What Is Sensory Processing?

Sensory processing is the ability to perceive, process and organise information that is received through our senses. Once we receive this information our brain reacts to these sensations and this is displayed in our behaviours and motor responses.

Everyone experiences sensory input differently. Some children enjoy loud music and rough-and-tumble play. Others may be more sensitive to noise or textures. Understanding how sensory processing works can help us support each child’s unique needs.

How Sensory Processing Works in Children?

From the moment a child is born, their brain is constantly taking in information from the senses. This input helps them make sense of their surroundings, build relationships, and learn how their body moves and feels.

For most children, the brain filters and organises this information smoothly. But for some, the brain may have trouble processing sensory input — either overreacting or underreacting to it. This can affect how they respond to everyday situations like getting dressed, trying new foods, or joining group activities.

Sensory processing is the foundation for self-regulation, attention, motor development, and social interaction. When this process is disrupted, it can impact a child’s comfort, behaviours, and learning.

The Seven Senses and How They Function

We usually think of five senses, but there are actually seven that play an important role in sensory processing:

Visual Sense:

Is the ability to understand and interpret what is seen. The visual system uses the eyes to receive information about contrast of light and dark, colour and movement. It detects visual input from the environment through light waves stimulating the retina. A child who is sensitive to visual input may avoid bright lights or busy environments.

Auditory Sense: 

Is the ability to interpret information that is heard. The auditory system uses the outer and middle ear to receive noise and sound information. They receive information about volume, pitch and rhythm. It is important for the refinement of sounds into meaningful syllables and words. A child who struggles with auditory input may cover their ears in noisy places or find it hard to follow verbal instructions.

Gustatory Sense:

Is the ability to interpret information regarding taste in the mouth. It uses the tongue to receive taste sensations, and detects the chemical makeup through the tongue to determine if the sensation is safe or harmful. Some children may be very picky eaters due to heightened sensitivity to certain tastes.

Olfactory Sense: 

Is the ability to interpret smells. It uses the nose to receive information about the chemical makeup of particles in the air to determine if the smell is safe or harmful. It works closely with taste and can trigger strong reactions. A child may gag at certain smells or seek out strong scents.

Tactile Sense:

Is the ability to interpret information coming into the body by the skin. It uses receptors in the skin to receive touch sensations like pressure, vibration, movement, temperature and pain. It is the first sense to develop (in the womb), and as such is very important for overall neural organisation. A child may dislike getting messy or react strongly to tags in clothing.

Proprioceptive Sense: 

Is the ability to interpret where your body parts are in relation to each other. It uses information from nerves and sheaths on the muscles and bones to inform about the position and movement of body through muscles contracting, stretching, bending, straightening, pulling and compressing. It helps with body awareness, movement, and coordination. Children may seek out jumping, crashing, or heavy lifting to feel grounded.

Vestibular Sense: 

Is the ability to interpret information relating to movement and balance. The vestibular system uses the semi-circular canals in the inner ear to receive information about movement, change of direction, change of head position and gravitational pull. It receives information about how fast or slow we are moving, balance, movement from the neck, eyes and body, body position, and orientation in space. It helps children stay upright, move smoothly, and feel safe while moving. Some children may avoid swings or spinning, while others crave constant motion.

Why is sensory processing important?

Sensory processing plays a crucial role in many key areas of a child’s development:

• Self-regulation: able to better regulate their emotions, staying calm, focused, and in control

• Motor skills: both fine (writing, buttoning) and gross (running, jumping)

• Learning and attention: filtering distractions and staying on task

• Communication: understanding and expressing needs

• Social skills: engaging with peers in a confident and comfortable way

When sensory processing is working well, children are more likely to feel secure, explore their environment, and participate in everyday routines with ease.

Signs of Sensory Processing Challenges

Some children may show signs of sensory processing differences that affect how they interact with the world. These signs can show up in different ways, depending on the sense involved:

Auditory

• Frequently asks others to be quiet or stop talking

• Holds hands over ears

• Easily afraid when loud sounds are heard

• Startles to the sounds of hand dryers and flushing toilets

• Doesn’t like being in loud spaces

• Easily distracted by background noise

• Has difficulty paying attention

• Struggles to listen and look at the same time

• Reading can be challenging

• Becomes upset with the sudden sounds and noises

• Slow to follow instructions

• Struggles to participate in group discussion

• Dislikes sirens, fire alarms or fireworks 

Gustatory

• Sensitive to hot and cold foods

• Gags on food textures often

• Doesn’t like the taste of toothpaste

• Prefers bland plain foods without spices and flavour

• Anxious to go to the dentist

• Picky about different brands of foods

• Avoids foods with certain textures

• Picky or selective eater

• Dislikes brushing teeth

• Doesn’t want to try new foods

• Sometimes chokes on food or afraid they will choke

• Has a utensil preference (certain fork or spoon)

