Tactile Walls

Tactile

The sense of touch. What the skin feels, and what the brain does with it.

Tactile Processing

can run quietly in the background: register, interpret, move on. However, if sometimes the solution is sensory, that sense is likely to be tactile: The most immediate, intimate and unavoidable sense.

The Tactile Spectrum

Sensory systems near both ends of the spectrum are likely to present as extreme behaviours.

Tactile Seeking

Messes are not tolerated or overcome, they are exactly what the tactile system is asking for.

Tactile Defensiveness

Squeamish exaggerated signals can be overcome by deep pressure.

Tactile Discrimination

The ability to interpret what the skin is feeling accurately. Distinguishing varied textures and messy play contribute to a more robust and reliable tactile experience.

Tactile Hypersensitivity

An extremely over responsive tactile system can render unremarkable things distressful. Control over rather than withdrawal from contact, is our advice.

Oral Motor

Tactile processing and oral motor processing are closely related. Many tactile seekers also seek oral input — mouthing objects, chewing, needing varied food textures. The oral motor page may be worth reading alongside this one.

Play, Not Coping

There is a large market in tactile coping mechanisms. Chews, fidgets, textured bands — small portable objects that manage an immediate need. We understand their value. They serve a real purpose in real moments.

TFH is dedicated to play. Our tactile range is built around messy play and varied surfaces — sand trays, water play, textured environments. Our goal is not management. It is experience.