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49 %u00a9 Elklan Training Limited 2025Elklan Supporting Gestalt Language Processing %u2013 a Total Communication ApproachThe sensory systems at the bottom of the pyramid include five senses which are commonly recognised: smell, sight, hearing, taste and touch. Balance and body awareness may not be so widely understood as important senses. The sense of balance also includes a sense of movement and is known as the vestibular sense. The vestibular processing system helps the child or young person balance, walk, run, use both hands together, sit, stand and feel the direction and speed of movement.The sense of body awareness is known as proprioception. Proprioception helps the child or young person receive information from their muscles, joints and bones so they have awareness of how their body is positioned and is moving relative to their surroundings or space.6.3 SENSORY INTEGRATIONDr Jean Ayres (1972, 1979) introduced Ayres Sensory Integration, ASI. ASI is an evidencebased approach used to support children and young people with sensory needs, process and use sensory information. An occupational therapist trained in sensory integration can advise on how best to support a child or young person%u2019s presenting sensory needs. Knowledge of the sensory processing system is important when working with a child or young person with sensory needs. Sensory integration occurs by processing sensory information from all seven senses. The child or young person needs to receive sensory information, interpret and then organise this information so they can then respond to the information and participate in daily tasks.The term %u2018sensory regulation%u2019 is sometimes used to describe the state at which the child or young person is at the %u2018just right%u2019 level of processing and responding to the sensory information.