At Sensory Modulation Brisbane, we have been advocating for Universal Design in Mental Health Units for Sensory Sensitivities and we would recommend that this is expanded to therapy rooms, waiting rooms and all health care spaces.

Many people who attend Therapy practices have sensory processing patterns that are more sensitive, more avoiding, or more seeking or more missing of sensations than others and this can vary between different senses. This includes:

·         Autistics have sensory processing differences recognised as a diagnostic criteria. (DSM5)

·         People with PTSD often have reactivity and hypervigilance to certain sensations

·         People with schizophrenia often have auditory processing  and visual perception challenges.

·         ADHDers frequently have sensory processing differences (Schulze 2020)

·         A high percentage of people with mental illness have interoceptive difficulties

Working from home/ changes to work locations has been one of the many challenges facing individuals during COVID-19. Some people have absolutely loved this change, while others cannot wait to return to the office environment. Are these differences all to do with personality traits? Or the trend towards open office spaces? Occupational therapists would suggest that it may also reflect our diverse sensory preferences.