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At its core, sensory processing is how the brain takes in, organizes, and responds to the sensory information from our environment and our own bodies. This includes not only the five senses we all learned about in school—sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch—but also movement (vestibular), body awareness (proprioception), and internal signals (interoception) like hunger or needing to use the bathroom.
According to Dr. Ayres, sensory processing is the foundation for learning, behavior, and emotional regulation. When sensory processing is working well, it’s almost invisible. But when it's disrupted—what she called “sensory integrative dysfunction”—we may see kids who melt down from tags in shirts, crash into everything, struggle with coordination, or seem “wired” after something seemingly as simple as a trip to the grocery store.
It's important to recognize that these are real neurological differences—not just “bad behavior” or “overreaction.”
MYTH #1: “They’ll grow out of it.”
Fact: Development is dynamic, but some children need skilled support to build the neurological connections that help them process sensory input effectively. Receiving support can make all the difference in whether a child is able to participate in daily routines, succeed in school, and form relationships.
MYTH #2: “They’re just being difficult.”
Fact: Sensory processing differences are not a choice—the brain is trying to protect, process, organize, or make sense of the world. Kids do well when they can—and if they can’t, it’s our job to understand why.
MYTH #3: “Sensory needs can be addressed by using behavioral strategies”
Fact: Jean Ayres believed that therapy should be both meaningful and playful, allowing children to develop new brain connections through engaging, child-led, holistic and motivating just-right challenges. That belief still holds true today, and that’s exactly the approach we take at The Children’s Institute when a kid comes to us with sensory processing difficulties.
Sensory processing is not a trend or a label—it’s a lens for understanding the why behind a child’s actions. As caregivers, educators, and therapists, when we shift from “what’s wrong with this child?” to “what is this child experiencing?”—everything changes.
To learn more about cutting-edge occupational therapy treatments at The Children’s Institute, visit this section of our website.
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