• Prefers to eat at home

• Dislikes different textures of food mixed together

• Has difficulty chewing

• Prefers pureed food

Olfactory

• Dislikes smells that others don’t notice

• Tells others how bad they smell

• Won’t eat several foods because of their smell

• Does not like the smell of other people’s homes

• Complains over perfume smells

• Pinches nostrils to avoid smelling the environment

• Nauseated by certain scents

• Very sensitive to the smell of what someone is cooking

• Avoids places due to their smell

• Rejects others because of their smell

Proprioception

• Dislikes hugs and affection

• Often appears to be lazy or too tired

• Sits still without much movement

• Uncoordinated body movements

• Does not like to be touched by others

• Struggles walking up and down stairs

• Writes very lightly on paper

• Often has low energy

• Tires out easily from standing too long

• Hypersensitive to pain

• Eats pureed foods

• Avoids wearing tight clothes

• Has poor posture

• Refuses to participate in physical activities and sports

• Difficulty with body awareness

• Often fidgets

• Always in constant motion

• Falls often and clumsy

• Has a heavy foot and stomps fast

• Jumps on bed and furniture

• Appears to be aggressive

• Frequently grinds teeth

• Pushes or hits other children

• Known to play rough

• Struggles with fine motor skills

• Prefers being wrapped up in heavy blankets

• Bumps and crashes into things

• Walks on toes

• Purposely flops down on the floor

• Poor handwriting skills

• Enjoys tight hugs and being squishes under cushions

Tactile

• Difficulty getting hair cuts

• Avoids being touched or sitting too close to others

• Resists wearing shoes, jeans, underwear, or socks

• Doesn’t like nails being cut

• Dislikes taking a shower or a bath

• Gets angry or surprised by unexpected touch

• Dislikes being kissed or hugged

• Avoids messy play

• Refuses to eat different food textures

• Avoids going barefoot in the grass

• Doesn’t like to wash or brush hair

• Extremely ticklish

• Bothered by clothing seams and fabrics

• Gets upset when hands are dirty

Vestibular

• Can spin for a long time and not get dizzy

• Has difficulty sitting still

• Enjoys riding on scary fairy rides

• Likes to hang upside down

• Craves fast and intense movement

• Enjoys rocking in a chair

• Struggles to pay attention

• Frequently falls and often clumsy

• Often jumps on beds and furniture

• Always fidgeting

• Would rather run skip and jump than walk

• Takes risks while playing

• Always in motion

• Prefers heights and being high in the air

• Avoids slides and swings at the park

• Fearful of heights

• Dislikes escalators and elevators

• Afraid of rising a bike

• Difficult when using stairs

• Motion sickness

• Do not like to watch spinning objects

• Being clumsy

• Easily dizzy when in motion or spinning

• Anxious to fall

• Scared to walk on unlevel areas

• Difficulty balancing or jumping

• Easily startled if moves by someone else

• Fearful of being upside down

Visual

• Covers eyes to bright lights

• Gets headaches from lights

• Squints eyes

• Has poor eye contact

• Likes to play in the dark

• Sensitive to bright colours and lights

• Difficulty adjusting to sudden colour changes

• Doesn’t like fluorescent lights

• Flashing lights hurt their eyes

• Distracted by decorations in a room

• Complains about colourful lighting

• Doesn’t like to be in a brightly lit room

• Prefers dimmer colours to brighter colours

• Uncomfortable around too much clutter

When to Seek Support?

If you notice that your child regularly struggles with sensory experiences and it’s affecting their ability to play, learn, or engage with others, it may be time to seek support.

An occupational therapist (OT) with experience in sensory integration can assess your child’s needs and offer strategies to help them feel more comfortable and confident in their daily life.

If your child attends one of the Y Whittlesea Early Learning Centres and you have concerns about their development — including sensory seeking or avoidance — please contact the EYES team.

The EYES (Early Years Engagement Support) program supports children and families across our children’s services by identifying concerns with learning and development early on. The team works closely with both educators and families to develop practical strategies and tools to support children at home and within the early learning environment.

We also help families navigate the early intervention system and connect them to the most appropriate support pathways.

Contact us at: eyes@yinclusion.org.au

Let’s work together to support your child’s growth and well-being.

If you would like to learn more about sensory processing, we recommend the following articles:

https://childdevelopment.com.au/areas-of-concern/diagnoses/sensory-processing-disorder-spd/

https://mybrightwheel.com/blog/sensory-development

Interested in similar content? Check out our related articles:

Navigating Sensory Processing Disorder: Recognising Signs and Seeking Support

ORAL SENSORY SEEKING: Why is my child still putting things in their mouth?