Part 1 of 3: Sensory Integration and Modulation

By Ofra Sharp and Ma’ayan Hamilton / August 2023

Have you ever wondered how children perceive the world around them and how their brains process all the sensory information they receive? In this blog, we will take a look at the fascinating world of sensory integration and sensory modulation in babies and children in their first few years of life.

In our recent blogs on discipline (Encouraging Desirable Behaviour in Children and How to Discipline your Toddler) we have referred to the importance of understanding how sensory overload can cause misbehaviour. Over the next three blogs, we are going to focus on understanding what this really means. Sensory integration and modulation are processes that play a crucial role in a child’s development, helping them navigate their environment effectively and adaptively.

The topic of sensory systems is so vast and important, that we have decided to divide it into three separate blogs for you. In this blog (part 1), we will explore the basic sensory systems, the concepts of sensory integration and sensory modulation, and how they relate to Piaget’s theory of the sensory-motor stage of development.

In the next two blogs, we will explore the concepts of habituation, managing your baby’s sensory world, the importance of a sensory diet, sensory dysfunction, and other difficulties with sensory integration, as well as treatment options. 

The Basic Sensory Systems

Before we delve into sensory integration and modulation, let’s briefly understand the various sensory systems that we all have:

• Visual: This sense allows us to see and perceive the world through our eyes.
• Auditory: It enables us to hear and interpret sounds through our ears.
• Olfactory: This is our sense of smell, which comes from our nose.
• Gustatory: This is our sense of taste, and it’s governed by our taste buds on the tongue.
• Tactile: This is responsible for our sense of touch, which comes from receptors in our skin.

Additionally, there are two lesser-known but equally important sensory systems:

• Proprioceptive: This system gives us body awareness and includes motor planning, body movement, muscle, and joint sensations.
• Vestibular: This system is all about balance, spatial orientation, and coordinating movement with balance.

Ideally, all these sensory systems work together to help us function optimally, both physically and emotionally.

What is Sensory Integration?

In 1972, Jean Ayres, a renowned occupational therapist, explained Sensory Integration like this:: 

“Sensory integration is the neurological process that organizes sensation from one’s own body and from the environment and makes it possible to use the body effectively within the environment…The brain must select, enhance, inhibit, compare, and associate the sensory information in a flexible, constantly changing pattern, in other words, the brain must integrate it.“

In simpler terms, sensory integration is how our brains put together information received through our senses.

Imagine your brain receiving input from your eyes, skin, nose, ears, and vestibular system all at once. It’s like a symphony of information! Your brain then prioritizes, adapts, and activates responses based on the most relevant sensory input it receives. So, it decides whether to focus on listening to someone’s voice, or on your body’s movement, all in a split second.

Sensory integration starts developing in the first few years of life as babies explore their environment through play. This is when the mind and senses work together to make sense of the world around them. Early sensory development lays the foundation for a child’s learning and perception as they grow older.

According to the famous psychologist Jean Piaget, the first two years of a child’s life are the sensory-motor stage of development. During this period, children use their senses to learn about the world. They respond physically to their environment, helping them gain a deeper understanding of everything around them. It’s a time of rapid cognitive growth and discovery.

What is Sensory Modulation?

Now that we have a better grasp of sensory integration, let’s talk about sensory modulation. Sensory modulation is the brain’s ability to prioritize and process sensory information. Think of it as your brain’s filter. When information is received through your senses, the brain organizes it by inhibiting or suppressing irrelevant information. It then signals you to act on the most relevant or prioritized information in any given situation.

For example, imagine you’re in a classroom. You need to focus more on listening to the teacher’s voice and her instructions rather, than on the taste of your lunch or the colours on the walls. That’s sensory modulation at work.

The Difference Between Sensory Integration and Sensory Modulation

To put it simply, sensory integration is the process of taking in information from multiple senses simultaneously, while sensory modulation is about filtering out irrelevant information and focusing on what’s important in a given situation. It’s like your brain sorting through an enormous amount of input and deciding what to ignore and what to act upon.

Sensory modulation is crucial because it allows us to focus on what matters most at any given time. 

Sensory modulation helps us filter out unnecessary sensory stimuli and respond appropriately to relevant information.

The 3 Stages of Sensory Modulation

Sensory modulation can be broken down into three main stages:

• 1. Registration: This is when your brain acknowledges the sensory information it receives. It’s like asking, “What is it?”
• 2. Orientation: After registering the sensory input, your brain orients itself to it, evaluates the situation, and asks, “What should I do?”
• 3. Arousal: This is when your brain prepares you for action or attention. This is when you carry out a voluntary response based on the sensory input.

In most cases, our sensory modulation fluctuates throughout the day, depending on the situation. We become more or less stimulated and then calm ourselves as needed.

Conclusion

Sensory integration and sensory modulation are fascinating processes that help children make sense of the world around them. These processes develop early in a child’s life, forming the foundation for their future learning, behaviour, and perception. Understanding sensory integration and modulation can shed light on sensory dysfunction when these processes don’t work optimally (we’ll delve into this topic in part 3 of this series). 

By supporting children’s sensory development through play and exploration, we can ensure they have the best chance to thrive and navigate their environment effectively and adaptively. 

Keep an eye out for our next blog (part 2 of this series)  in which we will take a closer look at managing your baby and toddler’s sensory environment, and helpful ideas and practical tips for creating a healthy sensory environment for your baby and young child.

About the authors

Ofra Sharp

Ofra Sharp is the founder and owner of Little Acorns PlayGroup and Time2gether Activity Workshops. Ofra has many years of experience working with children of different ages, and their families. Ofra has a deep knowledge and understanding of the importance of early childhood development. Her qualifications include:

FDE Junior Primary (CCOE, UCT)

Advanced Play Therapy (Red Shoe)

Counselling 1 and 2, and trauma debriefing certificates (FAMtrac)

Ma’ayan Hamilton

Ma’ayan is a co-owner of LIttle Acorns PlayGroup where she is also involved as a teacher assistant. Ma’ayan qualified with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2008, after which she furthered her studies as a TRE provider. Ma’ayan has a deep understanding of early childhood development, as well as the psychosocial needs of young children. Ma’ayan has three children of her own and has many years of hands-on experience with young children. Her qualifications include:

B.Sc. Occupational Therapy (University of Cape Town)

TRE provider (TRE Global Certification Training)