What Is Sensory Profiling? High and Low Sensory Thresholds Explained
A complete guide written by our NDIS occupational therapy team - covering what sensory profiling is, what high and low sensory thresholds mean, how the assessment works, and how to access it through your NDIS plan.
What Is Sensory Profiling?
Sensory profiling is a structured occupational therapy assessment that maps how a person's nervous system processes and responds to sensory information from the world around them - and from within their own body.
Every person has a unique sensory profile. Some people are highly sensitive to noise, light, or touch. Others barely notice the same stimuli. Some crave movement and deep pressure. Others find certain fabrics or food textures unbearable. None of these responses are wrong - but when they significantly affect a person's ability to participate in daily life, school, work, or relationships, a sensory profile assessment can provide the answers.
For NDIS participants, a sensory profile is often a critical step toward understanding behaviours that have previously been unexplained, and toward building a support plan that actually works with the person's nervous system rather than against it.
In plain language: A sensory profile assessment answers the question - "Why does this person react to the world the way they do?" - and turns those answers into practical strategies for daily life.
The Seven Sensory Systems
Most people know the five classic senses - sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. But occupational therapists work with seven sensory systems, including two that are felt inside the body rather than from the outside world:
Sight and light
Sound and noise
Smell
Taste and texture
Touch and skin
Balance and movement
Body position and pressure
A sensory profile assessment evaluates how a person processes input across all seven of these systems - in different environments including home, school, the community, and the workplace.
What Are Sensory Thresholds?
The concept at the heart of sensory profiling is the neurological threshold - the amount of sensory input a person's nervous system needs to receive before it registers and responds to that input.
Neurological thresholds exist on a spectrum from low to high, and they vary across different sensory systems for the same person. Understanding a person's threshold profile is the foundation of everything that follows in a sensory-informed support plan.
Notices More, Responds Faster
- Nervous system reacts to small amounts of input
- Often described as "over-sensitive" or "hypersensitive"
- Notices sounds, smells, textures others miss
- May feel quickly overwhelmed in busy environments
- Can become distressed by clothing tags, light touch, or background noise
- May avoid sensory experiences that feel too intense
Needs More, Responds Slower
- Nervous system needs more input before it registers
- Often described as "under-sensitive" or "hyposensitive"
- May appear not to notice pain, temperature, or sounds
- Seeks out intense sensory experiences - rough play, spinning, loud music
- May seem unaware of personal space or body position
- Can appear to "not listen" or "not feel" things
Important: A person can have a low threshold in one sensory system and a high threshold in another at the same time. For example, someone might be highly sensitive to sound (low auditory threshold) while actively seeking deep pressure and heavy work (high proprioceptive threshold). This is why a full sensory profile - not just observation - is so important.
Dunn's Sensory Processing Model - The Four Patterns
The most widely used clinical framework for understanding sensory processing is Winnie Dunn's Sensory Processing Model, developed by occupational therapist Dr Winnie Dunn. It combines the neurological threshold (low to high) with a person's behavioural response (passive to active) to create four sensory processing patterns.
Understanding which pattern or patterns apply to a person explains a great deal about their behaviour in daily life - and points directly toward the right strategies.
Low Registration
The person has a high neurological threshold but responds passively - meaning they need a lot of sensory input to notice things, and they do not actively seek it out. They may seem disengaged, slow to respond, or miss things happening around them.
Sensation Seeking
The person needs a lot of sensory input AND actively goes looking for it. They are busy, energetic, and drawn to intense experiences - touching everything, making noise, constantly moving. This is often misread as behaviour problems or ADHD.
Sensory Sensitivity
The person's nervous system reacts quickly to small amounts of input AND they actively respond to it - often by withdrawing, complaining, or becoming distressed. They are easily overwhelmed and work hard to avoid inputs that feel too intense.
Sensation Avoiding
Similar to sensory sensitivity but the person's response is more passive - they create routines and structures to minimise unexpected sensory input, rather than actively reacting in the moment. They prefer predictable environments and sameness.
