Our bodies are constantly sending us messages, subtle cues that tell us about our internal state. These sensations, known as interoception, are vital for understanding our needs and communicating them effectively. But what happens when these signals are muffled or misinterpreted? This is where occupational therapy (OT) plays a crucial role, particularly for individuals who struggle with sensory processing, such as those with autism spectrum disorder or sensory processing disorder.
The Language of Our Bodies: Understanding Interoception
Beyond the familiar five senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell—lie three essential, yet often overlooked, senses: proprioception, vestibular, and interoception. Proprioception tells us where our bodies are in space, the vestibular sense governs balance, and interoception, the focus here, is our ability to perceive internal sensations. It’s the awareness of our heart rate, body temperature, hunger, thirst, and even our emotions.
For many, these bodily signals are clear and intuitive. However, for some, particularly those with sensory processing differences, interoceptive awareness can be impaired. This can lead to difficulties in recognizing and responding to their body’s needs, impacting emotional regulation, social interactions, and the ability to communicate effectively.
The Communication Breakdown: When Sensations Go Unheard
Imagine a child who cannot accurately identify when they are hungry or thirsty, or a student who struggles to recognize the physical signs of anxiety. These challenges can lead to frustration, meltdowns, and difficulties in social situations. Occupational therapists are trained to bridge this communication gap, helping individuals develop a deeper understanding of their body sensations and learn to express them.
How Occupational Therapy Can Help:
● Sensory Evaluation:
○ We will conduct thorough assessments to identify specific interoceptive challenges.
○ We evaluate how individuals perceive and respond to various internal cues.
● Sensory Strategies and Activities:
- Typically, the session utilizes sensory-based activities to enhance interoceptive awareness.
- This might include mindfulness exercises, body scans, and activities that focus on identifying and labeling internal sensations.
- They can work on strategies to help a person notice and understand the difference between a fast and slow heartbeat, or the difference between feeling hot, and feeling flushed from a big emotion.
● Emotional Regulation Support:
- By improving interoceptive awareness, the goal is to empower individuals to better regulate their emotions.
- Throughout the sessions, participants are taught strategies for identifying and managing emotional responses based on internal cues.
● Communication Enhancement:
- Additionally, OT sessions also aim to help individuals develop the vocabulary and skills to communicate their bodily sensations effectively.
- They might use visual aids, social stories, and role-playing to practice expressing needs and feelings.
● Individualized Plans:
- As each individual is unique, a professional OT will craft tailored intervention plans that address each person’s unique needs and goals.
- They help to create personalised systems for the person to better understand their own bodies.
● Collaboration:
- Last but not least, parents and guardians play a significant role in the entire process as well.
- OT’s work with families, educators, and other professionals to create a support network.
Empowering Individuals to Listen to Their Bodies
Occupational therapy provides a pathway for individuals to develop a stronger connection with their bodies and improve their communication skills. By enhancing interoceptive awareness, OTs empower individuals to navigate their sensory experiences more effectively, leading to improved emotional regulation, social interactions, and overall well-being.
If you or someone you know is struggling with understanding and communicating body sensations, consider seeking support from a qualified occupational therapist. They can provide the tools and strategies needed to unlock the language of the body and foster meaningful communication.