Sensory Diets

“A sensory diet refers to those experiences an individual's system needs in order to self-organise and function throughout each day” (Champagne, 2008). We typically engage in these experiences without consciously knowing the complexity or the purpose they serve, however it is beneficial that we gain an awareness of our own unique way of doing things. Supporting clients to create an individualised sensory diet, will give them an increased self awareness and ability to perform daily tasks.

When creating a sensory diet, it is important to support individuals to consider meaningful and purposeful ideas for both preventative purposes and for use during crisis states. Practice may also be necessary with some of the chosen techniques in order to experience the full benefit. Creating a daily or weekly schedule incorporating those things the person finds most beneficial is one of the ways to begin planning for the implementation of the sensory diet.

Having a planned and scheduled program to meet an individual’s specific need is a concept that I think would work well in a mental health setting. Having a set program, designed to encourage the management of a client’s awareness of their body functions, is a desirable way to implement meaningful and purposeful activities to promote recovery. As occupational therapists need to monitor and evaluate sensory diets, which is a continual process, it provides an opportunity to integrate sensory modulation into community settings.