This checklist is intended for awareness and guidance only and should not be used as a diagnostic tool.
If you recognise several of these patterns or have concerns about your child’s development, please contact an occupational therapist for professional assessment.
These examples describe sensory patterns that may appear in daily life and can vary depending on age and environment.
Movement & Balance
- Is afraid of heights
- Avoids escalators or elevators
- Gets dizzy easily (e.g., when driving)
- Bumps into things
- Feels clumsy
Visual & Spatial Awareness
- Keeps the shades down
- Takes a long time to adjust to daylight
- Is bothered by bright lights
- Becomes frustrated when looking for things
- Doesn’t notice when people come into the room
Auditory Processing
- Is bothered in a busy environment (e.g., supermarket)
- Startles easily at unexpected noises
- Makes noises for noise’s sake
- Is distracted by movement or background noise
- Needs instructions to be repeated several times
Touch & Body Awareness
- Is constantly touching things or others
- Is bothered by certain fabrics
- Doesn’t like having hair cut
- Avoids standing close to others
- Doesn’t notice when face or hands are dirty
Attention, Regulation & Daily Functioning
- Has difficulty working on two or more tasks at the same time
- Seems slower when carrying out tasks
- Has difficulty paying attention
- Has difficulty concentrating
- Gets frustrated with changes
- Stays away from crowds
Taste & Smell Sensitivity
- Doesn’t smell things that others do
- Only eats familiar foods
- Avoids certain food textures and temperatures
.webp)
