What is Sensory Processing?

Summary

This script enlightens us about the eight senses humans possess, with five well-known—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch—and three lesser-known: the vestibular sense for balance, proprioception for self-movement awareness, and interreception for internal body state perception. It uses the metaphor of cups to illustrate how sensory input affects individuals differently, with some needing more or less stimulation to feel regulated. Understanding one's sensory profile is crucial for optimizing learning and performance.

Takeaways

• 👀 There are eight senses, not just the commonly known five.
• 👂 The vestibular sense, also known as the balance or gravity sense, is crucial for smooth movement and maintaining balance.
• 💪 Proprioception is the sense of self-movement, force, and body position, essential for muscle movement without conscious thought.
• 🌡️ Interreception allows us to understand and feel internal bodily states like hunger, thirst, pain, or the need for a toilet.
• 🧠 Each sense can be thought of as a 'cup' that needs to be filled with sensory input to feel regulated.
• 🔊 For some, a small cup for sound means they can become overwhelmed by noise quickly.
• 🏃‍♂️ Individuals with a large proprioception cup require more movement to feel regulated.
• 🤔 Understanding a person's sensory profile is vital for knowing how to support their optimal learning and performance.
• 📊 The size of the 'cup' for each sense can vary greatly among individuals, affecting how they perceive and react to sensory input.
• 🔄 Sensory input, such as sound or movement, fills up the 'cup' for each sense, contributing to an individual's regulation and well-being.

Q & A

What are the five commonly known senses?

The five commonly known senses are sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

What is the vestibular sense and what does it do?

The vestibular sense, also known as the gravity or balance sense, allows us to move smoothly and helps us maintain balance while walking, running, and staying upright when sitting or standing.

What is proprioception and how does it relate to muscle movement?

Proprioception is the sense of self-movement, force, and body position. It is present in every muscle movement, enabling us to move without constantly thinking about our next step.

What is interreception and how does it function within the body?

Interreception helps you understand and feel what's going on inside your body, such as when you're hungry, thirsty, in pain, or need to use the toilet.

How does the concept of 'cups' relate to the regulation of our senses?

For each of our eight senses, imagine we have a cup. To feel regulated, each cup needs to be full. Sensory input for each sense fills up the cup, and the size of the cup varies from person to person.

Why is it important to understand someone's sensory profile?

Understanding someone's sensory profile is important to know what they need to feel, learn, and perform at their best.

How can a small cup for sound affect a person's sensory experience?

A person with a small cup for sound may find their cup fills up quickly with a little noise, and any additional sound can feel overwhelming.

What does it mean to have a big cup for proprioception?

Having a big cup for proprioception means a person will need lots of movement to feel regulated, as their cup takes more sensory input to fill up.

How can the concept of sensory cups be applied to support individuals with sensory processing differences?

The concept of sensory cups can be used to tailor environments and activities to meet the unique sensory needs of individuals, helping them to feel more regulated and capable.

What are some practical ways to support someone with a small cup for a particular sense?

Supporting someone with a small cup for a particular sense might involve reducing exposure to that sensory input, providing calm environments, or using sensory tools to help manage overload.