Module 1B: Sensory Issues and Learning
Some learners experience sensory loss, such as visual or hearing difficulties.
Many learners, particularly those with autism, have fluctuating sensory systems which are too sensitive, or not sensitive enough. These young people may have difficulty with ‘sensory integration’ or understanding what their senses are telling them about the environment they are in. They might also have problems with ‘sensory regulation’ or filtering out sensory information which is unnecessary. For example, think of a child that might find hand dryers or loud noises distressing.
Sensory issues like these will affect the way learners will learn and experience the world and it is vital to understand these and how they can be supported.
Key Points
- Learners can have sensory loss
- Learners can find it difficult to integrate (make sense of) or regulate (filter out) their sensory experiences
- One learner’s experience of an environment may be very different to another’s experience of the same environment. For example, one may find a visual flicker of a screen overwhelming and may not be able to filter it out whilst another may barely notice it
Thinking Point
Think about how you experience the world through your senses. What do you sometimes find very distracting or overwhelming in an environment?
Think of a learner you work with who has sensory issues. How do you think they might experience a busy environment like a playground?