The visual system handles the ability to see. Visual functions include quality of vision that help an individual have awareness of their environment to be able to function(3) Visual input includes lighting, clutter, and brightly colored clothing, fabrics, and wall decorations. A poor visual system can result in problems in school, play, or basic daily tasks. If your child struggles with visual input, you may notice:

• They work better in low lighting

• Bothered by bright lighting

The auditory system is how you are able to hear. Hearing functions can include the ability to tell where sounds come from and understand the difference between sounds (3). The ability to hear is important for all areas of life and can impact participation in school or interactions with family or friends. Loud sounds from the environment can be distracting or disruptive. This can make it difficult for the child to attend to the task in front of them. If your child experiences auditory dysfunction you may notice:

• Strong or extreme reactions to unexpected or loud noises

• Covering their ears

• Struggling to attend or complete tasks in a noisy environment or when the TV/music is on

• Tuning out or ignoring you

• Making strange noises

The olfactory system is how you are able to smell. Through smell we can determine if an environment is safe or unpleasant. Smell is also closely tied to the gustatory system and impacts the way we taste things. Certain smells can also trigger our memories and help us remember information. Some smells can be calming to children such as lavender. However, some smells can also be triggering to a child that has experienced trauma. If your child has olfactory sensory concerns, you may see behaviors such as:

• Craving certain smells

• Rejecting certain smells

• Smelling nonfood objects

The gustatory system is how you are able to taste. It helps you determine if foods are sweet, salty, bitter, our sour. These different tastes not only help us find foods we like to eat, but also detects if food is safe to eat or not.

If your child has sensory processing concerns regarding taste you may notice patterns such as:

• Craving certain foods with specific taste

• Rejecting foods with certain tastes

The tactile system is how you process touch from all over the body. This includes how an individual responds to pain, temperature changes, and different textures. Each child may have a different response to those sensations. Remember that some children may have sensory defensiveness to touch. This is called tactile defensiveness. To recap this is an over response to touch that most would see as non-threatening. Tactile defensive kids feel small touches as painful or as harder than it was and respond in extreme ways.

If your child has tactile dysfunction, you may see concerns such as:

• Often rub or fidget with items around them

• Unable to identify items without looking at them

• Weak hand strength and often drop items

• Poor body awareness

• Strong dislike certain textures or clothing

• Strong dislike of clothing tags or seams

• Messy handwriting

• Dislike having their hair cut or brushed

The vestibular system provides information on balance and movement through gravity (3). This comes from movement from the head that stimulates the vestibular system inside your ears. This system promotes communication between the two sides of the brain, muscle tone, and smooth body movements (1). The vestibular system even helps the eyes work together (1).

If your child has vestibular dysfunction, you may see concerns such as:

• Trouble keeping their eyes on a moving object

• Clumsiness

• Difficulty sitting upright in a chair

• Poor coordination

• Difficulty with activities that need them to use both sides of their bodies

• Unsmooth movements

• Appear to be “lost in space”

Proprioception is the body’s ability to determine its position and movement through space. This includes understanding where your body parts are, how to move them, and how much force to use to complete daily tasks. This information comes from receptors found in the muscles, tendons, and joints.

If your child has proprioceptive concerns, you may see concerns such as:

○ Poor body awareness

○ Poor hand-eye coordination

○ Walking on their toes

○ Often “crash” into things like the floor or wall

○ Difficulty determining force and pressure