sensory diet
A personalized schedule of sensory activities designed to help children with sensory processing differences regulate their arousal and attention.
Full Definition
A sensory diet is a carefully designed set of physical activities and accommodations tailored to meet an individual child's sensory processing needs throughout the day. Developed by occupational therapist Patricia Wilbarger, sensory diets aim to provide the right type, intensity, and timing of sensory input to promote optimal arousal, attention, and adaptive responses. These interventions may include deep pressure activities, movement breaks, calming techniques, or alerting strategies depending on the child's specific sensory profile. Sensory diets are commonly implemented in schools, homes, and therapeutic settings to help children with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing disorders maintain regulation and improve functional participation in daily activities.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify individualized nature and avoid one-size-fits-all approaches.
In Context
- "The occupational therapist developed a sensory diet including heavy work activities and calming input." — Treatment recommendation
- "Implementation of the sensory diet resulted in improved classroom behavior and attention." — Progress monitoring report