Most people do not fit neatly into one quadrant across all seven sensory systems. A sensory profile assessment maps where a person sits across each system individually, giving a nuanced picture rather than a single label.
Who Benefits From a Sensory Profile Assessment?
Sensory profile assessments are conducted by occupational therapists for children and adults across a wide range of presentations. They are particularly valuable for people with:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - sensory differences are a diagnostic feature of autism under the DSM-5
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - sensory processing differences frequently co-occur with ADHD
- Developmental delays or coordination difficulties (Developmental Coordination Disorder / Dyspraxia)
- Intellectual disability - where sensory processing challenges often contribute to behaviours of concern
- Acquired brain injury or stroke - sensory processing can change after neurological events
- Anxiety - sensory sensitivities are a common driver of anxiety responses in children and adults
- Children with feeding difficulties - often rooted in tactile and gustatory sensory processing differences
- Adults experiencing difficulties at work due to sensory overwhelm in the workplace
You do not need a diagnosis to access a sensory profile assessment. If sensory differences are affecting daily life, learning, or participation, an OT assessment is appropriate. Contact Capability Support Services to discuss whether a sensory profile is the right starting point for the person you support.
Assessment Tools Used in Sensory Profiling
Sensory profile assessments use standardised, validated questionnaire tools. The occupational therapist selects the right tool based on the person's age and presentation:
| Assessment Tool | Age Range | Completed By | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensory Profile 2 (SP2) | Birth to 14 years | Parent or caregiver | Dunn's four sensory patterns across all systems |
| Adolescent / Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) | 11 years and above | Self-report | Sensory processing patterns in daily life for teens and adults |
| Sensory Processing Measure 2 (SPM-2) | 2 to 87 years | Parent, teacher, or self | Social participation and praxis alongside sensory processing |
| Infant / Toddler Sensory Profile 2 | Birth to 35 months | Caregiver | Early sensory processing patterns in very young children |
These tools are paired with clinical observation, interviews with the participant and their support network, and environmental assessments. The OT never relies on a single questionnaire score - the full clinical picture is always considered.
What Does the Sensory Profiling Process Look Like at CSS?
Initial Referral and Intake
Contact Capability Support Services directly - no referral needed. Our intake team confirms your NDIS funding, discusses the reason for referral, and matches you with an OT experienced in sensory assessment. We offer home visits across Gold Coast and Brisbane, and telehealth for remote participants.
Questionnaire Completion
The appropriate standardised sensory profile questionnaire is sent to the caregiver, teacher, or the participant themselves (depending on age and capacity). This is completed before the assessment appointment and provides the quantitative foundation of the profile.
Clinical Interview
The OT meets with the participant and/or their family and carers to explore the impact of sensory differences in daily life - at home, school, work, and in the community. This is where the numbers from the questionnaire are given real-life meaning.
Observation
Where possible, the OT observes the person in their natural environment - particularly helpful for children in home or school settings. Observation reveals how sensory differences play out in real tasks, not just in questionnaire responses.
Sensory Profile Report
A detailed written report is provided, including the person's sensory processing patterns across all seven sensory systems, what these mean for their daily functioning, and specific, practical recommendations. The report is written clearly so that families, carers, teachers, and support workers can all understand and use it.
Sensory Diet and Strategy Implementation
The OT develops a sensory diet - a personalised schedule of sensory activities built into the person's daily routine to support regulation and participation. This is not a food-related diet - it is a programme of the right kind and amount of sensory input, delivered at the right times of day. The OT trains carers, teachers, and support workers to implement the strategies consistently.
What Comes Out of a Sensory Profile Assessment?
