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.
Tactile Dysfunction (Touch Sensitivity)
Children with tactile processing difficulties may show some of the following signs:
- Avoids being touched on the face
- Dislikes being held
- Has difficulty with grooming (cutting hair and nails)
- Dislikes having hair washed
- Dislikes taking a shower
- May react aggressively when touched unexpectedly
- Dislikes being touched even in a friendly way
- Dislikes being kissed
- Avoids messy play
- Avoids going barefoot
- Prefers long sleeves and pants even when the weather is hot
- Is excessively ticklish
- Withdraws from situations
- Avoids sitting close to other children
Vestibular Dysfunction (Balance & Movement)
Children with vestibular processing challenges may react differently to movement or balance-related activities:
High Tolerance to Movement
- Seems “on the go”
- Has difficulty sitting still
- Needs to keep moving in order to function
- Has difficulty paying attention
- Craves intense movement experiences such as jumping on beds and furniture
- Takes excessive risks during play
- Seems accident-prone
- Does not get dizzy easily
- Enjoys spinning for long periods of time
Gravitational Insecurity
- Becomes anxious when feet leave the ground
- Has a great fear of falling
- Is fearful of climbing
- Avoids playground equipment
- Dislikes having head upside down or tilted backwards
- Avoids jumping activities
- Is very cautious when going up and down stairs
- Seems slow at learning new movements
- Avoids walking along uneven surfaces
Proprioceptive Dysfunction (Body Awareness)
Children with proprioceptive difficulties may have trouble understanding body position and movement:
- Has difficulty with body awareness
- Has difficulty planning new movements
- Has difficulty knowing where their body is in relation to others and objects
- Chews constantly on objects
- Stamps feet on the floor when walking
- Deliberately crashes into objects
- Holds pencils too lightly
- Presses down hard on paper when writing
- Has difficulty with handwriting and drawing
- Uses too much force when playing with toys and may break them
- Has difficulty lifting objects
Visual Processing Dysfunction (Seeing & Perception)
Difficulties with visual processing can affect how children interpret what they see:
- Has difficulty staying within lines when colouring or writing
- Complains of seeing double or blurred images
- Has difficulty putting puzzles together
- Has difficulty copying from books
- Has a hard time finding something in a drawer
- Has difficulty following a moving object
- Omits words when reading
- May seem disoriented
- Has difficulty with fine motor tasks
- Does not understand concepts such as right/left, up/down
- Reverses letters and numbers
- Is uncomfortable with moving objects or people nearby
Auditory Processing Dysfunction (Hearing & Sound)
Auditory processing challenges may affect how children respond to and interpret sounds:
- Is easily distracted by noise
- Has difficulty paying attention
- Seems to misunderstand what is said
- Becomes upset in noisy places
- Seems difficult to understand when speaking
- Has difficulty looking and listening at the same time
- Speaks in a loud voice
- Has a poor vocabulary
- Has difficulty with reading
- Covers ears to protect from sound
Olfactory (Smell) Dysfunction
Olfactory sensitivities can influence how children react to different smells:
- Reacts negatively to or dislikes smells that others don’t notice
- Refuses to eat certain foods because of their smell
- Is a picky eater
- Is nauseated by bathroom odours
- Is bothered by perfume or cologne
- Is bothered by smells in supermarkets
- May refuse to play with toys because of their smell
Gustatory (Taste) Dysfunction
Taste sensitivities may affect how children respond to food textures and flavours:
- Gags easily with food textures
- Avoids certain tastes
- Is a picky eater
- Craves certain foods
- May chew on or lick non-food objects
- Mouths objects
- Has difficulty with sucking, chewing, and swallowing
Social and Emotional Responses
Sensory modulation challenges can also affect a child’s emotional regulation and social interactions:
- Low self-esteem
- Low self-confidence
- Seems anxious
- Has difficulty tolerating changes in routines
- Has strict routines
- Has difficulty playing with other children
- Gets upset easily
- Does not persist with tasks / gives up easily
- Is stubborn or uncooperative
- Has frequent temper tantrums
- Has difficulty making friends
- Does not express emotions
- Needs adult guidance to play
- Asks for adult reassurance
- Has difficulty interacting with other children
- Jumps from one activity to another
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