Wait… There are EIGHT senses?
Many people only know of our “5 senses,” but did you know there are actually 8?? Yes, you read that correctly- there are EIGHT sensory systems that help each and every one of us process everything in our environments.
Visual
Auditory
Tactile
Olfactory
Gustatory
Vestibular
Proprioceptive
Interoceptive
So let’s dive in a little deeper regarding each of these (equally important) sensory systems!
The visual sensory system is how we use our eyes to see and interpret the world around us. Some individuals are visually seeking and prefer bright lights, colors, or moving objects. Others are visually avoiding and prefer low lighting and activities requiring less visual stimulation.
Some of our favorite types of visual input include (but are by no means limited to):
color changing lights
lava lamps
visual perceptual worksheets
balloon and ball activities
marble runs
wall color
colorful toys
decluttering the room
objects that spin, jump, change
Regardless of visual preferences, visual input can be utilized for arousal regulation to either calm the nervous system or increase alertness! We love incorporating visual input into the spaces we adapt, as visual input can make a massive difference in the use and function of the space! 💡☀️🎆
There are SO many reasons our nose uses olfactory input to help us process our world around us. Our noses help guide us to food, keep us safe, and can be used for calming or alerting our nervous system through specifically tailored scents.
Think about your favorite scent and how it makes you feel. Think of a memory and try to picture what you were smelling at the time, or better yet, as you pass a scent what does it make you think of?
Walking into a house where someone is baking cookies and it might make you think of holiday memories baking with family. Often time scents are paired with memories, both positive and negative.
We love using calming scents like lavender and eucalyptus in essential oil diffusers in rooms we are tailoring to be a calmer atmosphere 💚
Auditory sensory input utilizes the sounds we hear to interpret the world around us!
To target this sensory system you may play rhythmic music such as Brain Shift Radio, Kids Jamz, ocean sounds, rainforest rhythms, or even standard music you would hear on the radio!
Some people seek out auditory input, whereas others can become distracted, frustrated, fearful, or even upset when external auditory stimuli comes about in their environment (garbage truck driving by, vacuum, a band, etc.). Occupational therapists have tools that are specifically tailored to helping guide auditory avoiders and increase functional independence and active participation in environments that may contain high levels of auditory input!
As occupational therapists we LOVE using activities that utilize vestibular input throughout treatment sessions, but we also love teaching families how they can get this type of input at home!
The vestibular system is responsible for providing our brains with information about motion, head position, and spatial orientation. Not only that, but it also is involved with the motor functions that allow us to keep our balance, stabilize our head and body during movement, and maintain upright positioning and posture.
Vestibular input impacts balance, righting reactions, gravitational security, coordination, vision, hearing, and everything in between. Thus, the vestibular system is essential for normal movement and equilibrium. The vestibular system utilized small crystals in the inner ear’s semicircular canals to interpret environmental stimuli through head movement in space.
This sensory system is based within our muscles and joints and how we use these to interpret where our body is in space, providing us information about the calibration of our body movements, and our body positioning and mechanics.
As with all sensory systems, some individuals seek out this form of input, while others avoid it. Some of our favorite ways to get proprioceptive input:
Crashing
Jumping
Climbing
Stomping
Chewing
Heavy work
Weighted vests/blankets
Deep pressure
This sense helps us detect and perceive taste and is meant to keep us safe from ingesting things that are toxic, spoiled, or inedible and it also plays a very important role in eating and drinking!
There are five basic taste sensations as outlined in the photo, all of which are processed through this sensory system!
Not only with our hands, but throughout our whole body there are receptors that help us interpret and process tactile stimuli!
We love using tactile play in our sensory-friendly spaces to help increase tolerance to foods, clothing, touch, etc. Here are some ideas for you at home:
play doh
sensory bins
slime
outdoor play (dirt, sand, mud, water)
barefoot play (especially outside!)
shaving cream
This sense is the least well known, is experienced far beyond what you may expect. It is the sense that provides information about the internal condition of our body. This is literally assessing how our body is feeling on the inside.
I feel hungry
I feel thirsty
I have to go to the bathrooms
gosh my heart is beating really fast
wow, my mouth is dry
I ate too much, I’m really full
ouch! That hurt!
I’m so hot right now!
it’s freezing in here!
I’m tired
this is relaxing
this is giving me anxiety
I am so frustrated right now
woah, that made me nervous!
The human body is such an amazing thing. Each of us has our own unique journey through life and within that journey, we all have our own unique sensory quirks. Finding tools and strategies whilst adapting the environment to meet the needs as unique as the person using the space is what we at SENSE-ational Spaces do best. Let us know if you or someone you know needs support in finding sensory-friendly solutions in your home, school, work, or community environment!
By: Alexi M. Christensen, MA, OTR/L
