EmphaSIze July 2026: How Sensory Differences Shape Eating Experiences
By Sensory Integration Education, 6th July 2026
Welcome to the July issue of EmphaSIze where this month we're focusing on How Sensory Differences Shape Eating Experiences.
This month, we’re exploring the often-overlooked topic of sensory differences in older adults, highlighting how sensory processing changes as we age and the impact this can have on daily life, communication, balance and overall wellbeing. As therapists, we have a vital role in recognising these sensory shifts, adapting environments and supporting individuals to remain engaged, safe and connected.
In this issue, we've put together useful information, articles, books, and product ideas to help better inform ourselves of how sensory differences can affect older adults as well as insights and strategies for how we can help and support them in managing their sensory needs.
Would you like to write a guest blog?
Do you have a sensory-related story you’d like to share with the SIE community? If you have clinical experience, research insights or a perspective on sensory processing that would resonate with a health professional audience, we would love to hear from you!
Find out how to contribute here →
News & Features
3 Things Impacting Eating Skills - Apart from Food Preferences
This blog explores three often-overlooked factors that can significantly impact a child’s eating skills beyond food preferences and selectivity. Drawing on occupational therapy and developmental principles, it highlights the important roles of postural control, gross and fine motor development, and the sensory environment in supporting successful mealtimes.
Through practical examples and easy-to-implement strategies, the article helps clinicians and families recognise signs that eating difficulties may stem from underlying motor or sensory challenges rather than behaviour alone.
Interoceptive Awareness: What is it and Why is it Important?
Interoception plays a vital role in how individuals recognise, interpret, and respond to their internal body signals, influencing everything from physical health and self-regulation to emotional wellbeing and participation in daily life.
This insightful blog explores what interoceptive awareness is, the challenges that can arise when these internal signals are misunderstood or missed, and the far-reaching impact this can have on behaviour, mental health, and functional outcomes such as knowing when to eat.
Read the full blog to find out more.
A Day in the Life of a Child with Sensory Processing and Integration Differences
Our Day in the Life of…. stories illustrate how people living with sensory differences across the lifespan may find those differences impacting their day-to-day lives.
Here we focus on Ben, a bright and curious 10-year-old who experiences differences in sensory processing and integration. These differences can affect how he responds to the world around him and as a result, his behaviour is sometimes misunderstood by family, teachers and friends.
To understand how sensory processing and integration differences - such as sensitivity to food, textures and noise, emotional regulation, vestibular processing difficulties and motor planning - can shape a child’s everyday experiences, let’s take a look at a typical day in Ben’s life.
Make Summer More Sensory-Friendly with Our Free Sensory Survival Kit
Summer brings plenty of opportunities for fun, adventure and relaxation – but it can also present unique sensory challenges. Changes in weather, longer daylight hours, disrupted routines, outdoor eating, travel, and unfamiliar holiday accommodation can all impact those with sensory processing differences.
Our free Summer Sensory Survival Kit is packed with practical tips, strategies and ideas to help make the season more enjoyable and manageable. From navigating summer foods and outdoor dining to travel tips, regulating energy levels, and surviving the school holidays, you'll find plenty of sensory-informed information to help the children and families you support thrive this summer.
Download your free copy today and get ready for a more sensory-friendly summer.
Also see:
Picky Eating: What’s Normal and What’s Not
What Is ARFID in Adults? Key Signs to Know
Children bring sensory differences to life through new school animation
'I was labelled lazy at work but I was in sensory hell'
Girl designs glasses to help others with dyslexia
Upcoming Courses and Webinars
We have a number of live webinars that take place throughout the year covering a broad range of SI-related topics. Below is a snapshot of webinars happening in the first few months of 2026 or click here to view a summary of all the upcoming live events.
