Understanding Sensory Differences (Part I)

Everyone experiences the world in their own unique way, shaped by eight senses. Yes, you read that right—when it comes to sensory processing, there are actually eight senses to consider! Our behaviors—both subtle and obvious—often reflect how we interpret and respond to this sensory information.

When a child throws a tantrum or seems to misbehave, it’s natural to look for immediate causes: a denied treat, a missed nap, or a disagreement with a peer. But sometimes, the real explanation goes deeper.

By taking the time to understand how children (and adults) perceive and respond to sensory experiences, we can begin to uncover the underlying causes of behaviors that might otherwise seem puzzling or disruptive. Sensory differences—whether involving heightened or reduced sensitivity to sound, sight, smell, touch, movement, taste, or body awareness—profoundly shape how individuals navigate daily life. Recognizing and respecting these sensory needs opens up new avenues for support, co-regulation, and the development of self-regulation skills. 

In this blog, we’ll explore what sensory processing is, how it can affect behavior, and why understanding these differences is crucial for helping every child thrive.

What Are the Eight Senses?

Most of us grew up learning about the “five senses”: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. However, did you know there are actually eight senses that help us experience and make sense of the world? Let’s break them down:

The Classic Five

• Visual (Sight): Allows us to perceive colors, light, shapes, and movement.
• Auditory (Hearing): Helps us detect sound—from birds chirping to music playing.
• Gustatory (Taste): Makes it possible for us to enjoy flavors, whether it’s something sweet, sour, salty, or tangy.
• Olfactory (Smell): Lets us recognize scents like fresh-cut grass or brewing coffee.
• Tactile (Touch): Allows us to feel textures, temperatures, and sensations—like fluffy socks, a warm mug, or a paper cut. 

The “Hidden” Three

Pioneers in sensory integration, such as Jean Ayres (1972), recognized that five traditional senses aren’t enough to explain how we move, balance, and sense our internal needs. That’s where the three additional senses come into play:

• Proprioception (Body Awareness):
  This sense tells you where your body parts are without needing to look. It helps you coordinate movements—like kicking a ball properly or touching your nose with your eyes closed.
  Learn more at Verywell Health.
• Vestibular (Balance & Movement):
  A part of the vestibular system, which is located in your inner ear, this sense helps you stay steady and balanced, and detect motion and gravity. It’s what keeps you upright when walking or riding a bike.
  Check out KidsHealth’s take on the vestibular sense.
• Interoception (Internal Sensations):
  Interoception helps you notice what’s happening inside your body—like feeling hungry, thirsty, needing to use the bathroom, or sensing your heartbeat. Although it was recognized for over a century (Ceunen et al., 2016), interoception has only recently been acknowledged as an vital sense that influences daily life, self-awareness, and emotional well-being.
  See the STAR Institute’s page on interoception.

Sensory Differences

Although everyone processes sensory experiences uniquely, some individuals have heightened sensitivities, while others are less responsive to input from their senses and movement systems. In fact, children and adults can experience hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) with some senses and hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness) with others. Some may also actively seek out certain sensory experiences—a behavior known as sensory seeking (STAR Institute for Sensory Processing, n.d.).

These differences can make it challenging to regulate emotions and responses, sometimes leading to behaviors that seem unusual or unexpected.

For example:

• A child who is hypersensitive to noise might feel overwhelmed in loud environments, such as concerts or football games, and may cover their ears for comfort. It might appear as though they’re ignoring those around them, but in reality, they’re feeling dysregulated and struggling to filter out the noise.
• A child who is hyposensitive to visual input may be drawn to spinning toys or flashing lights, seeking extra stimulation.
• Someone who seeks proprioceptive input (the sense of body position and movement) might engage in “crashing” behaviors—like flopping onto couches, bumping into things, or even banging their head. While these actions might appear disruptive, they’re often simply efforts to find balance and comfort.

Understanding and appreciating sensory differences is key to supporting people of all ages and to creating environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Conclusion 

By understanding our eight senses and recognizing that children may struggle to regulate their emotions and behaviors due to sensory differences, we can better meet them where they are. When a child is feeling excited or agitated, their overwhelming sensory experience can make it difficult to focus or learn.

By tuning into each child’s unique sensory needs, we can provide the right support—helping them feel safe and understood. Through patience and co-regulation (calming alongside them), we provide children the tools to gradually self-regulate. In doing so, we not only support their learning and growth, but also build deeper, more empathetic connections with the children in our lives. 

If you suspect that sensory differences are affecting your child—or yourself—beyond what simple adjustments at home or school can address, seeking a comprehensive evaluation from an occupational therapist is a valuable next step. Occupational therapists use evidence-based assessments to understand specific sensory needs and collaborate with families and educators to create customized strategies for support.

Want to learn more about how to help children with sensory differences? Stay tuned for Part II of this blog, coming in November 2025.

References

Ayres, A. J. (1972). Sensory integration and learning disorders. Western Psychological Services.

Ceunen, E., Vlaeyen, J. W. S., & Van Diest, I. (2016). On the origin of interoception. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 743. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00743 

KidsHealth. (n.d.). The vestibular sense in kids. Nemours Children’s Health. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/vestibular.html

STAR Institute for Sensory Processing. (n.d.). About interoception. https://www.spdstar.org/basic/about-interoception

STAR Institute for Sensory Processing. (n.d.). Sensory processing differences. https://www.spdstar.org/basic/understanding-sensory-processing-disorder

Wilson, D. R. (2022, July 18). What is proprioception? Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-proprioception-5187403