Oral tactile input Jan 4, 2023 · Chewing pencils, nail-biting, and other chewing behaviors can be a challenge in the classroom. It is logical, then, that the mouth and oral seeking can be the “solution”. Includes signs of sensory processing challenges, which affect up to 95% of children with autism, and a list of useful strategies and activities to help kids with tactile processing sensitivities. Dec 4, 2020 · Discover the benefits of using tactile input for skill development in occupational therapy. If your child has autism and/or sensory processing disorder, we’ve got 16 simple to set-up oral motor activities for kids to help with a variety of challenges like picky eating and inappropriate chewing, sucking & biting. Tactile Input explained and its importance for growth and development in kids. Often very absorbed in their own 'little worlds', they may also fail to notice sensory information that would typically be alarming for others. Seekers need more input; they often appear very extreme in their actions due to their seeking behavior and trying to fulfill their sensory needs. They simply don't sense what others can. Sep 21, 2025 · Does your child chew on their shirt, bite their nails, or put objects in their mouth? Learn why oral sensory seeking happens and how to support your child with effective strategies. One educator turned stay at home mom attempts to explain Sensory Processing : Oral Input and its importance for growth and development in kids. Self-Regulation: Mouthing can help a child manage stress, focus attention, or cope with overstimulation. Patricia Wilbarger is an The tactile sense points that are present in our oral cavity receive input from anything and everything that touches our tongue, lips, cheeks, and gums. Jul 14, 2025 · Many children instinctively seek oral sensory input to help them self-regulate. 1. . Other children may have decreased sensitivity to oral sensory input and therefore seek more oral input in order to help them organize their behavior and pay attention. Jan 1, 2008 · Often times, the inability for the human body to process sensory input effectively can cause motor skill delays, tactile defensiveness, or social and emotional difficulties. Heavy work: Heavy work for the mouth can improve the strength of the muscles in the jaw, lips, and tongue. Feb 14, 2022 · They may be over responsive or have increased sensitivity to oral input, causing them to be resistant to oral sensory experiences like trying new foods or brushing their teeth. This is because oral input can be incredibly calming and can help kids manage stress, focus better, and feel more grounded. They truly have weak filters for sensory input. Those who experience sensory over-responsiveness are also commonly referred to as 'sensory defensive'. If under-responsive to oral stimulation, they may appear to put Jul 22, 2025 · The Influence of Sensory Processing on Oral Motor Skills in Children: Understanding the Sensory Foundations As occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists, we increasingly recognise that oral motor development doesn't occur in isolation. What Causes Tactile Defensiveness? Tactile defensiveness is a specific deficit within the larger umbrella of sensory integration. ORAL DEFENSIVENESS Oral Defensiveness is an aversive response to touch sensations in and around the mouth that may cause extreme sensory, emotional and behavioural responses when eating. Tactile defensiveness refers to a type of sensory processing disorder in which tactile sensations cause excessive emotional reactions, hypersensitivity, or other behavior problems. bagels, pop corn, bread sticks, carrots, dried bruits, fruit chews, celery, apples, Chewing sugar free gum for older children. Mar 23, 2022 · Learn why children engage in oral sensory seeking behaviors and discover expert strategies to support their sensory needs. Some examples of alerting oral sensory activities include: -Vibration (battery powered toothbrush, vibrating toys on cheeks/lips) -Play with mouth noises: buzzing like a bee, clicking tongue, humming, blowing Apr 28, 2021 · Oral Sensory Seeking Some children may be regarded as never appearing satisfied with enough oral stimulation, seeking chewy or crunchy substances throughout the day. Aug 11, 2024 · Oral stimulation, also known as oral sensory input, refers to the various ways in which individuals engage their mouths and surrounding areas to receive sensory feedback. It is an important means of exploration for children at a young age. Every person has eight sensory systems, and someone may crave (or “seek”) input from all of them, or just one or two. A great resource for the signs of oral sensitivities (hypersensitive or hyposensitive) as it relates to Sensory Processing Disorders, as well as great treatment ideas! Aug 2, 2011 · Learn about the two different forms of oral defensiveness: HYPOsensitivity and HYPERsensitivity. Children may mouth objects to self-soothe or seek stimulation. Alerting Oral Sensory Activities for the kids that are hyposensitive These activities provide the sensory input kids need to focus and attend better at home and at school. Tactile doesn’t just refer to our hands! The main way we perceive this input is through our skin, which has many receptors all over our bodies for all different kinds of sensations. Speech therapy is all about providing sensory input to generate the desired motor output—no matter what type of sensations you use. Jun 21, 2023 · Sensory brushing is a form of sensory input using a handheld brush. This system includes our lips, tongue, jaw, and cheeks, which work together to allow for eating, drinking, and talking. Each can cause speech/feeding delays and aversions. Oral sensory input can affect a child’s levels of arousal and potentially even change behaviors, helping a child become more regulated and engaged in everyday life. Your sense of touch is called the tactile system. Sep 26, 2016 · Oral sensory processing involves our perception of tactile input in our mouths. For SLPs that adhere entirely to an auditory therapy approach, you might consider adding another highly effective form of sensory input—intra-oral