from The Sensory Team Handbook: Volume Control

Posted on June 12th, 2009 at 5:55 am by admin

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Sensory Team Handbook volume imageJust like headphones, your nerve networks have a volume level. If music is too soft or too loud, then you can’t listen to it. You strain to hear it, or you pull off the headphones in pain. The same is true for your senses.

If the volume is too low, then your nerve networks are under-sensitive. Your brain-body can’t feel things much, and you want to turn the volume up. This can make you feel zoned out, or irritable and bouncy.

If the volume is too high, then your nerve networks are over-sensitive. Your brain-body feels everything too much and you want to turn the volume down. This can make you feel anxious and afraid.

Over-sensitivity and under-sensitivity are a big part of sensory processing. The same person can have both under-sensitive and over-sensitive senses.

If you have had over-sensitive or under-sensitive senses all your life, then you have probably learned ways to cope with these problems.

For example, if your senses of hearing and gravity are over-sensitive, you probably don’t go to movies because of the loudness, darkness, and dizzying action. If your sense of taste is under-sensitive, you probably  put salt and spicy sauces on your food so you can taste it.