All these webinars are available to you by signing up to our Lifelong Learning Programme or can be purchased as individual courses:
- Sensory Focused Assessment to Drive Functional Outcomes: From Impact Statements to Goal Attainment – 14 July 2026
- Designing ASI Spaces – 8 September 2026
- Interoception and Developmental Trauma - 24 September 2026
SI Research Digest
Below are links to the most popular sensory integration and sensory processing research papers and findings published on our social channels last month:
Findings from this new systematic review suggest a significant association between sleep disturbances and sensory processing differences in autistic children and adolescents. Insomnia symptoms and night wakings were most consistently linked with sensory sensitivity and avoidance, particularly within tactile and vestibular domains. Current evidence supports a meaningful relationship between sleep and sensory functioning in autism, although further longitudinal and intervention-based research using objective assessment measures is needed to clarify causality and therapeutic implications.
This new study adds to growing evidence that sensory processing differences are a common aspect of the autistic experience in early childhood and are closely associated with maternal caregiver burden. Importantly, caregiver wellbeing was influenced not only by autism characteristics, but also by co-occurring sensory differences and parental mental health. These findings highlight the value of family-centred approaches that recognise and support autistic sensory needs while attending to the wellbeing of caregivers.
A new systematic review and meta-analysis found that individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) exhibit significantly elevated sensory over-responsivity (SOR)—defined as heightened distress in response to ordinary sensory stimuli in comparison to individuals without OCD. Findings suggest that atypical sensory processing may represent a clinically relevant feature of OCD, warranting further investigation across broader clinical populations.
Sensory Processing Differences: A Practical Overview
Sensory processing differences influence how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to sensory information, with significant implications for participation, emotional regulation, motor coordination, learning, and daily functioning. This new article examines the role of the eight sensory systems in shaping occupational performance and highlights evidence-informed approaches, including environmental adaptations, personalised sensory supports, participation-focused interventions, and interoception development. Adopting a strengths-based and individualised perspective can enhance understanding of sensory diversity and promote meaningful engagement across home, school, and community contexts.
Resources
Take a look at our books and product recommendations for this month:
Understanding Dementia: A Compassionate Guide to Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Practical Care Strategies for Patients, Families, and Caregivers: This book translates complex medical information into plain language, making it accessible without oversimplifying the science. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how dementia affects the brain, why behaviours change and how environment, routine and connection can make a meaningful difference.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice for Speech and Language Therapists: Supporting Curiosity, Compassion and Conversation: If you are a speech and language therapist (SLT), this book will help you understand the changing narrative around how we support neurodivergent individuals.
The book considers what neurodiversity is and what it means to practice in a neurodiversity-affirming way. The voices of autistic and ADHD SLTs are included, sharing their lived experiences and perspectives to further support teams to develop neurodiversity-informed practice.
AUDHD FOR SENIORS: Autism and ADHD in Later Life, Late Diagnosis, Executive Function, Sensory Needs, and Everyday Living: This book is a practical guide to understanding how autism and ADHD can present in older adults especially when they have gone unrecognised for decades. It explores the lived experience: how attention works, why routines feel both necessary and difficult and how sensory environments affect daily life.
Clear explanations are given of executive function, communication differences, emotional responses to late discovery, and the unique challenges and strengths that come with AuDHD. The book also addresses important aspects of later life, including health, social connection, burnout, and adapting to changing routines.
Fidget Apron for Dementia and Alzheimer’s: People with Alzheimer’s or dementia can become anxious or nervous when they don’t have something to do with their hands. This fidget apron provides sensory activities and games for people suffering from memory loss, dementia, autism, Asperger’s, Alzheimer’s, ADHD, anxiety and more. The different activities will help to relieve anxiety and keep hands busy in a safe and calming way.
Fidget Board for People with Dementia: This cognitive game combines various real-life materials to evoke memories, improve cognitive abilities, relieve boredom and keep hands busy for adults with dementia and other special needs. Its expertly designed therapy games provide a variety of enjoyable sensory activities, stimulating tactile, visual, and auditory senses to help relieve stress and soothe anxiety.
Discounts & Special Offers
Please quote DISCOUNT CODE SIE20 for 10% discount on Southpaw orders up to £100. Orders must be placed by phone on +44 (0) 115 718 0020.
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Best wishes,
Sensory Integration Education
NB: Sensory Integration Education is not responsible for the content on external websites. Sharing a resource does not imply endorsement by Sensory Integration Education.
