Children’s Services and Adult
Learning Disability Services
Children’s Services and Adult
We are all sensory beings, experiencing the external world and the internal world of our bodies via our senses. Everything you experience and do involves your senses.
The term sensory processing refers to how the body receives and interprets incoming stimuli through our senses. It’s our brain’s way of understanding the world around us and what’s happening inside us – and whether to react to or ignore that information.
Sensory integration and processing is important in everything we need to do daily, such as getting dressed, eating, moving around, socialising, learning and working. Each sensory system has its own unique role and together they inform our brain how to react and interact with our environment. This process helps us to maintain a sense of position, level of alertness in different surroundings and our ability to move.
Everybody has different sensory preferences and sensations that we do not like. We only require support and intervention if our sensory processing is stopping us from doing what we want and need to do in our daily lives.
It may be that a child strongly prefers some fabric textures, but cannot tolerate others and this becomes a problem because they are unable to tolerate their school uniform.Some people love rollercoasters and loud music, others do not. Some people cannot read or concentrate unless in complete silence whereas others like to study when listening to music or in a busy environment.
Our sensory processing is strongly linked to our emotional state, regulation and stress.
When we are worried, anxious or upset, our tolerance to certain sensory stimuli such as noise or movement may be reduced.
When we are calm and relaxed, we are more tolerant of noises, smells and other incoming sensory information. We have different sensory systems and perceive the incoming sensory information from our surroundings in different ways. This can also depend on past experiences. Most people react automatically to incoming stimuli, by adjusting their behaviour and actions to respond appropriately. However if sensory processing differences are present, this may be more difficult.
When sensory processing differences are present, the neurological process is not well organised and this is when behaviours can become disorganised. The brain then has difficulty paying attention and learning, which can affect how we go about everyday activities.
This service provides post-diagnostic support and on-going management for children and young people with ADHD and their families.
Our Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service supports children and young people aged up to 18 years, who are experiencing significant emotional or mental health difficulties.
The team completes Autism and ADHD assessments for children and young people who are below the age of 18 and have a GP in Hull or the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The Front Door Team is where referrals for Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD) are sent and reviewed.
“Our Senses are the gateway to our world”
