A sensational way to understand and serve children: Illustration of a sensory processing model

Abstract

A growing body of literature suggests that the way people respond to sensory experiences in their everyday lives can both be characterized and serve as a useful assessment and intervention planning template (Dunn, 2001, 2007a, b; Dunn, Myles, & Orr, 2002; Myles et al., 2004; Rogers, Hepburn, & Wehner, 2003). Receiving and processing sensation is a core feature of brain activity, and therefore has the potential to influence many areas of performance and behavior. Understanding the patterns of sensory processing identified from research, and how these patterns affect children 's behavior, can be extremely useful for understanding complex situations with families and schools. Sensory processing knowledge broadens our ability to consider what might be influencing a child 's behavior and therefore provides insights about effective intervention possibilities. As this may be a new area of consideration for readers, we will review the basic concepts before presenting the case. © 2010 Springer-Verlag New York.