Sensory processing describes how the brain receives, organizes, and responds to information gathered from the senses and the environment. This complex system dictates how an individual interacts with the world, influencing attention, emotion, and motor skills. Low Registration (LR) is one of four distinct patterns identified within the Dunn Model of Sensory Processing. LR is defined by a combination of a high sensory threshold and a passive behavioral response to stimulation.
Understanding the Sensory Threshold
The concept of a sensory threshold refers to the amount of stimulation required for the nervous system to notice a sensory input. Individuals with Low Registration have a high neurological threshold, meaning their nervous system requires significantly more intense, prolonged, or frequent input before it registers the information. Because the threshold for detection is so high, many everyday sensory messages simply go unnoticed.
This high threshold is paired with a passive response style. Unlike sensory seekers who actively seek input, individuals with Low Registration tend to miss or ignore the input they are not registering. This passive approach means they may seem unaware of their surroundings or appear lethargic and unmotivated. They frequently “fly under the radar,” missing cues and details necessary for participation and learning.
Recognizing Low Registration Behaviors
The primary manifestation of Low Registration is a consistent under-responsiveness to sensory input across various domains, leading to missed cues in daily life. In the tactile sense, this can result in appearing unaware of minor physical discomforts, such as not noticing a small cut or scrape, or failing to register that their face is messy after eating. They may walk around with clothing twisted, inside-out, or backwards without noticing the unusual feeling against their skin.
In the auditory domain, a common sign is a delayed or absent response to a name being called, especially when there is background noise. The input is not intense enough to cross the high threshold, causing them to miss verbal instructions or environmental alerts like a doorbell or phone ringing. They may appear “tuned out” or inattentive, but the issue is one of registration, not willful disregard.
Manifestations related to the body’s internal senses, like proprioception (body awareness) and vestibular (balance and movement), can make them seem clumsy or uncoordinated. They might frequently bump into objects or people and not react, or they may exhibit a slumped posture, leaning heavily on furniture or others. Individuals with Low Registration may also display a high tolerance for pain or temperature, not noticing when a bath is too hot or a room is excessively cold.
Strategies for Support and Engagement
Supporting an individual with Low Registration requires providing sensory input that is bold and intense enough to successfully cross their high neurological threshold. Strategies focus on increasing the intensity and clarity of sensory messages.
For engagement, it is effective to use strong, multi-sensory cues instead of relying on a single, subtle input. For instance, instead of just calling a name from another room, one should walk over, make eye contact, and gently tap the shoulder before giving an instruction. This combines auditory, visual, and tactile input to maximize the chance of registration.
Environmental adjustments can incorporate strong proprioceptive input, which is often alerting for this pattern. This might involve using weighted items like a lap pad during seated tasks or incorporating activities that involve “heavy work,” such as pushing, pulling, or carrying heavy objects. The use of fast-paced, rhythmic movement, like jumping or fast swinging, can also provide the intense vestibular input needed to help the nervous system become more alert.
Communication and visual supports are beneficial for increasing registration of information. Instructions should be clear, simple, and accompanied by visual aids, such as written lists or picture schedules, to reinforce the verbal message. Regularly scheduled “sensory breaks” involving intense, alerting activities can help maintain a higher level of alertness throughout the day.