Sensory Processing and Learning Disabilities
What is Sensory Processing?
When we receive sensory information, our brain sorts this, makes sense of it and then if needed, acts on it. This is called sensory processing.
Our seven senses are:
- Visual
- Auditory (sound)
- Taste
- Smell
- Touch
- Proprioception (muscle and joint movement)
- Vestibular (balance and head movement)
- Interoception – sense of what’s going on inside body
Our brains generally integrate sensory information automatically, all the time.
If our brains are inefficient at organising sensory input, then we don’t know what to do with all this muddled information and become frustrated.
Consider the processing of information from each of the senses.
Vestibular processing
Vestibular Processing is the ability to interpret information relating to movement and balance. The vestibular system is in the inner ear and receives information about movement, change of direction, change of head position and gravitational pull. The vestibular system is one of the most important senses but not one that is familiar to many people. It detects movement and responds to gravity. It receives information about how fast or slow we are moving, balance, about movement from the neck, eyes and body, about body position and orientation in space. The vestibular system processes and organises this information and enables us to coordinate body movements in space, coordinate eye movements with head movements, develop and maintain normal muscle tone, coordinate both sides of the body together, maintain body postures and adjust levels of alertness.
Proprioception
Proprioception is the sense that tells us where the various parts of our body are located in relation to each other, and whether the body is moving with the right amount of effort. It combines information from the stretch receptors in our muscles and joints with information from the vestibular system.
The proprioceptive system tells us where our hand and feet and limbs are without looking at them. When we perform an action, it feeds back information to the brain, in order to grade the movement. For example what force is needed to pick something up without crushing it or at what angle and how hard to throw a ball.
Touch processing
Our tactile system refers to our sense of touch, the uses receptors in our skin to receive touch sensations. Touch discrimination is the ability to interpret information coming into the body via the skin helping to protect our body. We receive information about pressure, vibration, movement, temperature and pain. The touch system processes and organises this information and enables us to discriminate between threatening and nonthreatening sensations. It affects the development of body awareness, motor planning and emotional security. The touch system is closely linked to the part in our brain that is responsible for “flight” or “fight” responses. This close connection to basic survival results in the touch system having a major association with our emotional state.
Visual processing
Visual Processing is the ability to understand and interpret information that is seen. A child may have normal or corrected eyesight and still have difficulties with visual processing. Visual processing detects visual images. We receive information about the contrast of light and dark, colour and movement. The visual system processes and organises this information and enables us to recognise similarities and differences between object forms, sizes and positions and remember what we see. Visual processing is important in developing hand-eye coordination and literacy skills.
Auditory processing
Auditory Processing is the ability to interpret information that is heard. A child may have normal. The auditory system detects sound and receives information about volume, pitch and rhythm. It processes and organises this information and enables us to distinguish between sounds, to remember what we hear, and to develop communication and literacy skills.
Oral sensory processing
Oral sensory processing is the ability to interpret information regarding touch and taste in and around the mouth. The oral sensory system uses the skin around the mouth and the surfaces inside the mouth and the tongue to process touch and taste, and the nose processes smell, while also protecting our mouth and body. We receive information about texture, pressure, vibration, movement, temperature, pain, orders and flavours. The oral sensory system organises this information and enables us to discriminate between harmful and safe substances, discriminate between touch, taste and smell, develop oral motor control needed for eating, drinking and talking and to develop social skills.
Multisensory processing
‘Sensory integration’ is the term used for the brain processing information that comes through the senses. It is crucial for an individual’s development and education. Most individuals develop sensory integration through ordinary childhood activities, including play. Some individuals have continuing difficulties in processing sensory information, which show up in a variety of ways.
A person may need more input than normal in order to respond, or may over-react to stimulation and be easily distracted by quite low-level sounds, or recoil at being touched, or need constant motion of the hands, legs or mouth in order to concentrate. In fact, there are numerous different symptoms of poor sensory integration, which can only be accurately determined by suitable assessments.
Interoception
Introception is the ability to understand what is going on inside the body, important for maintaining homeostatic conditions in the body, potentially assisting in self-awareness.
Receptors in muscles and organs send information to the brain about what’s going on inside the body, regarding temperature, digestion and heart rate
People may struggle with Interoception and may have trouble knowing when they feel hungry, full, hot, cold or thirsty, itchy or in pain.
