Understanding the D-words in Sensory Processing

January 20, 2024

Introduction Hello everyone, and welcome to Part 6 of "Making Lived Experiences Matter". Today’s video is a bit delayed, and I appreciate your patience. Usually, I post every Saturday, but due to some technical difficulties, I had to adjust my schedule. However, the motivation I received from your support, especially from Saraswathy, has been incredible. Thank you so much for keeping me motivated! Recap and Shift in Focus In our last session, we explored the sensory brain, focusing on how anxieties can originate from sensory experiences. We planned to move on to the second and third parts of the brain in our upcoming sessions. However, today I want to delve deeper into the sensory brain. Specifically, we’ll explore various terminologies—words that start with "D"—that relate to our sensory systems and understand how they influence our experiences. Exploring the D-Words We often use terms like “delay,” “difficulty,” “deviance,” “discomfort,” “diagnosis,” and “disorder” when discussing sensory processing. Today, we’ll break down these terms and understand how they apply to our sensory systems.

1. Tactile System (Touch): This involves information we receive through our skin. For example, how we feel different textures or temperatures can impact our comfort levels.
2. Vestibular System (Balance): This system helps us maintain balance and spatial orientation, influenced by head and eye movements.
3. Proprioceptive System (Pressure): This senses pressure in our joints and muscles, crucial for body awareness and movement.
4. Olfactory System (Smell): This involves our sense of smell, which can influence our emotions and memories.
5. Gustatory System (Taste): This relates to how we perceive different tastes and textures in our mouth.
6. Auditory System (Hearing): This encompasses our ability to process sounds and distinguish between different auditory inputs.
7. Visual System (Sight): This involves our ability to see and process visual information, including clarity and distance.
8. Interoception (Internal Sensations): This senses internal signals like hunger, thirst, or discomfort.

Understanding Sensory Processing

1. Diversity: Each person’s sensory experience is unique. Even identical twins can process sensory information differently due to their individual interactions and experiences.
2. Neurodiversity: This term refers to the variety in how our brains process information. No two brains process sensory input in exactly the same way.

Practical Implications

1. Individual Differences: Recognize that everyone’s sensory processing is different. For instance, one person might be highly sensitive to tactile stimuli, while another might be less affected.
2. Environmental Impact: Our interactions with our environment—people and objects—affect how we process sensory information.
3. Support Systems: It’s essential to create support systems that accommodate sensory differences. This includes understanding and patience in our interactions with others, whether they are children or adults.

Addressing Sensory Differences

1. Delays and Discomfort: Sometimes, what might seem like a delay in response or discomfort could be due to differences in sensory processing. For instance, if someone takes longer to answer a question, it might be due to processing time rather than a lack of understanding.
2. Diagnosis vs. Disconnection: Before jumping to a diagnosis, consider if there’s a sensory processing difference. Sometimes, disagreements or conflicts arise from differences in sensory processing rather than underlying disorders.

Understanding and Support

1. Know Yourself: Reflect on your own sensory experiences and how they might influence your interactions with others.
2. Understand Others: Recognize that others, including children, may process sensory information differently. This understanding can help in creating supportive environments and reducing misunderstandings.
3. Interdependence: Aim for interdependence rather than complete independence. We are all part of a connected world, and understanding sensory differences can help in fostering better relationships.

Conclusion Today, we’ve explored various “D-words” related to sensory processing and how they impact our experiences and interactions. Remember, sensory processing differences are a normal part of human diversity. Understanding these differences helps in creating more empathetic and supportive interactions. Thank you for joining me today. If you have any questions or if any part of today’s discussion was unclear, please leave a comment. Your feedback helps me tailor future content to better address your needs. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming sessions. See you next time!