Sensory-Based Strategies: Understanding How Stimulation Impacts Performance

Sensory Interventions Defined

Students may engage in specific behaviors because they are overstimulated or under-stimulated by the environment. There may be too much noise or too many visual distractions, and the student is so overwhelmed that he or she cannot learn. The student may be on what we call circuit overload. A student may be overstimulated because of the feel of certain items of clothing. The student might be overstimulated because of lighting or because a worksheet is too busy, including too many details.

Students may be under-stimulated within the environment. They may be in need of movement to focus on a task, or they may need to be kept busy, and if ...