Sensory Inclusive Schools

Interoception is our internal sensory system. It’s like an internal dashboard, telling us if we feel too hot, hungry or thirsty, feel pain anywhere, or feel anxious, angry or excited. Interoception tells us about the physical and emotional state of our body. Understanding what these internal signals mean can help us to take action to keep ourselves feeling physically comfortable and emotionally regulated. 

Some students may have difficulty in tuning into their internal dashboard and understanding what their body is trying to tell them. For example, a student feeling uncomfortable, irritable and tired may think it’s because they aren’t interested in the lesson or their neighbour is annoying. But their dry mouth, lack of focus and irritability are actually signals they are thirsty and they are missing these cues. 

Helping students to be more attuned to their internal dashboard will enable them to better self-regulate and be more ready to learn and focus. 

What Do Interoception Difficulties Look Like in Schools?

Toileting Issues

You probably recognise this scenario: a student is tapping their feet, jiggling from one leg to the other, behaving in a restless, fidgety manner, maybe holding their hands to their groin. You ask them if they need to use the toilet and they adamantly deny they need it. Five minutes later they are desperately seeking your permission for a toilet break. This student isn’t recognising or is perhaps ignoring the pressure in their abdomen and the restless feeling - perhaps they are even mistaking it for excitement, and they don’t want to leave the situation. 

Struggles With Recognising Hunger or Thirst

We’re probably all familiar with the concept of being hangry (so hungry that we feel angry), but it’s a strong example of the consequences of ignoring our internal dashboard and how we can get confused about what the signals mean. In school, you may see a student refusing to eat during designated snack times but then exhibiting disruptive behaviour due to hunger later on.

Difficulty with Emotional Regulation

Students might struggle to identify their own emotional states. Both fear and anger can cause similar physiological responses, such as increased heart rate, muscle tension, and heightened alertness. Because of these overlaps, one emotion can sometimes be mistaken for the other. For instance, a student may feel their heart racing and muscles tensing up due to fear of failing a test, but if they misinterpret these sensations as anger, they might become irritable or lash out.

Misinterpreting Bodily Signals

Students may interpret stomach aches and headaches as being physical illnesses when they are actually experiencing anxiety. 

Challenges in Recognising Pain and Fatigue

Some students may exhibit a high tolerance to pain, perhaps continuing with a game or sports activity without noticing that they’ve been injured. 

Problems with Body Temperature Regulation

We’ve definitely all experienced a child or young person with red cheeks glistening with sweat and a short temper sitting in a hot classroom with their jumper still on. Or the teenager who is visibly shivering and pale with cold on a winter’s day but doesn’t think to put their coat on. Some students may not recognise when they are too hot or too cold, affecting their comfort and focus.

Supporting Students to Interpret Their Internal Dashboard

Helping students tune in to the signals from their internal dashboard, assign meaning to them, and help them recognise what action to take to keep themselves feeling comfortable, safe and regulated will be transformative. A more nuanced understanding of our interoceptive system is enlightening for us all, and you may find you better notice what your own internal dashboard is trying to tell you. 

The Sensory Inclusive Schools service includes training on interoceptive awareness and supporting students to develop a better awareness of their bodies and emotions, leading to a more positive school experience. Moreover, our sensory experts are available to answer your questions on adapting the advice to your specific classroom and students. Explore how the Sensory Inclusive Schools service can help you today.