People may not know that heart is beating fast and they need to breathe more deeply.
Knowing when they feel pain, itch may feel like pain or ticklish.
The feeling of pain, might feel like an itch and an itch may feel painful.
What happens when we get too little or too much sensory input?
Although it is best when things are ‘just right’, there will naturally be times when people are getting ‘too little’ or ‘too much’ sensory input.
When overwhelmed, individuals may respond with:
- ‘Fight’ response (responding with anger, irritability or oppositionality), or
- ‘Flight’ (responding with avoidance, fear, or withdrawal) or
- ‘Freeze’ response (simply shutting down).
Picture yourself calm and relaxed. Suddenly, a stereo blasts in your ears, and you are punched in the arm. This would be frightening, painful and overwhelming. For someone with sensory processing problems, such auditory or touch hypersensitivity might occur in a noisy supermarket or busy street when accidentally touched by a passer-by. In other words, everyday life becomes overwhelming.
When an individual cannot block out unimportant or irrelevant sensory input, too much sensory information is processed. This is referred to as “over-sensitivity”. A person who is over-sensitive may respond to stimulation in one of two ways in an attempt to cope with the information.
Sensory Sensitivity
The over-sensitive person who does not try to avoid the problematic sensations tends to be distractible and cannot concentrate, and may display hyperactivity. The individual may even be totally overwhelmed by the most recent stimulation received and may become quietly and chronically anxious.
Sensory Avoiding
The individual who is a sensory avoider actively engages in reducing the frequency and intensity of sensory stimulation received in life. The person can be resistant to change and develops rigid rituals in an attempt to create a predictable environment with sensory stimulation that can be tolerated. The sensory avoiding individual can become overwhelmed and withdraw, appearing to be lethargic.
Some of the daily activities that may be affected as a result of having sensory processing differences include:
- Hair cutting
- Teeth brushing
- Moving around
- Picky eating
- Leisure Activities
- Having a shower
- Eating and Drinking
- Going to school or college
- Shopping
Sensory Processing Difficulties
If an individual has a problem integrating sensory information, they can find daily tasks difficult. It may result in the person having a disproportionate response to sensory information, such as screaming when they hear a noise or saying that someone touching their arm lightly was painful. However, it is important to also rule out other reasons for behaviour such as communication, attention, pain, attachment difficulties and mental health problems such as anxiety.
“The brain locates, sorts and orders sensations, somewhat like the way a traffic light directs moving cars. When sensations flow in a well organised or integrated manner, the brain uses those sensations to form perceptions, behaviours and learning. When the flow of sensations is disorganized, life can be like a rush-hour traffic jam.”
— Adapted from Jane Ayres, OT
Sensory Support
Currently, Lanarkshire’s Adult Learning Disabilities Service have Occupational Therapists (OTs) who can support individuals with significant sensory processing difficulties.
If the level of difficulty is starting to significantly impact on an individual’s everyday functioning, a referral to the Adult Learning Disability Team, Occupational Therapy team can be made for a Sensory Processing Assessment.
For further information contact the Occupational Therapy Department on 01698 752974
Tops Tips when Sensory Processing becomes Challenging
To identify possible sensory impacts on behaviour, we need to carefully observe what is happening for that individual. Is there ….
- Too little stimulation (Hyposensitivity): May feel bored, under stimulated, under aroused. When feeling underwhelmed, the person may end up seeking stimulation or attention.
- Just enough: The person may present as happy, content and able to engage in activities without difficulty.
- Too much stimulation (Hypersensitivity): May feel overwhelmed, overstimulated or overloaded. The person may eliminate or minimise sensory overload by avoiding. They may react with a ‘Fight’ response (responding with anger, irritability), or ‘Flight’ (responding with avoidance, fear or withdrawal) or ‘Freeze’ response (simply shutting down).
- Consider the possible effects of the seven seas. These senses include touch, smell, taste and sound as well as hidden senses that enable us to detect movement and have an awareness of our bodies in space.
- Have a good understanding of the individual’s sensory preferences and sensitivities.
- Introduce sensory items/activities or approaches that are calming or alerting to help the situation.
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