Sensory profile: what it is and what it is for

In schools, in the world of work and in everyday life, a homogenization of the social fabric is sought. Thus, those who were different were pressured to change. Fortunately, We are increasingly aware that diversity enriches us and that understanding it brings great benefits personally and collectively. Within this paradigm, the sensory profile begins to be addressed.

This designates an individual pattern specific to each person, in terms of the way in which stimuli are processed and how they respond to them. Lights, sounds, smells, textures and multiple sensory elements surround us daily, affecting our well-being and productivity. Thus, Knowing this profile in children and adults helps to make adjustments that favor their success. and performance.

What is the sensory profile?

To understand what this term consists of, it is important to first talk about the Winnie Dunn’s sensory processing theory. We start from the basis that people receive information from the environment through our senses.

However, Each of us has a different threshold and is sensitive to environmental conditions.so there are those who need great intensity to perceive the stimulation and there are those who capture these elements, even in their most minimal expression.

For example, one person may feel very uncomfortable and disturbed by an odor that is almost imperceptible to another. Or someone would greatly enjoy a roller coaster, while for another that experience is overwhelming. This depends on the neurological threshold.

Apartthere are different ways to regulate this input of stimuli. There are those who remain passively in the environment, letting things happen and reacting to them. But there are also those who actively make changes, in order to achieve the level of stimulation they need.

By combining both variables (neurological threshold and self-regulation), four different patterns of sensory processing emerge, according to the Dunn’s Sensory Processing Model. Or, in other words, four sensory profiles that have their own characteristics. Next, let’s see what each one is about.

People with a high threshold and active self-regulation show reactions such as loud talking and impulsiveness.

1. Search for sensations

This profile describes people with a high threshold and active self-regulation. That is They need intense and prolonged stimulation and deliberately seek environments or situations that provide it. In a child this can translate into the following actions:

Being impulsivePlaying roughly.Talking loudly or screaming.Touching everything around you.Need to run, climb or move constantly.Overexpressing affection without respecting the space of others.Preferring intense flavors or music at high volumes.

2. Avoidance of sensations

It is about the profile of those who They have a low threshold and active self-regulation, but aimed at avoiding stimuli because they oversaturate the person. For example, a child may cover his or her ears at loud noises, go to another place when there is a lot of noise, or refuse to try new foods. Likewise, you may reject physical contact, be very cautious, or refuse to wear certain types of clothing based on their texture.

3. Sensory sensitivity

This third case applies to those who have a low threshold (they easily capture stimuli) and passive self-regulation. This implies that They do not avoid stimuli, but they are very sensitive to them, so they react in an intense, exaggerated and long-lasting way.

These children usually feel overactivated or overwhelmed in different situations and therefore appear irritable and moody. Additionally, they require more time to process information, which makes them slower or more inhibited.

4. Low registration

Finally, there are people with a high threshold (they need more stimulation) and passive regulation. These show tendency to be distracted and miss much of the information in the environment. They seem indifferent to what is happening and it is difficult to get their attention. Likewise, they overlook aspects that are obvious to others.

How to identify the sensory profile?

As you can imagine, the type of sensory profile of a person influences their way of relating to the environment and functioning in their daily lives. For this, It is important to identify it and for this purpose there is a standardized instrument, capable of measuring and evaluating sensory processing patterns.

This consists of a questionnaire, applicable to both children and adults, which collects the responses and interactions that the person emits with respect to their environment. In the case of children (3 to 14 years old), it is their parents, caregivers and teachers who provide the information, since they best know the children’s sensory experiences and their most typical responses and reactions.

When evaluating these profiles in adolescents and adults, they themselves record the frequency with which they engage in each of the analyzed behaviors.

Carrying out the sensory profile is of great help in the treatment of children with neurodivergence.

Benefits of performing the sensory profile

Research in this regard has found that carrying out the sensory profile It is especially useful in certain population groups, such as children with some neurodivergence. (ASD or ADHD), with developmental or learning disorders, because they show distinctive and more intense sensory processing.

However, each person has their own profile that may or may not fit the norm in different areas and degrees. Thus, knowing this profile of a person (child or adult) provides different benefits, such as those we now list:

Allows for a greater understanding of needs and the way that person experiences reality.It helps you to know your virtues and potentialities, as well as those areas in which difficulties are found due to sensory processing.Makes it possible to create intervention strategies or apply adjustments that alleviate challenges and boost the strengths of each child and adult. This both in the academic or work environment, as well as in daily life and in interpersonal relationships.

In sum, Knowing the sensory profiles of children helps us understand that their behaviors are not due to disobedience, but rather to a poor fit between their needs and the environment.

In this way, for example, a boy with sensory sensitivity will require a quiet and unstimulating environment to perform and feel comfortable; while one with a low register will demand attention and motivation more actively to pay attention and be productive.

More specifically, studies such as the one published by the American Journal of Occupational Therapy suggest that using medicine balls as a seat benefits the productivity of children with ADHD (because it allows some movement). Likewise, it has been pointed out that using weighted vests facilitates the performance of children with generalized developmental disorders (due to the proprioceptive stimulation it applies).

Sensory profiles as tools for self-knowledge

To carry out such profiles it is important that the instrument be applied by a professional therapist. Nevertheless, the people closest to the infant They can identify some of their needs in this regard, looking at how they react to different everyday situations.. Are noises, lights or textures bothering him? Does he seem distracted and has trouble concentrating? Is he restless and energetic and always alert?

Paying attention to the above facilitates the work of parents and teachers, increasing their ability to adapt the contexts and circumstances, so that the child feels more comfortable and develops optimally.

In the case of adults, Understanding our sensory profile allows us to seek or claim those adjustments in work environments and personal relationships, as well as understanding the specific needs of others. Therefore, it is a very useful self-knowledge tool.

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