Personal Sensory Seeking: Understanding The Need Behind the Behavior (Part 1)

Feb 8

A boy sitting on his belly in a field of flowers.

By Erin Clarelli, MS. OTr/L & Jessica Jordan, MS. OTR/L

What Is Personal Sensory Seeking?

Masturbation can feel like a tricky topic to talk about—but at SUNRISE Therapies, we believe it's important to have open, respectful conversations about anything that impacts the people we support. We often reframe this as personal sensory seeking because, at its core, it’s a form of intense sensory input. Like any other sensory-seeking behavior, it serves a purpose. For some, it may offer a sense of calm. For others, it may be stimulating or alerting. Understanding that difference means paying attention to age, environment, sensory preferences, and what the body is communicating in the moment.

What Are the Benefits of Personal Sensory Seeking?

Before we go any further, it helps to understand why personal sensory seeking happens. This type of sensory input can trigger a strong neurochemical response. It typically leads to a release of dopamine, which activates the brain’s reward center, and oxytocin, the hormone tied to bonding, connection, and calm.

Oxytocin plays a powerful role in regulating cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone. After having two unmedicated births myself, I can personally attest to the power of this hormone—it’s no surprise that the body might seek out that same calming effect in other ways.

What makes this form of input so interesting is that it doesn’t always serve the same purpose for every person. It really depends on the individual’s sensory system and what their body is trying to communicate in that moment. For some individuals, personal sensory seeking offers a way to feel calm—a tool for settling the body and processing big emotions. For others, it might serve the opposite purpose: helping them feel alert or more organized in their body when energy or focus is low.

And for many individuals (especially children and teens), this behaviour isn’t necessarily tied to mature or sexual thoughts. For autistic, apraxic, or nonspeaking individuals, personal sensory seeking can be a strong signal that their system is working hard to regulate. It might be a response to feeling under-alert, overwhelmed, or dysregulated. Recognizing these behaviors as communication helps us respond with clarity, support, and a deeper understanding of what their body may be asking for.

Why Age and Context Matter

When thinking about this kind of sensory experience, it’s helpful to take a step back and look at the whole picture. This is where an occupational profile really matters. Things like age, developmental stage, daily routines, and personal values all play a role in why someone might seek out this kind of input. Taking all these factors into consideration helps us to interpret the behavior and shape our response and support recommendations as practitioners.

➡️ Check out Part 2 of this series to explore strategies and supports across different age groups.

Helpful Links

If you found this post helpful, you’ll love our therapy resources! Whether you’re a parent or therapist, our apraxia and autism courses are here to offer practical tools, compassionate guidance, and real-world strategies you can use every day.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For Parents & Caregivers: Autism Training | Online Course for Parents and Caregivers

🧑‍🏫 For Therapists: Therapist Course for Apraxia and Autism | Mentorship for OTs and Therapists

🏥 Work With Us: In-Person Occupational Therapy (San Diego & Long Beach Areas) | Virtual Coaching