Sensory Processing
At Flare Therapy, we help individuals manage sensory challenges through personalised strategies to build confidence and thrive in daily life.
Sensory Processing: How We Experience the World
We process information from our senses all day, every day — from the noise and visual buzz of a morning commute to the taste and smell of our favourite meals. Most people are familiar with the five senses: sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste.
But did you know there are three additional senses that play a vital role in how we navigate the world?
Proprioception (Body Awareness):
Receptors in our joints and muscles send signals to the brain about where our body parts are positioned in space.
Vestibular (Movement and Balance):
Receptors in the inner ear provide crucial information about movement, balance, and spatial orientation.
Interoception (Internal Awareness):
How we sense and interpret signals from inside our body, such as hunger, thirst, heart rate etc.
When these senses don’t function as expected, as seen in Sensory Processing Disorder, it can lead to challenges in managing everyday environments, with some stimuli feeling overwhelming or others going unnoticed altogether.
What does a Sensory Processing Disorder look like?
Sensory processing is how we interpret and respond to sensory inputs, like sounds, textures, lights, or movement.
Sensory Challenge | Description |
🎧Sensory Sensitivity | Overreacts to sounds, textures, lights, or smells (e.g., covering ears, avoiding fabrics). |
🚪Sensory Avoidance | Actively avoids sensory experiences like specific foods or crowded places. |
❄️Under-Responsiveness | Shows little reaction to pain or temperature extremes (e.g., not noticing a scrape). |
🔄 Sensory Seeking | Craves intense sensory experiences, like spinning, jumping, or making loud noises. |
Does your child experience any of the following sensory challenges?
Challenge | Description |
⏳ Difficulty with Change | Struggles with transitions between activities or environments, often leading to anxiety or upset. |
🚴 Motor Skill Challenges | Shows clumsiness, poor coordination, or difficulty with tasks like riding a bike or catching a ball. |
🎯 Difficulty Focusing | Easily distracted by background noises or visual stimuli, making it hard to concentrate on tasks. |
😭 Emotional Overreactions | Displays strong emotional responses to sensory experiences, such as tantrums or meltdowns. |
🤝 Social Interaction Difficulties | Finds it hard to understand social cues or engage in play, often feeling overwhelmed in group settings. |
🌙 Sleep Issues | Experiences trouble falling asleep or staying asleep due to sensory sensitivities. |
🍎 Limited Diet | Avoids certain foods or textures, leading to a restricted diet. |
🧘 Difficulty Calming Down | Takes extra time to self-regulate after becoming overwhelmed or upset. |
If your child has any of the following above - Contact Flare Therapy here to get individualised support for this.