The seven senses... yes 7!

We all know about the 5 senses of sight(vision), touch(tactile), hear(auditory), taste(gustatory) and smell(olfactory) but there two others (and an extension to an existing one) that are vital to development, especially in young children. These are the Tactile, Vestibular and general movement that include proprioception and kinaesthesis.

Tactile:

This is an extension to the touch sense which refers to the body’s system of being able to process information from the skin to the brain. It doesn’t just refer to the touch carried out solely by the hands. How does a baby know to cry when they feel a fully nappy? This is because the nappy irritates the skin which sends those irritable messages to the brain resulting in the baby reacting in an irritable way. It is the same explanation given to a happy reaction, like a smile, when they feel happy touch feelings on the skin given by a hug.  

This is important as it translates to all avenues of life. If the brain receives incorrect messages from the skin or they are not strong enough, then the brain sends out confusing and incorrect signals to the emotional system resulting in inappropriate behaviour. This could follow a child into their schooling life and later, adult life, where they have difficulty in completing tasks due to poor concentration or overall find learning in general very difficult.

Vestibular:

Vestibular is the body’s reaction to all tasks that involve gravity. There is a point in our inner ear that is responsible for sending messages to the brain telling the brain how the body needs to react in relation to the gravitational event acting upon it. For example, when tripping forwards over rock, the messages inform the brain allowing the brain to tell the body to apply a backwards force (anti-gravity) to avoid the body falling towards the ground. These are the same messages that help children counteract dizziness and learn to swing on a swing without falling off.

Therefore, if these messages aren’t being received or sent correctly, if they are too strong or too weak, children could find themselves in a confusing state which leaves them unable to function in normal, daily tasks. Barbara Pheloung once explained this as the body’s ‘central post office’ responsible for distributing all the important messages that the body needs to remain balanced and composed.

General movement:

When speaking about general movement we look at two areas: Proprioception and kinaesthesis. Proprioception is the body’s ability to send and receive messages relating to the movement of all the muscles, joints and ligaments. These are the automatic movements the body engages in when completing an act. For example, wanting to brush your hair involves the body knowing to keep the trunk upright, lifting the arm above your head all while the hand holds the brush in place. These are the actions your body completes without you having to tell it to do so. Kinaesthesis extends on the proprioception actions that are automatic and now includes deliberate body movements you are telling your body to do. An example of this would be learning something new, like the piano. In this instant your body automatically knows to sit, hold the trunk upright and have your arms and hands positioned at the keys. However, now your brain is intentionally telling each finger where to be placed while you play a piece of music. Inaccurate development in this sense will result in great difficulties when trying to learn something new.

Children will find it exhausting learning to play the piano if they are having to tell their body to do all the actions it should be able to do automatically.

When working with a child of learning difficulties, it is important to understand their development in all 7 of the senses, particularly so in the last three discussed. Sometimes the problem presented is actually the result of another problem and simple adjustment might make the world of difference for that child.