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Are you curious what Sensory Integration is? Or what sensory processing dysfunction looks like? Does your child have quirks that you can’t explain? We’re here to give you a brief explanation of what sensory integration means, how if affects your child and what it could look like if your child is struggling to process sensory input properly.
Does your child struggle with brushing their hair, avoiding certain textures, or reacting strongly to loud noises? These could be signs of sensory integration difficulties.
Understanding sensory integration is key to supporting children with sensory processing challenges. Let's break down what sensory integration is, why it’s important, and how to recognize signs of sensory processing difficulties in your child.
Sensory integration is the process by which our brains take in information from our senses, organize it, and respond appropriately. For most people, this process happens naturally: We see, hear, touch, taste, smell, and move through the world without much difficulty.
But for children with sensory processing challenges, this process doesn’t work as smoothly. Their brains may struggle to interpret and respond to sensory input correctly, making everyday activities more difficult.
When our sensory systems function correctly, we can:
Receive Sensory Input(e.g., feeling the texture of a sweater or hearing a dog bark).
Process & Organize Input (e.g., recognizing the sweater as soft or the bark as normal background noise).
Respond Appropriately(e.g., wearing the sweater without discomfort or ignoring the bark while continuing a conversation).
A well-functioning sensory system allows children to participate in everyday tasks—playing, dressing, eating, and interacting with others—without significant difficulty. However, when sensory integration is disrupted, children may have strong, unexpected reactions to common experiences.
Children with sensory integration difficulties may be over-responsive (hypersensitive) or under-responsive (hyposensitive) to sensory input. Here are some common signs to look out for:
Avoids certain textures (e.g., refuses to touch messy foods or wear certain fabrics).
Overreacts to sounds (e.g., covers ears for vacuum cleaners or toilet flushing).
Avoids movement activities (e.g., refuses to swing, climb, or play on playground equipment).
Dislikes being touched or groomed(e.g., brushing hair causes extreme discomfort).
Seeks excessive movement (e.g., constantly jumping, spinning, or crashing into things).
Uses too much force (e.g., pressing too hard when writing, throwing too hard).
Has difficulty recognizing body position (e.g., frequently trips or bumps into objects).
Appears unaware of pain or temperature differences.
If sensory difficulties impact your child’s daily life—making it hard to participate in school, play with friends, or complete everyday tasks—it may be time to seek support.
Most people are familiar with the five main senses:
Tactile (touch)
Auditory (hearing)
Visual (sight)
Gustatory (taste)
Olfactory (smell)
But did you know there are two additional "hidden" senses that play a crucial role in sensory processing?
Located in the inner ear, this system helps with balance and coordination.
A child with vestibular challenges may:
Seek excessive movement (e.g., spinning, swinging).
Avoid movement (e.g., refusing to go down slides or ride in the car).
This system helps us understand where our body is in space.
A child with proprioceptive challenges may:
Seek deep pressure (e.g., enjoys tight hugs, crashing into objects).
Struggle with coordination(e.g., difficulty judging force when writing or playing).
These two hidden senses play a major role in how children interact with their environment. Difficulties in these areas can lead to challenges in motor skills, attention, and self-regulation.
If you suspect your child has difficulty processing sensory input, here are some steps you can take:
Observe & Take Notes – Keep track of your child’s reactions to different sensory experiences. Patterns may help identify specific challenges.
Talk To Your Pediatrician– Share your observations and concerns. Some doctors are well-versed in sensory issues, while others may need additional information.
Seek An Occupational Therapist (OT) – OTs specialize in sensory integration and can assess your child’s needs while providing strategies to help.
Implement Sensory Strategies At Home– If an OT provides recommendations, be sure to follow them consistently to support your child’s sensory needs.
Sensory integration plays a vital role in everyday life, and for children with sensory processing challenges, simple tasks can feel overwhelming. Recognizing the signs and seeking support can make a world of difference in helping your child navigate their sensory world with greater ease.
BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double check all of our facts but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science and art. One doctor / therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views and opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health related difficulties and what we have found to be beneficial that will be as evidenced based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.
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