Tactile sense is our ability to learn from our environment through our sense of touch. This includes knowing how heavy, smooth, rough, big or small an object is just by holding it. In addition, this sense has a protective component which causes us to pull our hand away from a hot stove. Tactile integration is important for the development of body awareness, fine motor skills, motor planning and being comfortable with touch. Examples of unorganized processing of tactile input may be seen as someone who has trouble in crowds, pulls away from hugs, is bothered by certain clothes or foods, or has to touch everything.
Vestibular sense provides information related to movement and head position.
The vestibular sense is important for development of balance, coordination, eye control, attention, being secure with movement, emotional security and some aspects of language development. Disorganization may also be seen in someone who is constantly in motion, has an extreme fear of movement, or is described as an overly sensitive, lazy or sedentary person. Immature language skills can often be the reason a child is initially referred for therapy, but the language delay may be the result of immature sensory processing. Proprioception is our ability to know where our muscles and joints are in space and how they are moving. This is very important for the development of body awareness.