External Sensory System:

Visual – Sensory feedback received from our eyes – Some children are bothered by bright lights and a colourful environment. While others find bright lights and colourful space very comfortable to be in. Observe which the kid prefers. A calming visual environment is more conducive to learning.

Auditory – Sensory feedback received from our ears – Have you ever noticed how some people get startled if they hear a strange sound or how coming kids coming running to the door when the doorbell rings! Observing the child’s auditory preferences help therapists and parents design learning activities based on their preferences.

Tactile – Sensory feedback received by touching – Different textures have their own look and feel. Offering a range of textures in clothing, toys, and other objects can help, as can avoiding forced contact with distressing textures.

Olfactory – Sensory feedback received from our nose – Avoiding aversive smells in an automatic reaction in people but there are certain smells that are distressing to some people and comforting to others. For therapeutic interventions to work efficiently, a neutral smelling environment is preferable. For children who are more sensitive to smells, a neutral smelling home environment needs to be maintained.

Gustatory – Sensory feedback received from our tongue – Feeding problems are very common in some autistic children. They have certain oro-motor sensitivities that makes them defensive from certain food textures. This is a specialized area therapy and requires qualified experts to create a customized oral motor plan for the child.