Sensory Integration Network

Pregnancy changes everything… including how the world feels.

Smells become stronger.
Noise feels sharper.
Touch can suddenly feel overwhelming.

In this insightful guest blog, Laura Spence explores the hidden sensory changes many women and birthing people experience during pregnancy — and why sensory overload is too often misunderstood as “just anxiety.”

Discover:
✨ How pregnancy impacts sensory processing
✨ The link between sensory overload and cognitive load
✨ Why maternity environments can feel overwhelming
✨ Simple sensory-informed changes that can improve care

Find out more 👇

If you have ADHD and have felt different during this hot spell there is a good reason for it. Did you know that ADHD isn’t the same all year round?

Research shows ADHD symptoms often worsen in winter and ease in summer, largely due to changes in sunlight and Vitamin D levels. ☀️

Winter can bring lower energy, more inattention, low mood, and even higher risk of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Summer may boost focus and energy, but can also disrupt sleep.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/brain-curiosities/202605/adhd-and-seasonal-change-why-symptoms-shift-with-the-sun

What if the behaviour we see is actually a sensory response?

⚠️ Overload mistaken for aggression
⚠️ Under-responsivity labelled as low motivation
⚠️ Withdrawal interpreted as disinterest
⚠️ Motor planning difficulties seen as non-compliance

Sensory processing and integration influence how people feel, move, connect and participate every single day — yet sensory needs are often overlooked.

Our FREE ‘What is Sensory Inclusion?’ guide introduces the foundations of sensory inclusion and helps professionals understand how to create environments and experiences that support participation rather than create barriers.

Perfect for professionals working in health, education and social care.

Download your free copy today and take the first step towards more sensory-inclusive practice 👇

Tomorrow is - Findings from a new large longitudinal study indicate that greater time spent in both quiet and active free play at ages 2–5 predicts stronger self-regulation abilities in later childhood, even after controlling for prior skills and other factors.

These results provide empirical support for the role of free play as a foundational context for developing key regulatory capacities, with important implications for early childhood practice and parenting interventions.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2021.11.011

Follow us to keep up to date on the latest research in Sensory Integration and Neurodiversity.

To learn more about supporting individuals with sensory differences across the lifespan see the link below:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/bundles/Sensory-Inclusion-Facilitator-Certificate-B

🌿 Great sensory find from Dunelm 🌿

The Muffik Set of 8 Orthopaedic Sensory Natural Play Mats are a great way to encourage sensory exploration through movement while supporting balance, coordination and foot strength. 👣

Designed in calm, natural tones, these mats blend beautifully into playrooms, nurseries and childcare settings while offering a balanced mix of firm and soft textures for barefoot sensory play.

Available from Dunelm: https://www.dunelm.com/product/muffik-set-of-8-orthopaedic-sensory-natural-play-mats-1000289432?defaultSkuId=31052682

Muffik Set of 8 Orthopaedic Sensory Natural Play Mats | Dunelm * Set of 8 sensory mats in calm natural tones * Balanced mix of firm and soft textures * Encourages barefoot play and movement * Supports balance, posture and coordination * Ideal for playrooms and childcare settings The Muffik Natural sensory mat set has been carefully selected to suit any setting,...

A final-year fashion student at Heriot-Watt University has created “Little Waves” — a sensory-friendly clothing line for autistic children designed with ultra-soft fabrics, flattened seams and no labels to reduce sensory overload.

Inspired by conversations with parents, carers and professionals, Farah Conn hopes to make fashion more inclusive, comfortable and empowering for children with autism.

https://www.ireland-live.ie/news/scotland/2084234/fashion-student-creates-clothing-line-for-autistic-children-with-sensory-issues.html

New research shows that children and adolescents with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience ongoing challenges with , motor skills, and everyday functional performance compared with typically developing peers. The study found that sensory-processing difficulties were more strongly linked to daily functioning than to motor proficiency alone, highlighting the need for early, comprehensive interventions that address both sensory and functional skills across development.



https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-026-07314-3

Follow us to keep up to date on the latest research in Sensory Integration and Neurodiversity.

To learn more about supporting individuals with sensory differences across the lifespan see the link below:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/bundles/Sensory-Inclusion-Facilitator-Certificate-B

Primark is now rolling out sensory-friendly shopping hours in all UK stores every Saturday morning.

The first hour of trading will include reduced noise, quieter tills, no announcements, and specially trained staff to support customers with sensory sensitivities and neurodivergent shoppers.

The move follows a successful pilot and is part of Primark’s wider commitment to making stores more inclusive and accessible for everyone.

https://corporate.primark.com/en-gb/a/news/corporate-news/primark-rolls-out-sensory-friendly-shopping-hour-across-all-stores-in-great-britain

Simulation suits are helping health and care workers experience what life can feel like for people living with dementia, from sensory loss and reduced dexterity to challenges like arthritis and limited peripheral vision. The training helps carers understand how everyday tasks can become slow and frustrating, reinforcing the need for patience and empathy.

Developed by Specialist Dementia Admiral Nurses in Guernsey and funded by local Alzheimer’s organisations, the suits are being used in workshops to shift understanding beyond memory loss and highlight the importance of supporting people with time, comfort and dignity.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj072j2rrl4o

Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may face a greater risk of falls due to challenges with balance, , and cognitive-motor coordination. While research findings are mixed, evidence suggests that changes in postural control and dual-task performance could play a role. More research is needed to better understand these factors and improve fall prevention strategies for healthy aging.

https://doi.org/10.1163/22134808-bja10191

Follow us to keep up to date on the latest research in Sensory Integration and Neurodiversity.

To learn more about supporting individuals with sensory differences across the lifespan see the link below:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/bundles/Sensory-Inclusion-Facilitator-Certificate-B

Perimenopause can change more than hormones… it can change how the world feels 🌍💥

Are sounds suddenly too loud? Lights too bright? Busy places completely exhausting? You’re not imagining it.

In her latest blog, Dr Lelanie Brewer explores the link between perimenopause and sensory processing differences — and why everyday environments can suddenly feel overwhelming.

💡 Learn:
✔️ Why sensory overload happens during perimenopause
✔️ How hormones affect the nervous system
✔️ Practical ways to reduce overwhelm
✔️ Why many neurodivergent women struggle more during this transition

Read the full blog here 👇