Explanation
What is sensory processing?
Everything about our body is truly remarkable. But Sensory Processing (SP) is a very special kind of wonder. It is the incredible cooperation between our senses and our brain.
Sensory processing is one of the body’s core tasks. It is something everyone does, all the time, everywhere. You too. Right now. At this very moment, your senses are receiving all kinds of input.
At school, we learn that there are five senses, as Aristotle once described. Within sensory processing, however, we work with eight senses:
Sight
Sound
Touch
Taste
Smell
Balance
Movement
Inside feelings
Sight
Sound
Touch
Taste
Smell
Balance
Inside feelings
Movement
Our Step by Step on
How it Works
Every moment, your senses send “input” to the brain. The brain sorts this input by priority so you can act.
01
VIP (Very Important to Process)
Keeps you safe (e.g., water is scalding → pull hand away).
02
Interesting
Needs attention (e.g., your phone chimes → you check it).
03
Useful
Helps you adjust smoothly (e.g., it starts to rain → bring in the washing).
04
Dull/Background
Repeats and fades out (e.g., ticking clock you stop noticing).
Inside + outside worlds
We sense both the world around us (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) and the world within us (balance, movement, interoception: heart rate, temperature, thirst, fullness, bathroom needs, and feelings that link to emotions).
Using the SPi-glasses
Looking through the SPi-glasses means noticing what someone is doing, why they might be doing it (sensory need), and which strategy could help. It helps us think about the sensory needs behind the behavior.
When things feel "too much" or "not enough"
Overresponsiveness
The brain flags lots of input as VIP/urgent → sounds feel loud, lights harsh, touch startling
Underresponsiveness
The brain notices less → seeks extra input (movement, pressure, noise) to “wake up” or stay engaged. Or does not seek extra input and will stay lethargic.
Our Step by Step on
How it Works
Every moment, your senses send “input” to the brain. The brain sorts this input by priority so you can act.
01
VIP (Very Important to Process)
Keeps you safe (e.g., water is scalding → pull hand away).
02
Interesting
Needs attention (e.g., your phone chimes → you check it).
03
Useful
Helps you adjust smoothly (e.g., it starts to rain → bring in the washing).
04
Dull/Background
Repeats and fades out (e.g., ticking clock you stop noticing).
Response Examples
Pinch your nose
→ because a smell is strong.
Turn music down
→ because sound is too loud.
Take a movement break
→ because your body needs input to focus.
Explore the different processing types
Why do people respond so differently to the same moment? Explore the sensory types and put on your SPi-glasses.
Underresponsive & active
Underresponsive & passive
Overresponsive & active
Overresponsive & passive
Neutral
Explore the different processing types
Why do people respond so differently to the same moment? Explore the sensory types and put on your SPi-glasses.
Underresponsive and active
Underresponsive and passive
Overresponsive and active
Overresponsive and passive