Our auditory system is our sense of hearing. We take information in from our ears. Some children might become overwhelmed or upset by lots of noise. This is common and part of normal development, but some people can remain sensitive to noise. This can stop them taking part in activities. Some people might seek out noise. They might listen to music or watch the TV with the volume turned up. Listening to the world around us helps us make sense of where we are.

If you think your child or young person processes sound differently you can:

• Complete the Hearing Questionnaire

Our touch system picks up information about our environment from sensors in our skin. These give us information about differences in things we touch. Some people can be very sensitive to touch. They might dislike certain textures or labels and seams inside clothing. Other people might not notice touch. They don't notice when their shoes are two sizes too small or may feel pain differently.

If you think your child or young person feels touch differently you can:

• Complete the Touch Questionnaire

Our senses of smell and taste are closely linked, as they follow the same pathway through the brain. Some people might become upset by smells that no one else can smell. Other people might seek out smells and smell objects or people. Processing smell differently can make us refuse to eat different food. We all have definite sensory preferences about tastes we like or dislike. Some people might only eat bland food and find it difficult to eat different foods so have a limited diet. Other people might choose to eat intense flavours like spicy or sour foods. They might lick objects which are not food.

If you feel your child or young person processes taste or smell differently you can:

• Complete the Smell and Taste Questionnaire

Proprioception is the awareness of body position and movement or knowing where your body is in space. Proprioceptive receptors are in the muscles and joints. They send messages to the brain to tell it where your body parts are in space. They tell you how much force or pressure your muscles are using. This helps us to know which position our body is in. Some people might bump or crash into things or hold their pencil too tightly. They might be too rough when playing with friends or chew on objects like clothing or ends of pencils.

If you feel your child or young person processes proprioceptive information differently you can:

• Complete the Body Awareness Questionnaire

The vestibular system gives us information about balance and movement. When your head and body move, fluid in your inner ear moves too. This gives your brain information about how you are moving. Some people process vestibular information differently. They might spin or move more than other people. Other people might avoid lots of movement. They might not like it when their feet leave the ground.

If you think your child or young person processes balance and movement information differently you can:

• Complete the Movement and Balance Questionnaire

Sense of how the body is feeling

Interoception is the sensory system which gives us information about the internal sensations in the body and how they link with emotions. It helps us work out how the body is feeling.

The receptors for this system are throughout the body in organs like the heart, lungs, stomach, bladder and skin. They pick up information and send it to the brain where it is translated into feelings relating to body comfort like hunger, needing the toilet, sleep, being too hot/too cold. It also helps us feel our emotions.

If you process this information differently you might:

• Not know when you are full or when you are hungry/thirsty
• Not know when you need to go to the toilet
• Not know when you are too hot
• Not recognise when we are anxious
• Not know when we are embarrassed
• Not know when we are frustrated

If you have difficulty understanding these signals it could be because of how you process interoceptive input.    There are however lots of different reasons why you might have difficulty understanding these signals. If you have any concerns about other possible causes please speak to your GP or Health Visitor.

What you can do:

There are still lots of discussion about what helps improve interoception. There is no good evidence that any particular strategy is effective. There is some evidence that mindfulness can help. It is important to rule out any possible underlying medical causes for the issues first if you are concerned.

Things which may help:

• Mindfulness techniques like body scanning

• Commenting on different feelings e.g. noticing the difference between hot and cold hands or slow/fast heart rate at different times of the day
• Don’t assume because they have noticed a body signal they know what it means or what to do about it. Always check. Ask them how it feels and what they think it means and what they can do about it. It is important to help your child or young person to notice the body signal first. Where do they feel it and what does it feel like? Then talk about what it might mean. You can then help them to work out what they can do about the signal. Once they have acted upon it encourage them to notice the difference in how they feel. This will help them to recognise this signal when it happens in the future, make the connection to a feeling and remember what they did to feel more comfortable. Remember this will take lots of practice and support from an adult.

For example:

• Notice the body signal e.g. ‘pain’ or pressure in tummy
• Connect the signal with a feeling – might need to go to the toilet
• Regulate take action – e.g. go to the toilet
• Outcome – feels more comfortable

Help them make the connection so that the next time they have that feeling they are more confident in knowing what it means.

Draw an outline of a body and identify words that might go with that body part. Help your child work out what words they associate with sensations- remember they might not be the same ones you would use!

How my body feels when it is hungry

Notice: my brain feels fuzzy, my muscles feel shaky and my tummy is rumbling.

Connect: I usually notice these feelings together when I’m hungry.

Regulate: I’ll eat something.

Outcome: I notice the fuzzy head, shaky muscles and rumbling tummy have gone. I was right! I must have been hungry.

How my body feels when it is angry

Notice: my brain feels swirly, my muscles feel tense, my heart is beating fast and my breathing is fast. My skin is hot and sweaty.

Connect: I usually notice these feelings together when I’m angry.

Regulate: I know this feeling will pass. I won’t feel like this forever. I will try deep breathing and finding a quiet space. This usually helps me.

Outcome: I notice the feelings are gone.

• Social stories can be used to support interoception differences.
• Use visuals and add toilet breaks to your visual timetable at regular times if your child has difficulty knowing when they need to go to the toilet.
• Use visuals to remind your child to drink if they often do not read their body’s signal that it is thirsty.
• For older children and young people setting a phone or watch alarm to vibrate as a reminder e.g. to go to the toilet, take a drink, eat could also be useful.

Resources:

For younger children:

Listening to my Body by Gabi Garcia 

Sometimes children and young people can find it difficult to take part in eating. This can be for lots of reasons. There are some things you can try at home which might help.

Have a look at our resources to find out how you can help your child to take part in eating at home.

If you think your child or young person has difficulty with eating because they process sensory information differently then you can

• Complete the Eating Questionnaire
• Look at the Fussy Eating Information Sheet