25 Facts About Sensory Information Processing

19/12/2018

Sensory information processing… a term we hear more and more. Every person reacts differently to sensory stimuli and deals with these sensory stimuli differently. If there are no problems in stimulus processing, we often know how to process the sensory stimuli just fine.

But it also happens that a child or adult is hypersensitive to certain stimuli. Or that a child is looking for more stimuli in a certain area. In these cases, we speak of sensory information processing problems. Too many stimuli can then lead to overstimulation, a so-called meltdown.

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Below are 25 facts about sensory information and sensory information processing problems.

Sensory information is a term used for the way our body receives, processes and responds to signals from the environment and from our own body.
There are eight sensory systems: hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting, movement, balance and interoception (which pick up signals of what is happening in our organs). Everyone has unique sensory needs and preferences.
A good integration of sensory information is important for survival and in the second place the basis for being able to develop. All children have their own unique sensory preferences.
There is only a problem in stimulus processing if the experience of sensory stimuli has a clear negative influence on daily functioning.
Sensory information processing problems occur to varying degrees and can affect multiple sensory systems.
Children with a problem in sensory information processing often have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
In an autism spectrum disorder, problems with processing sensory information are part of this disorder.
People with ADHD suffer from stimulus processing problems much more often than average.
Stimulus processing problems are often the cause of misunderstood and/or disruptive behavior.
Some children with problems in sensory processing in the field of hearing will look for sound to activate themselves.
Other children with sensory processing problems in the field of hearing cover their ears when hearing certain sounds, because they become overstimulated by sounds.
Children who are sensitive to sound can also make sounds themselves to drown out the sound present.
Children who are hypersensitive to sound sometimes hear sounds that are not perceptible to others.
Some children are constantly looking for extra tactile stimuli (tactile stimuli) by, for example, touching others or fidgeting with something.
Other children are hypersensitive to tactile stimuli and experience problems when dressing, bathing, brushing teeth, etc.
Some children are extra sensitive to light touch. These are the children who are hypersensitive to tactile stimuli.
Deep pressure (e.g. with a weighted cuddly toy, pressure vest) via the sense of touch has a calming effect.
Children who are hypersensitive to smells can smell things that others do not perceive.
The hypersensitivity to smells can be so intense that children gag because of certain smells or even vomit.
Scents can do a lot for a child’s state of mind. Stronger scents (such as lime and peppermint) activate, while lighter scents (such as lavender and rose) soothe.
There may also be hypersensitivity in the mouth area. This can be in terms of tastes, smells and textures. The sense of touch plays a role in structures.
Some children with sensory information processing problems do not like different structures in their mouths at the same time. [Read more about picky foods]
Other children are constantly looking for extra stimuli in their mouths. They chew on products such as pencils, cords, borders, etc. [Read tips for children with chewing needs here]
Children who are looking for extra stimuli in the mouth area can also start making sounds. The vibrations provide the necessary stimuli.
Treatment of sensory information processing problems is very much dependent on a child’s individual needs and preferences. An SI therapist ensures that (the person himself) and the environment are informed about the cause of the problems in stimulus processing and how you can improve the situation, for example through sensory diet.

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