Abstract

This research discusses the four sensory processing patterns, sensory sensitivity, sensory avoidant, sensory seeking, and low registration, demonstrated by first year occupational therapy doctoral program students. These four patterns describe how our brains process sensory information from the environment and from our bodies. These patterns have been linked to many things in one’s life such as their attachment styles, anxiety disorders, and quality of life, and neurologically connected to the parasympathetic nervous system which is involved with the fight or flight response. Understanding your own sensory processing pattern and preferences can help you understand how you can find sensory input to attain the optimal state of alertness. Knowing these patterns also helps you know which activities and environments are overstimulating and which are relaxing.

For this thesis, I collected sensory processing pattern data on most of the first-year students enrolled in the occupational therapy program at Eastern Kentucky University. This research provided insight on sensory patterns among students that want to go into the occupational therapy field. This research found a sensory processing profile that was most prevalent among the all the first-year students in the occupational therapy program at Eastern Kentucky University. The hope for this research is to allow for further research to be conducted in the future regarding adults’ sensory processing profiles and how they affect one’s life.

Semester/Year of Award

Spring 5-6-2024

Mentor

Julie Duckart

Mentor Department Affiliation

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Access Options

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

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IRB Approval Number (if applicable)

5575

Presentation

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TebTsTvClSmXOLgEfzyC0FLcNbcxTwixLdC3mBih1TE/edit?usp=sharing

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