A sensory profile assessment from Capability Support Services produces practical, actionable outputs - not just a report that sits in a folder. Depending on the person's profile, recommendations may include:
- Sensory diet: A personalised daily programme of sensory activities to support self-regulation throughout the day
- Environmental modifications: Changes to the home, classroom, or workplace to reduce sensory overwhelm or increase sensory input - such as reducing visual clutter, adjusting lighting, or creating a quiet space
- Assistive technology: Recommendations for tools that support sensory regulation - such as weighted blankets, compression garments, noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, or sensory-friendly seating
- Carer and teacher strategies: Specific guidance so that everyone in the person's life is implementing consistent, effective approaches
- OT therapy goals: Ongoing occupational therapy goals targeting sensory regulation, participation, and skill development
- NDIS plan evidence: The report provides clinical evidence for NDIS plan reviews and supports funding requests for sensory-related consumables and ongoing OT
Is Sensory Profiling Funded by the NDIS?
Yes. Sensory profile assessments are funded under the Capacity Building - Improved Daily Living category of your NDIS plan, under Therapeutic Supports. Capability Support Services can invoice your plan directly - no out-of-pocket costs for NDIS-funded sessions.
If sensory processing difficulties are impacting daily functioning, an OT sensory profile assessment is typically considered an appropriate and evidence-based use of Capacity Building funding. The resulting report also serves as clinical evidence for future plan reviews.
Unsure if your plan covers sensory profiling? Call us on 1800 299 399 - our intake team can check your plan categories and help you understand what funding is available before any sessions begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sensory profiling is a structured occupational therapy assessment that measures how a person processes and responds to sensory information from their environment and body. It identifies whether someone has a high or low neurological threshold to sensory input, and whether their behavioural response is passive or active. The results are used to develop personalised strategies that support daily functioning, regulation, and participation.
A neurological threshold is the amount of sensory input a person needs before their nervous system responds. A low sensory threshold means the nervous system responds quickly to small amounts of input - the person notices and reacts to things others might not (sounds, textures, lights). A high sensory threshold means the nervous system needs more input before it registers - the person may seek out intense sensory experiences or appear to miss things in their environment.
Yes. Sensory profiling and sensory processing assessments are funded under the NDIS Capacity Building - Improved Daily Living category. A registered NDIS occupational therapist like those at Capability Support Services can conduct the assessment and invoice your plan directly - no out-of-pocket cost for funded sessions.
Sensory profile assessments are appropriate for children and adults who display behaviours that may be related to sensory processing differences - such as avoiding certain textures or clothing, becoming overwhelmed in busy environments, constantly seeking movement or pressure, or having difficulty with daily routines like teeth brushing or mealtimes. They are particularly common for autistic individuals, people with ADHD, and those with developmental or neurological conditions.
The most commonly used standardised tools include the Sensory Profile 2 (SP2) for children aged 0-14, the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) for teens and adults, and the Sensory Processing Measure 2 (SPM-2) which can be completed by parents, teachers, or the participant. The choice of tool depends on the person's age, setting, and clinical presentation.
A sensory diet is a personalised daily programme of sensory activities recommended by an occupational therapist to help a person maintain an optimal level of arousal and regulation throughout the day. It is not food-related - the word "diet" refers to the right type and amount of sensory input, delivered at the right times. Examples include scheduled movement breaks, use of a fidget tool during tasks, deep pressure activities before school, or a quiet wind-down routine at night.
After the assessment, the occupational therapist writes a detailed report summarising the person's sensory processing patterns, how these affect daily functioning, and specific recommendations. These may include a sensory diet, environmental modifications, strategies for carers and teachers, assistive technology recommendations, and goals for ongoing OT intervention. The report can also be used as clinical evidence for NDIS plan reviews.
Yes. Questionnaire completion, clinical interviews, and strategy sessions can all be delivered via telehealth, making sensory profiling accessible to NDIS participants anywhere in Australia. Direct observation is best completed in person, and our OTs cover the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and surrounding South East Queensland for home and school visits.
Book a Sensory Profile Assessment on the Gold Coast
Our NDIS occupational therapists are ready to help you understand how sensory processing is affecting daily life - and build a plan that makes a real difference. No referral required.
About Capability Support Services: Registered NDIS provider based in Coomera, Queensland. We deliver sensory profiling, occupational therapy, FBA, PBS, speech pathology, psychology, and exercise physiology across Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Australia-wide via telehealth. Learn more about our team
