CalmCraft Sensory Support Glossary
This comprehensive glossary provides clear definitions for key terms related to neurodiversity, sensory processing, and calming strategies. We've created this resource to help our community better understand the concepts, products, and approaches we discuss across our website.
Section A
Alexithymia
A condition involving difficulty identifying, understanding, and describing feelings, as well as distinguishing between emotions and bodily sensations. Approximately 50% of autistic individuals experience alexithymia.
Animal Walks
Physical activities where individuals move like different animals (bears, crabs, giraffes), providing proprioceptive input that can help with sensory regulation and calming.
Anxiety
A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease that can be particularly intense for individuals with sensory processing differences. Many CalmCraft products are designed to reduce anxiety through sensory regulation.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
A neurodevelopmental condition affecting attention, thinking, processing, and impulse control. Individuals with ADHD often benefit from sensory tools that help with focus and regulation.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
A neurological difference affecting how individuals experience and respond to the world. Autistic people may have different sensory processing, social communication styles, and focused interests. Many CalmCraft products are designed with autistic individuals' sensory needs in mind.
Section B
Bear Hug
A calming technique where one wraps their arms around their body, holding onto their sides and squeezing. This provides proprioceptive input that can help regulate the nervous system.
Burnout
A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Neurodivergent individuals may experience burnout due to sensory overload or the effort of masking.
Section C
Calming Strategies
Techniques and activities designed to help individuals regulate their nervous system and achieve a more balanced emotional state. These include deep pressure, heavy work, and sensory tools.
Calming Tools
Products designed to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. CalmCraft offers various calming tools including weighted items, fidget toys, and sensory aids.
Chair Press-ups
A calming activity involving placing hands on the sides of a chair and pressing down to lift body weight off the seat, providing proprioceptive input.
Section D
Deep Pressure
Firm but gentle squeezing, hugging, or touching that provides proprioceptive input to the body. Deep pressure therapy can help calm the nervous system and is often provided through weighted blankets, compression garments, or manual pressure.
De-stress
To reduce or alleviate stress, often through sensory regulation activities or tools.
Dyslexia
A neurodivergent condition affecting reading, writing, and language processing. People with dyslexia often excel at visual processing and big-picture thinking.
Section E
Emotional Regulation
The ability to manage emotional responses to meet environmental demands. Many sensory tools support emotional regulation by first addressing sensory regulation.
Executive Function
Cognitive processes responsible for planning, working memory, attention, problem-solving, and self-regulation. Some neurodivergent individuals experience executive function challenges.
Section F
Fidget Toys
Handheld objects designed to provide sensory input and help with focus, stress relief, and regulation. These can include spinners, cubes, tangles, and more.
Focus Tools
Products designed to help maintain attention and concentration, particularly beneficial for individuals with ADHD or sensory processing differences.
Section H
Heavy Work
Activities that make the muscles work hard against resistance, providing proprioceptive input that can help with regulation. Examples include carrying heavy items, pushing/pulling, and weight-bearing exercises.
Hypersensitivity
Heightened sensitivity to sensory input, where certain stimuli may feel overwhelming or uncomfortable. CalmCraft offers products to help manage environments for those with hypersensitivities.
Section I
Interoception
One of the eight sensory systems, providing awareness of internal bodily sensations such as hunger, thirst, and emotional states. This sense is often affected in neurodivergent individuals.
Section M
Masking
The process of concealing natural neurodivergent traits to appear more neurotypical in social situations. Prolonged masking can lead to burnout and mental health challenges.
Misophonia
A condition where specific sounds trigger strong emotional or physiological responses, such as anger or anxiety. Common triggers include chewing or repetitive sounds.
Section N
Neurodiversity
The concept that neurological differences are normal variations in the human genome, similar to biodiversity in nature. This paradigm views conditions like autism and ADHD as natural variations rather than disorders.
Neurodivergent
Having a brain that functions differently from what is considered typical. This includes individuals with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences.
Neurotypical
Having neurological development and functioning that conforms to what society considers 'standard' or 'typical'.
Section P
Proprioception
The sense of body awareness and position in space, provided by receptors in muscles and joints. Proprioceptive input (through heavy work, deep pressure, etc.) often has a calming and organising effect on the nervous system.
Section S
Self-soothe
The ability to calm oneself when experiencing distress or sensory overload. CalmCraft products are designed to support self-soothing through sensory regulation.
Sensory Friendly
Environments or products designed to accommodate various sensory needs and minimise sensory triggers.
Sensory Overload
A state where one or more senses receive more input than the brain can process, leading to distress, anxiety, or shutdown. Early signs may include irritability, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating.
Sensory Processing
How the brain receives, organises, and responds to sensory information from the environment and the body. Differences in sensory processing are common in neurodivergent individuals.
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
A condition where the brain has difficulty processing and responding to sensory information, which can affect daily functioning.
Sensory Regulation
The ability to manage and organise sensory input. CalmCraft offers various products to help with sensory regulation, from calming tools to focus aids.
Sensory Seeking
Behaviours aimed at obtaining additional sensory input, such as movement, tactile sensations, or visual stimulation.
Stimming
Self-stimulatory behaviours that provide sensory input and help with regulation. Examples include rocking, hand-flapping, fidgeting, or using stim toys. Stimming is a natural and beneficial coping mechanism for many neurodivergent individuals.
Section T
Tactile
Relating to the sense of touch. CalmCraft offers various tactile products designed to provide sensory feedback through different textures and surfaces.
Theory of Double Empathy
The concept that communication difficulties between autistic and non-autistic people are reciprocal rather than one-sided. Both groups have difficulty understanding each other's perspective.
Section V
Visual Stimulation
Sensory input received through sight. CalmCraft offers products that provide gentle, adjustable lighting options and visual sensory experiences.
Section W
Weighted Products
Items designed with additional weight to provide deep pressure input. These include blankets, lap pads, and vests that can help promote calm and regulation.
Resources and Support
For more information about any of these terms or to explore products that can help with sensory regulation and support, please visit our website or contact our knowledgeable team. We're committed to supporting the neurodivergent community with high-quality sensory products and educational resources.