Video Summary - What is Sensory Processing?

Scientific concepts & nature/body phenomena

Vestibular sense (often described as the gravity/balance sense)
- Supports smooth movement and balance
- Helps maintain being upright (e.g., sitting/standing)
- Helps with moving smoothly (e.g., walking/running)
Proprioception (sense of self-movement and body position)
- Present in every muscle movement
- Enables movement without needing conscious effort for each step
Interoception
- Provides awareness of internal body states
- Example sensations: hunger, thirst, pain, and the need to use the toilet

Each sense is compared to a cup that must be kept “full” enough to support regulation.
Sensory input fills each cup a little when received.
Different senses have different “cup sizes” for different people:
- Example: a small cup for sound can become overwhelmed quickly with noise.
- Example: a large cup for proprioception may require lots of movement to feel regulated.
Sensory profile
- Individual differences in how sensory input affects regulation
- Important for knowing what a person may need to learn and perform at their best

For each of the eight senses:

To achieve regulation:

Determine which senses become overwhelming (small cup / low tolerance).
Determine which senses may require more input (large cup / higher need).
Use the person’s sensory profile to guide what they need for learning and performance.