Auditory (sound)

Hearing allows us to perceive sound waves in our environment. The ears capture these waves, and the brain processes them to create the perception of sound. A child who is sensitive to a auditory stimuli may find busy shopping centres, public transport or even the noisy classroom or playground overstimulating wearing headphones in public places may help to assist them in these settings. A child who is underresponsive to auditory stimulus might enjoy loud noises, have delayed speech or appear inattentive to noises other children would respond to.

Visual (sight)

Sight is the ability to perceive and interpret light. The eyes capture visual information, which is then processed by the brain to create images and help us navigate the world. Someone who is hypersensitive to visual stimulus may be uncomfortable or distressed in environments with bright lights or intense visual patterns, easily overwhelmed by crowded or visually stimulating spaces, cover their eyes or avoid looking at certain objects or scenes or may have heightened emotional response to changes in visual stimuli. Someone who is underresponsive to visual stimuli may seek out visually stimulating activities or objects, such as constantly watching moving objects or spinning items, have difficulty maintaining focus or attention on visual tasks, have limited awareness of visual details in their environment, may appear indifferent or unmoved by changes in visual stimuli.

Gustatory (taste/oral)

Taste involves the sensory perception of flavors. Taste buds on the tongue can detect basic tastes such as sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. This sense  works closely with olfactory and tactile senses. If your child has strong aversions to specific tastes or textures in food, limited food preferences due to heightened sensitivity to certain flavors or reacts strongly, such as by spitting out or refusing to eat certain foods, then they may have a hypersensitive gustatory sense. A person with a hyposensitivity may prefer very spicy or intensely flavored foods, have a limited response to subtle or mild tastes, frequently seek out strong tastes or textures in food or may engage in behaviors like putting excessive amounts of salt or condiments on food.

Olfactory (Smell)

Olfaction involves the detection and interpretation of odors. Receptors in the nose capture airborne molecules, and the brain processes these signals to create the sensation of smell. having a