What Does It Mean to be Sensory Sensitive?

Demystifying Sensory Sensitivity: A Guide to Understanding and Creating Inclusive Spaces

Have you ever walked into a brightly lit store filled with loud music and felt overwhelmed? Or maybe certain textures on clothing make you itch uncontrollably? If so, you might have experienced a moment of sensory sensitivity.

Being sensory sensitive is a natural variation in how we all process sensory information through our eight senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, taste, movement (proprioception), balance (vestibular), and interoception (internal body awareness). Yes, you have more than 5 senses! While everyone has different sensory preferences, people with sensory sensitivities experience sensory input more intensely or differently than others. This can lead to discomfort, anxiety, or even physical reactions in overwhelming environments.

Understanding sensory sensitivity is crucial not only for individuals who experience it but also for creating inclusive spaces for everyone. This blog post will:

• delve into our eight senses
• explore how being sensory sensitive manifests in each sense
• offer practical solutions for navigating daily life for individuals
• help businesses and organizations support their teams and their customers who experience sensory sensitivity!

Navigating Sensory Experiences: Beyond Preferences for the Sensory Sensitive

While everyone has unique sensory preferences, those who are sensory sensitivite experience sensory information through one or more senses differently. This can manifest as hypersensitivity, where there’s an overload of sensory input, or hyposensitivity, where individuals crave more stimulation. This sensitivity can also change over time!

In fact, research by Robertson and Simmons (2013) suggests a link between sensory sensitivity and autistic traits. However, it’s important to remember that sensory sensitivity can occur across various diagnoses and even for people who do not have a diagnosis or any other condition.

To learn more about sensory sensitivity and autism, read:

“The Relationship Between Sensory Sensitivity and Autistic Traits in the General Population”, shares that autistic people will experience hypersensitivity or hypersensitivity ¹.

And, our blog: Autism and Sensory Overload: Understanding and Coping Strategies

The Eight Senses and Being Sensory Sensitive

Sight: Imagine a bustling grocery store with bright fluorescent lights and colorful displays. For someone hypersensitive to visual stimuli, this environment might trigger dizziness, nausea, or headaches. Conversely, someone with hyposensitivity might seek out visually stimulating environments.

Hearing: Background music, chatter, and traffic noise can be overwhelming for someone with auditory sensitivities. Certain sounds, like fingernails on a chalkboard, might be particularly bothersome. In contrast, someone with hyposensitivity might crave loud noises or struggle to focus in quiet environments.

Touch: Clothing tags, seams, or specific fabrics can be irritating for those with tactile sensitivities. On the other hand, someone with hyposensitivity might crave constant touch or pressure.

Smell: Perfumes, cleaning products, or even strong food smells can be overwhelming for people with olfactory sensitivities. Sensory-friendly environments often adopt a scent-free approach to minimize discomfort.

Taste: Spicy foods, strong flavors, or even certain textures can be unpleasant for individuals with taste sensitivities. They might have a limited diet or avoid certain foods altogether.

Movement: People with proprioceptive sensitivities might struggle with activities that require a lot of coordination or movement planning. In contrast, someone with hyposensitivity to movement, might seek out movement-based activities.

Balance: Motion sickness, a fear of heights, or difficulty walking on uneven surfaces can be signs of vestibular sensitivity. Sensory-friendly environments often prioritize flat, stable surfaces to minimize discomfort.

Interoception: Individuals with interoceptive sensitivities might have difficulty recognizing internal body cues like hunger, thirst, or the need to use the toilet.

Sensory Overload: When Input Becomes Too Much

Sensory sensitivity refers to a heightened or altered response to sensory information through one or more senses. It’s a baseline experience, like having a dimmer switch on your senses. Sensory overload, on the other hand, happens when someone with sensory sensitivities is exposed to too much stimulation, exceeding their ability to cope. It’s a temporary state, like the dimmer switch being pushed to overload, causing discomfort and potentially leading to meltdowns or other negative reactions.

Sensory overload occurs when a person is exposed to more sensory stimuli than they can comfortably process. This can lead to a range of physical and emotional responses, including:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Meltdowns
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Nausea

Sensory overload can be triggered by a combination of factors, such as:

• Crowded environments
• Loud noises
• Bright lights
• Strong smells
• Uncomfortable clothing textures

Understanding Sensory Sensitivity Across the Lifespan and Diagnoses

Sensory sensitivity can be experienced by people of all ages and abilities. It can be a temporary or permanent experience, and may co-occur with various diagnoses, or simple differences, including (but not limited to):

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Post-concussion syndrome
• Hearing loss
• Dementia
• Developmental disabilities
• Intellectual disabilities
• Long COVID
• Low vision
• Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• And, many, may more….