tactile sensory input. Drinking from a sports bottle, Chewing toys to increase tactile input in the oral area e. The mouth is full of sensory receptors, […] May 14, 2025 · Aim Oral functions related to eating, including mastication, swallowing, and taste, are fundamentally a multisensory experience that relies on the crossmodal interaction of touch, gustation If someone seeks tactile input you may see them touch EVERYTHING! An oral seeker might put everything in their mouth. Improve sensory processing and motor skills with the ARK Z-Vibe. Patricia Wilbarger is If a child is hyposensitive to sensory input it means that they require more sensory input to meet their needs. Click the link below to read more about oral sensory processing and the difficulties that may be experienced with it. Recent research reveals that the sensory systems, particularly the vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile systems, form the critical foundation Here are some ideas for ways to offer children oral input through functional activities. They often have low levels of energy and have difficulty arousing their nervous systems. What is sensory processing. Today, we’re going to focus on seven of these systems and explore what sensory seeking behavior might look like for each one. Tactile (Touch) The tactile system is all Mar 19, 2025 · What’s inside this article: A look at how the tactile system, aka our sense of touch, works. Learn how to manage oral sensory-seeking behaviors with practical solutions in this article. Here are some techniques and ideas for providing appropriate oral sensory input. Jul 22, 2025 · Sensory seeking can show up in many different ways—and it’s more common than you might think. Aug 18, 2015 · Use these 10 calming sensory strategies to help keep children attentive and engaged in the classroom throughout their school day. Tactile input pertains to the sense of touch on the skin. Apr 18, 2022 · For individuals with tactile sensitivity, specific tactile sensory input may be perceived as noxious, resulting either in purposeful avoidance or a decrease in organization of behavior as a response. Jan 23, 2025 · Here’s why it happens: Oral Sensory Input: The mouth is a sensitive area for receiving sensory information. g. Here's what an experienced OT has to say about the brushing protocol. You might notice your child chewing on their shirt, biting pencils, or constantly wanting snacks. Understanding the underlying Aug 11, 2024 · Explore the importance of tactile stimulation in autism, its effects, benefits, and effective techniques for enhancing sensory experiences. Brushing therapy seeks to use this connection between the skin and the nervous system to assist kids who may be having difficulty organizing sensory information properly. Discover creative ways to incorporate auditory, vestibular, and oral motor activities to help children regulate and develop… What is the tactile system? The tactile system refers to our sense of touch. They are often hyper-vigilant and under a lot of stress, and may experience frequent meltdowns. Pediatric occupational and physical therapists frequently work with sensory seekers who actively seek out textures, physical contact, and sensory stimulation to help their bodies self-regulate. chewy tube, bracelet and other wearable items Increase chewy and crunchy food in diet e. Learn everything you need to know about oral sensory processing: oral sensory seeking activities, sensory diet ideas, calming benefits for picky eaters, sensory seekers and sensory sensitivities! Aug 8, 2014 · Alerting Oral Sensory Activities Alerting oral sensory activities can bring more awareness and provide the sensory input kids need to focus and attend better at home and at school. Mar 24, 2015 · Behavioral Responses to Tactile Input: During feeding the infant accommodates to a wide variety of tactile stimuli within the mouth as well as external stimuli from the touch of the feeder's hands on the infant's face or the touch-pressure of being held. Mar 19, 2025 · The Oral Motor System The oral motor system is a complex system that involves all of the senses inside the mouth, and it’s what creates the entire experience of any oral input. It’s how we feel all touch sensations, including Dec 3, 2023 · Learn more about the essential role of OTs in addressing challenges and delve into the process of writing OT IEP goals for sensory processing. These children may have an oral sensory need for input that can, especially during times of stress or anxiety, help calm, focus, and self-regulate (Lowsky, 2016). Mar 12, 2025 · Tactile seeking is a common behavior in children with sensory processing challenges, often observed in those who crave more tactile input to regulate their nervous system. Our tongue especially has a lot of tactile sensory receptors that give feedback to our brains all the time as in how a specific thing feels or even about the temperature of different things. The Wilbarger Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT) & Oral Tactile Technique (OTT) The Wilbarger Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT) & Oral Tactile Technique (OTT), which in the past was referred to as the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol, refers to the specific sensory modulation techniques developed by Patricia Wilbarger, MEd, OTR, FAOTA. Those who experience sensory under-responsiveness have a hyposensitivity to sensory input. A person with a hypersensitivity to sensory input will experience the world as a threatening, painful, and/or scary place. Mar 20, 2025 · Looking for fresh sensory treatment ideas for your occupational therapy sessions? This post shares 10 unique activities to engage children in sensory integration, from peanut ball exercises for proprioceptive input to fun cooking tasks that encourage tactile exploration. The tactile system helps us understand important sensations such as pressure, texture, hot/cold and pain. For many people with autism, this type of stimulation can provide comfort, focus, and a sense of calm in an often overwhelming world. fwyor ft6gebbx 7asx9mrk idvosg uiu jzum9y 2pz hy1vp g47ql tepe