windshield wipers or you simply can not function nor drive safely right?
Use this scenario to imagine how a child who over-registers sensory input must feel with ANY type of sensory message. Yet the difference is...the windshield wipers are just not working right...sometimes not turning on at all, sometimes too slow, or not at the right time or consistently. They can't just "wipe it away".
Use this scenario to imagine how a child who over-registers sensory input must feel with ANY type of sensory message. Yet the difference is...the windshield wipers are just not working right...sometimes not turning on at all, sometimes too slow, or not at the right time or consistently. They can't just "wipe it away".
Some of the Most Common Sensory Words and Definitions
Written By: Angie Voss, OTR
The three most common sensory systems affected with sensory processing disorder are vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile. These three are also referred to as the power sensations and will be the primary focus of sensory based intervention as well as with a successful sensory home program.
TACTILE
The tactile system involves the entire skin network including in the mouth, where tactile nerve endings are present in the cheek linings. Tactile input includes light touch, firm touch, and the discrimination of different textures including dry to wet and messy. The tactile system is also responsible for the processing of pain and temperature. Tactile input can be alerting, calming, or over-stimulating, depending on the person. Each form of tactile input is processed differently as well.
PROPRIOCEPTION
Proprioception is often referred to as “heavy/hard work” in the therapy world. Proprioceptive receptors are located in the joints, muscles, and tendons ALL OVER the body, including the jaw and vertebrae. These receptors are activated by elongation, compression, or traction. Therefore, during heavy/hard work activities the core of the body and extremities recruit a large number of muscles. When the muscle bellies contract, the proprioceptors of the joints are triggered. Weight bearing on joints also triggers the proprioceptive receptors. The interoceptors are also a part of the proprioceptive system. They are located within the gut and internal organs. The interoceptors are responsible for the feeling of hunger or lack of hunger as well as the need to go to the restroom, and other internal organ sensations.
VESTIBULAR INPUT
When you think vestibular...think movement and balance. The vestibules are located in the inner ear and detect motion. There are 3 canals which detect all different planes of movement. Movement is crucial to development, not only perhaps the more obvious which is gross motor development and posture, but it also plays a role in visual development, auditory processing, and overall self-regulation of the nervous system. Vestibular input is extremely powerful and can be alerting or calming to the nervous system. Vestibular development begins way before a baby is born and while in utero the vestibular system is activated. Fifteen minutes of vestibular input can have a 6-8 hour positive (or negative) effect on the brain, depending on the person.
Sensory Defensiveness/Sensory Avoiding or Sensory Over-Registration
I have grouped these terms together to simplify its understanding. When the nervous system over-responds or over-registers sensory input , one will avoid and defend to protect the brain/body from painful and uncomfortable sensations. Basically the nervous system is "on guard" at all times to keep safe. Sensory defensiveness and over-registration is explained by an exaggerated avoidance to specific sensations. It is an unexplained or unpredictable reaction to a situation or sensory stimuli. This often results in a fight or flight, sympathetic nervous system response, and sensory overload. Over-registration is when the brain is taking note of too many incoming sensory messages from one or more of the sensory systems and deeming important and relevant. Typically, the brain sorts out the irrelevant sensory input...as this is happening on a constant basis for our brains. For example, as I am typing this, my brain is focused on my work and the thought process, and has ignored the sound of the keyboard, the feeling of the seams in my socks, the light coming through the window, and the smell of my coffee.
Sensory Under-Registration/ Sensory Seeking/Craving
I have grouped these terms together to simplify its understanding as well. And these definitions are basically the opposite of the section above. Sometimes the brain under-registers information and the message either gets lost on the way to the brain or the pathways are not efficient in processing the information. The “hub/computer” of the brain which processes the sensory input (the reticular activation system) is not able to properly pass on the sensory message, therefore creating an “always hungry” for sensory input type behavior. These are the children that just can not get enough movement, touch, pressure, jumping, etc. and crave it on a constant basis. This can also present as the inability to "feel" pain or detect temperature as well as not getting dizzy when they spin. This under-registration of information can occur with one sensory pathway or more than one. When the brain is constantly hungry for sensory information, it has a very difficult time with self-regulation and maintaining ready state.
