SENSORY DIET Sensory Preferences Checklist
DIGITAL COURSE
for Ages 5+
MODULE 3
NAME: AGE: DATE:
In each section, check all that apply to the child.
Identify which category the child fits into. Are they more over-responsive or under-responsive?
Are they seeking sensory input? Or are they a mixture of all of the above?
Understanding the child's sensory preferences is the first step to helping them meet their unique sensory needs!
This is not a standardized checklist or diagnostic tool. Observational only of sensory over- or under-responsiveness.
VISUAL SYSTEM
Over Responsive Under Responsive / Sensory Seeking*
Unable to tolerate bright lights Loves bright lights and bright colors*
Difficulty locating items in a visually busy Prefers fast moving visual input*
environment
Challenges with visual motor (hand-eye
Avoids eye contact coordination) tasks for their age
Frequent headaches or eye fatigue during Poor handwriting for their age
visually stimulating tasks (reading, writing)
Loves to spin and/or move fast*
Difficulty focusing on a task when in a
visually busy environment Frequently seems oblivious to surrounding
visual input
Dislikes visually busy environments (may act
fearful or avoid) Loses place while reading (after age when
should be a proficient reader)
*Indicates sensory-seeking behavior. Sensory seeking is when the body "feels" like it doesn't get enough, so you will seek MORE of that input
throughout the day and will seem “on the go.”
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AUDITORY SYSTEM
Over Responsive Under Responsive / Sensory Seeking*
Unable to tolerate loud environments Loves loud, fast music or noise*
Fight or flight response to loud or Does not respond immediately when name is
unexpected noises called (no hearing loss)
Easily distracted by nearby sounds Often misses important auditory information
Unable to hold a conversation in a busy Always uses self-talk or makes noises with
environment mouth during focused tasks*
Frequently asks others to "be quiet" Frequently seems oblivious to conversation
or noises nearby
TACTILE SYSTEM
Over Responsive Under Responsive / Sensory Seeking*
Unable to tolerate certain clothing items or Touches everyone and everything*
tags or seams
May not recognize when someone /
Feels pain more easily than others something is touching them
Very limited food rapport Challenges knowing how much force to use
with specific tasks
Dislikes physical touch from others
Prefers crunchy foods*
Fight or flight reaction when touched
suddenly Loves deep touch pressure*
Unable to tolerate hands, feet, face, etc. to Seeks out messy play activities*
be messy or dirty
Poor fine motor skills for age
Cannot walk barefoot on different surfaces
Unable to tolerate nail clipping, hair washing
or brushing, etc.
*Indicates sensory-seeking behavior. Sensory seeking is when the body "feels" like it doesn't get enough, so you will seek MORE of that input
throughout the day and will seem “on the go.”
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OLFACTORY & GUSTATORY SYSTEMS
Over Responsive Under Responsive / Sensory Seeking*
Unable to tolerate certain smells, in certain Does not notice strong scents
environments
Cannot distinguish between different scents
Extreme dislike of certain flavors
Seeks out certain smells*
Extreme dislike of certain food textures
Seeks out certain flavors or textures*
Very picky eater
Unable to distinguish between different tastes
or textures
Frequent mouthing of non-edible objects
PROPRIOCEPTIVE SYSTEM
Over Responsive Under Responsive / Sensory Seeking*
Proprioception is calming to the nervous system, Loves heavy work - running, jumping,
therefore individuals are not over responsive to pushing, pulling, etc.*
proprioceptive input.
Uses too much force for certain tasks
Prefers crunchy food textures*
Grinds teeth or mouths objects*
Requires heavy work or weighted blankets to
feel calm*
Only likes tighter fitting clothing*
Toe walks most of the time*
Engages in self-injurious behavior - biting
self, head banging, etc.
*Indicates sensory-seeking behavior. Sensory seeking is when the body "feels" like it doesn't get enough, so you will seek MORE of that input
throughout the day and will seem “on the go.”
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VESTIBULAR SYSTEM
Over Responsive Under Responsive / Sensory Seeking*
Always gets car sick Always "on the go"*
Avoids playground equipment - slides, Does not feel dizzy when others do
swings, climbing, etc.
Unable to "sit still" for periods of focus time,
Easily loses balance during movement appropriate for age*
activities
Low muscle tone and/or poor endurance
Easily dizzy, with minimal movement
W-sits or noted rounded back when seated
Dislikes or fearful of activities when feet leave on the floor or in a chair
the ground
Seems fearful of activities that require head
to tip back - hair washing
INTEROCEPTIVE SYSTEM
Over Responsive Under Responsive / Sensory Seeking*
Very low pain tolerance Very high pain tolerance
Unable to regulate temperature well Does not recognize hunger cues
Feels overly full with small amounts of food Minimal emotions - seems more "flat" or
expressionless
Considered "highly emotional"
Extreme temperature changes are not
bothersome
Very difficult to toilet train in toddlerhood
Challenges dressing appropriately for the
weather - i.e. wears shorts in winter
*Indicates sensory-seeking behavior. Sensory seeking is when the body "feels" like it doesn't get enough, so you will seek MORE of that input
throughout the day and will seem “on the go.”
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SENSORY DIET Sensory Checklist Results
DIGITAL COURSE
For each category, circle either Over-Responsive or Under-
MODULE 3 Responsive/Sensory Seeking(SS) based on where you marked the
most items on the Sensory Preferences Checklist.
NAME: AGE: DATE:
Visual Over-Responsive Under-Responsive /SS
Auditory Over-Responsive Under-Responsive /SS
Tactile Over-Responsive Under-Responsive /SS
Gustatory &
Over-Responsive Under-Responsive /SS
Olfactory
Since proprioceptive input is always
Proprioceptive helpful to the nervous system, we do not Under-Responsive /SS
see over-responsivity in this category.
Vestibular Over-Responsive Under-Responsive /SS
Interoception Over-Responsive Under-Responsive /SS
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Now What?
Under-Responsive / Sensory Seeking(SS)
If you or the child is UNDER-RESPONSIVE in one category, this means your/their body "feels" like it doesn't
get enough BUT you/they don't know how to get the input they seek, thus seem like 'bumps on a log.'
If you or the child is SENSORY SEEKING in one category, this means your/their body "feels" like it doesn't
get enough, so you/they will seek MORE of that input throughout the day and will seem “on the go.”
We want to provide yourself/them with MORE of this input in a functional way (such as with an obstacle
course) to increase the body's ability to process it.
Over-Responsive
If you or the child is OVER-RESPONSIVE in one category, this means your/their body "feels" like it gets
too much, so you/they will begin to AVOID that input.
We want to incorporate MORE of this input into daily life, slowly, to increase the body's ability to process
and modulate it.
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