Interoception receptors are housed in our organs throughout our body. It is responsible for giving us information regarding the internal condition of our body. Interoception awareness allows us to notice a sensation, connect the sensation to a meaning, and regulate the sensation with an action.

This system helps with:

• Awareness of when we are hungry, hot, thirsty, sleepy, etc.
• Knowing when to use the restroom
• Identifying pain, such as stomach aches or sore throat
• Knowledge of when something is working internally that you aren't able to see
• Emotional regulation
• Contributes to the awareness of the emotions of others 

Some behaviors we may see due to sensory challenges within the interoceptive system include:

• • Misinterpreting a feeling or not being able to understand what they are feeling (inside their body)
  • Missing internal body signals 
    • Not feeling a sensation inside their body and therefore being unresponsive
      • For example, not feeling the urge to go to the bathroom, so they soil themselves. 
  • Difficulty expressing an emotion or desire

• Difficulty reading body language or facial expressions 

• Emotional outbursts caused b missing or misinterpreting body signals 

A few activities that can be used to improve the interoceptive system:

• Use prompts and questions throughout the day to focus on internal body signals.
• Help support your child to better understand their body and recognize the feelings inside. 
• Practice mindfulness, yoga, body scanning with an emphasis on body sensations
• Read social stories to help understand body signals. 
• Expose them to various sensations and activities such as hot/cold, running/still, dry/wet, etc. and reflect on how the body feels.

For additional information about interoception please visit the link below: https://www.kelly-mahler.com/interoception-for-parents-and-caregivers/