Sensory Modulation Difficulty
This is extremely common for those with sensory differences. Please visit this page for more information and details on sensory modulation. One example of sensory modulation difficulty is that the child will fluctuate from "ready state" to "not ready" in the blink of an eye. "Not ready" may present as a sensory meltdown, sensory overload, extreme fatigue, or over the top excitability along with many other presentations.
TACTILE
The tactile system involves the entire skin network including in the mouth, where tactile nerve endings are present in the cheek linings. Tactile input includes light touch, firm touch, and the discrimination of different textures including dry to wet and messy. The tactile system is also responsible for the processing of pain and temperature. Tactile input can be alerting, calming, or over-stimulating, depending on the person. Each form of tactile input is processed differently as well.
PROPRIOCEPTION
Proprioception is often referred to as “heavy/hard work” in the therapy world. Proprioceptive receptors are located in the joints, muscles, and tendons ALL OVER the body, including the jaw and vertebrae. These receptors are activated by elongation, compression, or traction. Therefore, during heavy/hard work activities the core of the body and extremities recruit a large number of muscles. When the muscle bellies contract, the proprioceptors of the joints are triggered. Weight bearing on joints also triggers the proprioceptive receptors. The interoceptors are also a part of the proprioceptive system. They are located within the gut and internal organs. The interoceptors are responsible for the feeling of hunger or lack of hunger as well as the need to go to the restroom, and other internal organ sensations.
VESTIBULAR INPUT
When you think vestibular...think movement and balance. The vestibules are located in the inner ear and detect motion. There are 3 canals which detect all different planes of movement. Movement is crucial to development, not only perhaps the more obvious which is gross motor development and posture, but it also plays a role in visual development, auditory processing, and overall self-regulation of the nervous system. Vestibular input is extremely powerful and can be alerting or calming to the nervous system. Vestibular development begins way before a baby is born and while in utero the vestibular system is activated. Fifteen minutes of vestibular input can have a 6-8 hour positive (or negative) effect on the brain, depending on the person.
Sensory Defensiveness/Sensory Avoiding or Sensory Over-Registration
I have grouped these terms together to simplify its understanding. When the nervous system over-responds or over-registers sensory input , one will avoid and defend to protect the brain/body from painful and uncomfortable sensations. Basically the nervous system is "on guard" at all times to keep safe. Sensory defensiveness and over-registration is explained by an exaggerated avoidance to specific sensations. It is an unexplained or unpredictable reaction to a situation or sensory stimuli. This often results in a fight or flight, sympathetic nervous system response, and sensory overload. Over-registration is when the brain is taking note of too many incoming sensory messages from one or more of the sensory systems and deeming important and relevant. Typically, the brain sorts out the irrelevant sensory input...as this is happening on a constant basis for our brains. For example, as I am typing this, my brain is focused on my work and the thought process, and has ignored the sound of the keyboard, the feeling of the seams in my socks, the light coming through the window, and the smell of my coffee.
Sensory Under-Registration/ Sensory Seeking/Craving
I have grouped these terms together to simplify its understanding as well. And these definitions are basically the opposite of the section above. Sometimes the brain under-registers information and the message either gets lost on the way to the brain or the pathways are not efficient in processing the information. The “hub/computer” of the brain which processes the sensory input (the reticular activation system) is not able to properly pass on the sensory message, therefore creating an “always hungry” for sensory input type behavior. These are the children that just can not get enough movement, touch, pressure, jumping, etc. and crave it on a constant basis. This can also present as the inability to "feel" pain or detect temperature as well as not getting dizzy when they spin. This under-registration of information can occur with one sensory pathway or more than one. When the brain is constantly hungry for sensory information, it has a very difficult time with self-regulation and maintaining ready state.
Sensory Modulation Difficulty
This is extremely common for those with sensory differences. Please visit this page for more information and details on sensory modulation. One example of sensory modulation difficulty is that the child will fluctuate from "ready state" to "not ready" in the blink of an eye. "Not ready" may present as a sensory meltdown, sensory overload, extreme fatigue, or over the top excitability along with many other presentations.