The 8 Senses

We all know the 5 senses.

Smell

Taste

Hear

Touch

See

However, there are actually three additional senses to consider when discussing sensory integration: balance (vestibular system), movement (proprioception), and interoception (internal state). When examining sensory integration, it’s crucial to consider all eight senses and how they collectively communicate and integrate into our daily activities.

Vestibular System also known as our balance system. This system includes part of the inner ear and brain that are affected by movement. When your body position changes, receptors in your inner ear are affected by the fluid changing.

When a child shows challenges with integration of the vestibular system it may include the following:

-Low muscle tone

-Fatigue/ Lethargy or persistent sitting

-Clumsiness

-Avoidance of swinging, going down slides, or spinning

Proprioception is the body awareness sense. It tells us where our body parts are without having to use our vision. For example, if I raise my hand with my eyes closed, the brain is tell the body that my hand is raised without having to visually see my hand. It also tells us how much force to use when we are pushing, pulling or lifting objects.

When a child shows challenges with proprioception it may look like the following:

-Difficulty with hand eye coordination

-Poor posture

-Using a lot of pressure when using a writing utensil

-Seeks a lot of input from crashing into things (i.e. walls, furniture, big hugs from caretakers/parents)

Interoception is our internal awareness. It helps you know and feel what’s going on with the inside of your body. For example, it can tell you if your heart is beating too fast, or if the sound of your stomach “grumbling” means your hungry or not.

When a child shows challenges in this area it may look like the following:

-Trouble with potty training, incontinence, or constipation

-Abnormal responses to pain, stress and emotions

-Inability to recognize when you are full or hungry

-Difficulty with communicating emotions or feelings

An Occupational Therapist trained in sensory integration can help your child who may be under-responsive or over-responsive to this type of sensory input. A sensory informed OT can help create a sensory lifestyle (diet) to meet the needs of your child’s sensory profile.