My Volume Dials: Understanding Sensory Processing

🔊 "Stop making that noise!" — five minutes later — "Turn the music UP!"

Sound familiar? Your child's sensory responses aren't random. They have a reason — and it has a name.

Meet Aisha. Her world is either too much or not enough. Loud cafeterias make her ears hurt. But at home, the music is always at full volume. Soft fabrics feel unbearable. But a heavy blanket is the only thing that helps her sleep.

Aisha isn't being difficult. Her sensory volume dials are simply set differently. 🎚️

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🧠 What Is Sensory Processing — And Why Does It Matter?

Sensory processing differences affect over 90% of autistic children. Some sensory channels are dialled way UP — sounds feel painful, light touch feels like sandpaper. Others are dialled way DOWN — the body craves deep pressure, constant movement, or intense input just to feel regulated.

That's why your child might:

• Cover their ears in a restaurant 🙉 — but play music at full blast at home 🔊
• Refuse soft clothing 👕 — but sleep only under a weighted blanket 🛌
• Pull away from a gentle hug 🤚 — but beg for a crushing bear hug 🐻
• Gag at certain food textures 🍽️ — but seek crunchy, intense flavours
• Melt down in bright, busy places 😵 — but seem totally fine in a quiet corner They're not contradicting themselves. They're regulating.

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📖 What Happens in the Story

When Aisha's occupational therapist introduces her to the idea of sensory volume dials — one for sound, one for touch, one for movement — everything suddenly makes sense. She learns which of her dials run high, which run low, and — most importantly — what she can do about it.

Tools shown in the story:

• 🎧 Noise-cancelling headphones
• 🛌 Weighted blankets
• 👕 Seamless, tag-free clothing
• 🪑 A quiet corner for resets
• 😤 Chewy necklaces for oral input
• 🏃 Movement breaks throughout the day

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💡 Why the "Volume Dial" Metaphor Works

Most explanations of sensory processing focus on one direction — either too much sensitivity or too little. This story explains both in a single, visual metaphor every child can grasp.

Instead of "I can't cope," your child learns to say: "My sound dial is at 10 right now." Instead of "I don't know why I need to spin," they understand: "My movement dial is running low."

Language gives children agency. Agency reduces meltdowns.

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👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents and Caregivers

This book is a conversation-starter, not just a story. By the last page, you and your child will share a vocabulary for sensory needs — one you can use during clothing battles, at mealtimes, before school, and at the end of a hard day.

✅ Explains both hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity — the full picture
✅ Removes the "difficult" label — replaces it with understanding
✅ Introduces practical, evidence-informed accommodations
✅ Builds sensory self-awareness children carry for life
✅ Supports OT sessions — use alongside your child's occupational therapist

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📚 Part of the Understanding My Unique Brain Series

My Volume Dials joins a growing library of affirming stories for neurodivergent children — written from the inside, using kid-friendly language that validates rather than pathologises. Every title in the series helps children understand their beautiful, different brains.

Perfect for: autistic children · sensory-seeking and sensory-avoiding kids · children with sensory processing differences · OT therapy support · families navigating clothing and food battles · classroom and home use (ages 5–11)

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