My Session Takeaways from "I Can't Hear You Because My T-Shirt is Too Itchy" – A Guide to Working with the Sensory Needs of Neurodivergent Learners by Dr. Matthew J. Zakreski, Psychologist

I was fortunate enough to attend Dr. Matt’s breakout session on sensory needs of gifted learners at the WATG 2025 Fall Conference. Dr. Matt shared the importance of understanding those needs and the vital process of asking the right questions when working with children and adolescents. 

Teachers who learn to ask the right questions can gain a better understanding of what their gifted students need. Instead of asking, “Why are you acting this way?”, they should ask, “What sensory input do you need? Are you thirsty? Are you hungry? Do you need to move?” We can be proactive by learning about a gifted student’s needs and planning for them. If we know what can trigger sensory distress in a particular student, we can prevent shutdowns and help our students maintain better balance in the ideal zone of sensory processing.

It was also interesting to learn about the “extra” senses that we possess that go beyond simple smell or sight. They include: 

• Proprioception – body location
• Vestibular – smooth movement
• Thermoception – temperature regulation
• Equilibrioception – balance
• Nociception – pain receptors 

Asking questions related to these can help prevent sensory overload/crisis. For example, if we look for signs of distress such as a repetitive opening and closing of a water bottle, we can quickly understand that an imbalance is pending. If a student’s behavior changes, ask what is different in their life. It may be as simple as asking, “Are your shoes too tight?”

What may seem insignificant to us might make all the difference in the world to a gifted student who is striving to regulate their sensory selves. We can make a huge difference by paying attention to cues. 

Thank you, Dr. Matt, for your excellent insight and advice!

- Sarah Kasprowicz, WATG Board Member and Conference Co-Chair