It’s important to note that sensory sensitivity is not a diagnosis itself, but rather a sensory experience that can be present in various conditions.

Creating Sensory-Friendly Spaces for Everyone

The good news is that there are many ways to create sensory-friendly environments that are inclusive and comfortable for everyone, in particular people who are sensory sensitive. Here are some practical tips:

• Visual: Dim very bright or flashing lights, use natural light whenever possible, and limit clutter.
• Auditory: Reduce background noise, offer designated quiet spaces, and provide noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs.
• Touch: Offer fidget toys and sensory chewable necklaces, and provide a variety of seating options with different textures.
• Smell: Adopt a scent-free policy and avoid using air fresheners or strong-smelling cleaning products.
• Taste: Offer a variety of food options with different textures and flavors, and provide clear labeling for ingredients.
• Movement: Provide ample space for movement, offer designated areas for relaxation, and consider incorporating movement breaks into activities.
• Balance: Prioritize flat, stable surfaces, and avoid activities that require a lot of balance.

Certainly! Based on the article citeturn0search0, here is a draft of an FAQ section and a table that you can add to your blog post to provide readers with a clearer understanding of sensory sensitivity.

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🧠 FAQ: Understanding Sensory Sensitivity

What does it mean to be sensory sensitive?

Being sensory sensitive refers to experiencing a heightened or altered response to sensory information through one or more of the eight senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, taste, movement (proprioception), balance (vestibular), and interoception (internal body awareness). This can manifest as hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) or hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness) to sensory stimuli.

Is sensory sensitivity the same as sensory overload?
No, sensory sensitivity is a baseline experience where an individual perceives sensory input more intensely or differently. Sensory overload, on the other hand, occurs when the amount of sensory input exceeds an individual’s capacity to process it, leading to discomfort or distress

Who experiences sensory sensitivity?

Sensory sensitivity can be experienced by individuals of all ages and abilities. It is commonly associated with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), but it can also occur in individuals without any specific diagnosis. Read more: in our blog: Who Has Sensory Sensitivity?

Can sensory sensitivity change over time?

Yes, an individual’s sensory sensitivity can change over time and may vary depending on factors such as environment, stress levels, and overall health.

How can environments be made more accommodating for individuals with sensory sensitivity?

Creating sensory-friendly environments involves minimizing overwhelming sensory input and providing options to accommodate diverse sensory needs. This can include dimming bright lights, reducing background noise, offering quiet spaces, and providing sensory tools like noise-canceling headphones or fidget items.

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Sensory Sensitivity Across the Eight Senses

Sense	Hypersensitivity (Over-Responsive)	Hyposensitivity (Under-Responsive)
Sight	Bright lights may cause discomfort or headaches	May seek out visually stimulating environments
Hearing	Everyday sounds may seem excessively loud or distracting	May not notice or respond to sounds that others do
Touch	Certain textures or clothing may feel irritating or painful	May not feel pain or temperature changes as intensely
Smell	Strong odors may cause nausea or discomfort	May not detect strong smells that others find noticeable
Taste	Strong flavors may be overwhelming	May prefer strong flavors and seek out spicy or flavorful foods
Movement	May feel dizzy or uncoordinated with movement	May seek out movement activities like spinning or jumping
Balance	May experience motion sickness or fear of heights	May not notice when off-balance or may seek out balance challenges
Interoception	May have difficulty sensing internal cues like hunger or thirst	May not recognize internal body signals, leading to missed cues

Continue Exploring: Understanding and Supporting Sensory Sensitivity

Discover more about sensory experiences and practical strategies by exploring our related blogs, including topics like sensory processing disorder checklists, creating sensory-friendly environments, and managing sensory overload. Keep learning and find the insights that matter most to you.

• Sensory Processing Disorder Checklists
• Sensory Sensitivity and Sensory Overload
• How to Manage Sensory Overload in Adults
• Case Study: Creating a Sensory-Friendly Apartment Rental
• Sensory-Friendly and Trauma-Informed Care:

Learn More: Sensory-Friendly 101 & Training Membership

Want to take the next step in understanding and supporting people who are sensory sensitive?

🌟 Our Sensory-Friendly 101 Course is the perfect starting point. It’s designed to help individuals, businesses, and organizations learn the basics of creating more sensory-friendly environments—for everyone.

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1. Robertson, A. E., & Simmons, D. R. (2012). The Relationship Between Sensory Sensitivity and Autistic Traits in the General Population. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(4), 775–784. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1608-7