Sensory Diet: A Step-by-Step Guide

A Step-by-Step Guide to Administering a Sensory Assessment 

Special education students often face challenges when it comes to sensory processing. To provide effective support, understanding the individual sensory needs of these students is crucial. This is where sensory assessments and personalized sensory diets play a key role.

What is a Sensory Assessment?

Here are some definitions for you.

A sensory assessment is a tool used by special educators to identify and understand a student's specific sensory needs. This involves observing and recording the student's responses to various sensory stimuli across different environments and contexts.

A sensory diet is a carefully designed, personalized daily schedule of sensory enriched activities, equipment and strategies used to help a child feel calm, stay alert and be organized throughout the day.

Areas Covered in a Sensory Assessment

The Sensory Assessment & Planning Guide encompasses several sensory domains:

1. Tactile: Observes how the student reacts to different textures, temperatures, and pressures.
2. Vestibular: Explores the student's response to movements, including balance and coordination.
3. Proprioceptive: Looks at how the student perceives the position and movement of their body.
4. Visual: Examines the student's response to visual stimuli, including color, brightness, and movement.
5. Auditory: Assesses the student's response to different sounds and noises.
6. Olfactory: Understands the student's reactions to different smells.
7. Gustatory: Evaluates the student's sensitivity and preferences in terms of taste.

(If you need sensory cards that cover these 7 areas as well as 7 other areas...get the Sensory Integration Task Card Bundle! This task card bundle is P-E-R-F-E-C-T for any sensory room, resource room, or regular classroom to help children master skills that are needed to help them be successful within the school and life settings.

Steps to Administer a Sensory Assessment and Assign a Diet

Step 1: Prepare for the Assessment

Before starting the assessment, gather all the necessary materials and ensure the student is comfortable and ready to participate. Be sure to let parents know what's taking place and give them the parent information sheets to help them understand the purpose.

Step 2: Conduct the Assessment

Using the Sensory Assessment & Planning Guide, carefully observe and document the student's responses across all sensory areas in multiple settings. Work with parents, general education teachers who may work with the child and any related service providers to answer questions on the forms.

Step 3: Analyze the Data

Look for patterns and significant responses in the assessment data. This will help you understand the student's sensory needs, preferences, and triggers.

Step 4: Develop the Sensory Diet

Using the insights from the assessment, design a tailored sensory diet that includes activities targeting each of the sensory domains. The activities should help the student self-regulate and improve their response to sensory inputs.

Step 5: Implement the Sensory Diet

Integrate the sensory diet activities into the student's daily routine. Make sure to monitor their response and adjust the diet as needed.

Step 6: Review and Adjust Regularly

Regularly review the effectiveness of the sensory diet. Make adjustments based on the student's changing needs and progress.

Empowering Students Through Sensory Diets

Even though they are not as commonplace in special education as one might hope, sensory assessments and personalized sensory diets are vital components of special education. By understanding each student's unique sensory needs and providing them with appropriate sensory inputs, we can help them navigate their world more comfortably, enhancing their overall learning experience.

This Sensory Assessment & Planning Guide, available on Teachers Pay Teachers, equips educators with a comprehensive tool for sensory assessments and diet planning. Empower your students with a sensory diet today!

Hope you enjoyed learning about sensory diets (they are a whole lot better than a real diet!!)

Talk soon!

-Jennifer