Sensory Processing & Attention
By Jessica Jordan, MS, OTR/L
What Is Sensory Processing ?
Sensory processing is the ability to register, screen organize, and interpret information from our senses and the environment. This process allows us to filter out some unnecessary information so that we can attend to what is important. Sensory processing is critical and central to all human beings everyday.
How Attention and Sensory Processing Correlate
Individuals with sensory challenges often have difficulty with attention as a result. There is a co-morbidity rate of 40-60% of ADHD and sensory processing.
How It May Look
A student may be focused on a fidget (providing visual, tactile or proprioceptive input) that they may not notice if their name was called. An individual may be fearful or hesitant of being touched (tactile input) that they might have missed verbal instructors for a specific task while out in the community. A person may be moving their body in order to regulate themselves (vestibular input) and might have missed visual cues modeled by a parent.
It should be noted, that not all sensory processing challenges interfere with every person's ability to attend. For example, you may notice a person who may be providing himself/herself with visually rich input but still listening to all the verbal directions presented even though their visual attention is not on the speaker.
Ways To Help
Learn and share information about the sensory systems to guide how our sensory system impacts attention and an individual’s availability for learning.
Build focus and attention by building from the ground up with step-by-step strategies.
Guide participation and independence through strategies that address both attention and sensory processing as a combined strategy.
Sources
Beck, C. (2018, April 7). Attention and Sensory Are Connected. theottoolbox. https://www.theottoolbox.com/attention-and-sensory-needs-connected/