Written by: Jessica Presnell, MS, OTR/L

These days, “sensory” can feel like a buzzword. It shows up everywhere—on social media, in
parenting blogs and daily conversations. But here’s the truth: sensory processing isn’t just a hot
topic—it’s a critical foundation for how we function, learn, and connect. When we reduce it to
just a trend, we miss the deeper reality: it’s not about a fad, it’s about daily participation.

Before I had kids, I understood sensory processing in a professional way. As an occupational
therapist, I like to say I “knew” it was the foundation of everything we do—the way our bodies
take in, organize, and respond to the world around us. I could explain how the tactile, vestibular,
and proprioceptive systems work together to shape movement and behavior, or how
interoception connects to emotional awareness.

But after becoming a parent, I began to truly live it. I saw firsthand how each person’s sensory
profile—their unique way of processing and integrating sensory input— truly shapes our daily
life. I noticed how my kids responded differently to noise, textures, transitions, and fatigue, and
how those differences impacted our whole family’s ability to function together. I started to
understand in a very real way what it means when our “cups” are full—or overflowing—and how
that affects our ability to follow through with routines, manage emotions, and connect with each
other.

And here’s what became so clear: sensory processing is not just about sensitivity to clothing
tags and loud noises, or movement-seeking behaviors. It’s about everything we do. It has fully
shaped how I approach my treatment and interactions with the individuals and families I served.
Sensory processing is the brain’s way of turning raw input into meaningful action. When it’s
working well, it allows us to:

● Sit upright in a chair to write a sentence.
● Judge how much force to use when closing a door or when hugging a friend.
● Notice when we’re hungry, tired, or anxious and respond appropriately.
● Tune out background noise so we can focus on a conversation.
● Transition from one activity to another without falling apart.

These aren’t “extra” skills—they are THE building blocks of everyday participation.

When sensory processing is disrupted, functional skills are impacted in ways that extend across
every area of life:

● At school: difficulty copying from the board, staying seated, or attending to directions.
● At home: struggles with dressing, brushing teeth, or mealtime routines.
● In play and relationships: challenges with coordination, emotional regulation, and peer
interaction.
● In coordination of functional activities: challenges with tying shoes, riding a bike,
handwriting, or using utensils.
● In wellbeing: difficulties falling asleep, managing stress, or recognizing internal body
cues.

As therapists, it’s easy to focus on the behaviors we see—impulsivity, distractibility, meltdowns,
avoidance. Often times it’s why parents or caregivers sought us out in the first place. But those
behaviors are often the END RESULT of how the sensory systems are working (or not working)
together. If we stop at “he’s impulsive” or “she’s anxious,” we miss the root.

When we deeply understand sensory processing, we start asking better questions:

● Is this child’s difficulty with handwriting about “delays in fine motor skills” alone, or is
proprioception, vestibular and tactile processing impacting their ability to grade force,
orient pen to paper and ability to maintain an upright posture?
● Is this child’s resistance to group play really just a behavior, or are they overwhelmed by
auditory and visual input or having difficulty with their praxis skills?
● Is this teen’s “laziness” actually linked to modulation of vestibular input?

This lens changes everything. It shifts us from managing surface behaviors to addressing the
foundation that allows those higher-level skills to flourish. It helps to have those core building
blocks we can take with us through every life stage.

And for me as a parent, recognizing the role of sensory processing has changed how I
approach our day. If I know my child’s “cup” is already overflowing from the extra sensory
stimulation of school, I can adjust expectations for after-school tasks or focus on the sensory
input that helps regulate their body before moving on. I can see when my own system is
stretched thin and model strategies that help me re-regulate.

That awareness creates a whole new level of empathy, flexibility, and connection. It helps us
function not just as individuals, but as a family.

I’m so passionate about this message: understanding sensory processing is EVERYTHING. It’s
about seeing the invisible foundation that makes participation, learning, emotional regulation,
and relationships possible.

As occupational therapists, we MUST evaluate an individual’s sensory processing and use that
information in our treatment —without it, we’re limiting our clients’ potential, burdening their
families with partial solutions, and impacting their ability to generalize skills beyond the therapy
room. When we strengthen that foundation, we’re not just addressing ‘behaviors’—we’re
opening the door to fuller participation in life.

Enroll in Sensory Boot Camp: Understanding Sensory Processing & Evaluative Observations with Jessica Presnell, MS, OTR/L, to see how sensory processing drives behavior, learning, and daily participation—and how to evaluate it with confidence.