Beyond the Five Senses: Understanding the Eight Sensory Systems

We all know about the five traditional senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell; But did you know there are actually eight sensory systems that play a crucial role in how we experience the world? Understanding these systems is particularly important for neurodivergent families, as sensory processing differences are common. A deeper understanding of these systems can unlock valuable insights into your child's behavior and needs.

Image of boy in a sensory swing

The Eight Sensory Systems:

1. Visual (Sight): This system involves processing information from light entering the eyes. Children with visual processing differences may be sensitive to bright lights, have difficulty tracking moving objects, or struggle with visual discrimination.

2. Auditory (Sound): This system processes sounds through the ears. Children may be hypersensitive to loud noises, have difficulty filtering background noise, or struggle with auditory processing.

3. Tactile (Touch): This system processes information from touch receptors in the skin. Children may be hypersensitive to certain textures, seek out deep pressure (tight hugs, weighted blanket) or have difficulty with fine motor skills.

4. Olfactory (Smell): This system processes smells through the nose. Children may be hypersensitive to certain smells, avoid certain foods due to their aroma, or seek out strong scents.

5. Gustatory (Taste): This system processes tastes through the taste buds on the tongue. Children may be picky eaters, have strong preferences for certain tastes, or avoid certain food textures.

6. Vestibular (Movement and Balance): This system, located in the inner ear, processes information about movement, balance, and spatial orientation. Children may seek out spinning, swinging, or jumping, or they may be fearful of movement.

   

   The EIGHT sensory systems

7. Proprioceptive (Body Awareness): This system, located in muscles and joints, processes information about body position, movement, and force. Children may seek out deep pressure, crash into objects, or have difficulty with motor planning (constantly bumping into things or knocking things over).

8. Interoceptive (Internal Sensations): This system processes internal sensations, such as hunger, thirst, pain, and emotions. Children may have difficulty recognizing and interpreting these sensations, leading to challenges with self-regulation.
   

   

   Occupational Therapist showing a client how to use a peanut exercise ball

Why Understanding the Eight Systems Matters:

For neurodivergent children, sensory processing differences can significantly impact their daily lives. Understanding these differences is essential for parents to then be able to support their children in how to meet their needs so they can regulate and thrive:

• Identify the precursors to meltdowns and sensory overload.

• Create sensory-friendly environments to reduce stress.

• Develop strategies for managing their sensory needs.

• Improve communication and understanding.

• Advocate for their child's needs and role model self-advocacy skills.

• Parents learn to identify and manage their own sensory needs which supports co-regulation and increases their capacity throughout the day.
  

Practical Applications:

• If your child is constantly seeking deep pressure, consider providing weighted blankets or asking them to help you carry some heavy laundry baskets around the house, play tug of war, rough and tumble with them for fun (proprioceptive).

• If your child is sensitive to loud noises, provide noise-canceling headphones, ear plugs or create a quiet space for them to regulate (auditory).

• If your child struggles with knowing if they are hungry, or need to use the bathroom, work on ways to help them identify those feelings (interoceptive).

• If your child is constantly moving, provide opportunities for vestibular input, such as swinging or jumping (vestibular)

A woman setting up a sensory activity for a child

When parents develop an understanding of the eight sensory systems, they can gain valuable insights into the experiences of their children and support them to identify and meet their needs- which evidence-based studies highlight as the key to positive mental health outcomes in adolescence and adulthood.

This knowledge empowers parents to create supportive environments, understand and advocate for their children's needs; and foster their overall well-being.