Becoming a Sensory Detective: How Understanding Sensitivities at Home Can Transform Family Wellbeing

Why Sensory Sensitivity Matters, Especially at Home

In recent years, research into sensory processing and sensory sensitivity has expanded significantly. Studies on Sensory Processing Sensitivity highlight that some individuals, including many children, process sensory information more deeply and respond more intensely to environmental cues. This heightened awareness isn’t a disorder; it is a temperament. But without support, it can lead to stress, emotional dysregulation, or behavioral challenges.

For children with ADHD, autistic children, and many highly sensitive children, the sensory world can feel unpredictable, intense, or exhausting. Everyday sensations, a buzzing light, the smell of cleaning products, a cluttered room, the hum of a dishwasher, can meaningfully shape a child’s internal state.

And nowhere does this matter more than at home.

What many families think of as “behavior” is often the nervous system trying to cope with its surroundings.

When we take sensory needs seriously, we don’t just minimize meltdowns, we build trust, safety, and wellbeing.

Introducing the Sensory Detective Mindset

The idea of becoming a sensory detective invites us to shift from asking, “How do I stop this behavior?” to asking, “What is this behavior telling me?”

It is an approach rooted in curiosity and respect. Children rarely have the language to explain their sensory experiences, but their bodies speak for them, through movement, avoidance, seeking behaviors, or emotional responses.

As a sensory detective, the goal is to notice these clues without judgement.

Clue-Gathering Starts With Observing Sensory Patterns

Every child has a unique sensory profile. Some are hypersensitive, easily overwhelmed by sound, light, textures, or movement. Others are hyposensitive, seeking more input, craving movement, touch, or strong sensory experiences. Many children, especially those with ADHD, fluctuate between the two depending on the situation.

Hypersensitivity (over-responsive)

• covering ears around loud sounds

• avoiding bright or overhead lighting

• distress in cluttered or visually busy rooms

• discomfort with certain fabrics or textures

• withdrawing when the environment feels overwhelming

Hyposensitivity (under-responsive or sensory seeking)

• constant movement, jumping, or fidgeting

• craving deep pressure or touch

• seeking bold colours or screens

• turning up volume

• appearing unresponsive to background noise

Asking Detective Questions

When a behavior occurs, pause and ask:

• What sensory input is present right now?

• Has this happened before in a similar environment?

• What helps my child recover?

• What might my child’s body be asking for?

This mindset opens the door to understanding why certain situations feel difficult and how we can help.

What Sensory Stress Looks Like at Home

Sensory overload does not always appear dramatic. It can be subtle: irritability, restlessness, difficulty focusing, emotional outbursts in the evening, or resistance to daily routines.

Common but often overlooked environmental triggers include:

• echoing acoustics

• competing background sounds

• cluttered surfaces

• flickering LED lighting

• scratchy bedding or clothing

• strong air fresheners

• excessive visual stimulation in bedrooms

Seeing the home through a sensory lens helps explain behavior with compassion rather than correction.

Translating Sensory Clues Into Supportive Home Environments

When we understand a child’s sensory patterns, we can adjust the home environment to meet their nervous system where it is. These adjustments won’t change who a child is but they can reduce the amount of regulation required just to get through the day.

Below are six sensory areas that commonly influence children’s wellbeing at home.

1. Light

Lighting has an immediate impact on mood and regulation.

• use warm bulbs instead of harsh white or blue-toned light

• add lamps or dimmers

• avoid flickering LEDs

• consider blackout curtains for sleep support

• dim lights as evening approaches to help prepare the body for sleep

Predictable, gradual lighting changes are often more regulating than abrupt ones.

2. Visual Environment

Visual clutter increases cognitive load.

• keep surfaces clear where possible

• use closed storage or place items in clear boxes

• limit bold patterns in calm spaces

• group toys and materials

• use consistent colours

Visual clarity supports emotional clarity.

3. Texture and Materials

Touch shapes how safe and comfortable a child feels.

• prioritise soft, natural fabrics

• remove tags and rough seams

• introduce new textures gradually

• offer varied materials for sensory seekers, including weighted blankets or soft comfy seating

4. Sound and Acoustics

Many children struggle with background noise.

• rugs and curtains reduce echo

• quiet corners offer relief

• gentle, consistent sounds can support focus

Having both quiet and active zones reduces conflict.

5. Movement

Movement is a sensory need, not misbehavior.

• build movement breaks into routines

• create small movement-friendly spaces

• allow rocking, wobbling, or stretching

Honouring movement reduces pressure and frustration.

6. Scent and Air

Scent can strongly affect regulation.

• avoid strong fragrances

• ventilate regularly

• introduce subtle, predictable scents only if calming

Air quality supports sleep and comfort. Many people who are neurodivergent find that sleeping in a cold room with an open window helps them sleep more deeply.

Designing for Predictability and Emotional Safety

Consistent environments support executive functioning and emotional regulation.

• a place for everyday items

• visual routines

• clear pathways

• short reset rituals

These are sensory supports, not just organisational tools.

Why This Matters for Family Wellbeing

When sensory needs go unmet, families often experience repeated cycles of stress and conflict. When those needs are understood:

• empathy increases

• power struggles decrease

• emotional safety grows

• relationships strengthen

Children feel respected in their internal experience.

A Home That Supports Your Child

You do not need a perfect home, only a responsive one.

A home that listens. A home that adapts. A home that reduces unnecessary strain on a child’s nervous system.

Becoming a sensory detective is a mindset. It invites parents to notice, reflect, and make small changes that can meaningfully shift a family’s emotional rhythm.

About the author

This blog was written by Jessica Blanco, an interior designer with a background in education and nearly two decades of experience supporting neurodivergent children and their families. Her work focuses on understanding how sensory environments affect nervous system regulation and everyday wellbeing at home.

To learn more about her approach to neurodivergent-affirming interiors, you can download her Sensory Sensitivities: Parental Observations Checklist, designed to help families notice and reflect on how their home environment may be impacting their child.