Sense Descriptions

Contrary to popular belief, we have eight (not five) senses. Read the descriptions below. Sensory interventions are typically categorized into calming or alerting activities, except in the case of Proprioception, which generally has an organizing effect. Follow the links below for more information about which activities are calming and which are alerting for most children. But remember, always pay attention to your child's cues. Not all children experience the same sensations the same way.

Visual

The visual sense helps us determine color, size, shape, visual texture, depth, and position of objects or people using our eyes

Calming vs. Alerting

Auditory

The auditory sense helps us determine volume, pitch, location, and quality of sounds using our ears

Calming vs. Alerting

Olfactory

The olfactory sense helps us distinguish between odors, filter out background odors, and determine if environments are safe using our noses

Calming vs. Alerting

Gustatory

The gustatory sense helps us determine if food is safe and categorize food into taste categories (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy, meaty/earthy) using our taste buds

Calming vs. Alerting

Tactile

The tactile sense helps us to determine determine pain, pressure, and temperature. Information comes in through the skin and tissue inside the mouth

Calming vs. Alerting

Proprioception

The proprioceptive sense is the sense of body awareness or the position of the body and body parts in space. Receptors for the proprioceptive sense are in the muscles and joints and are activated by weight and stretch

Organizing

Vestibular

The vestibular sense is the sense of balance, and movement through space. Receptors for the vestibular sense are in the inner ear and are activated by change in head position

Calming vs. Alerting

Interoception

The interoceptive sense is the sense of the internal body. Internal sensors in organs, blood vessels, and muscles help us to sense blood flow, pressure in the blood vessels and body, hunger, thirst, the need for air, and the need to eliminate waste. There is no direct access to interoception, but some clinicians believe it can be treated using the proprioceptive or vestibular senses.