Beyond the 5 Senses: What Brandi Babb Taught Me About the 7 Senses We All Use
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When I first sat down to talk with Brandi Babb on the latest episode of Women In…, I thought I had a decent grasp on the senses. You know — the classic five we all learned in school: sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste.
But Brandi gently blew my mind when she said, “There are actually seven senses.”
Wait, what? That was my exact reaction — and probably yours too.
As an occupational therapist, educator, and speaker, Brandi’s expertise lies in how our sensory systems shape the way we function, communicate, and even lead. In this episode and this post, we’re diving deeper into what those two “hidden” senses are, and why understanding all seven is a game-changer for wellness, leadership, and self-regulation.
👃 The Original Five Senses (A Quick Refresher)
We all know them, but here’s a brief recap:
Sight (Visual) – our sense of seeing, processed by the eyes
Hearing (Auditory) – our sense of sound, processed by the ears
Smell (Olfactory) – our sense of scent, tied closely to memory
Taste (Gustatory) – sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami
Touch (Tactile) – textures, pressure, temperature, pain, vibration
But then Brandi took it further...
✨ The Two Often-Forgotten Senses
1. Vestibular Sense (Balance & Movement)
This sense helps us maintain balance, coordination, and spatial orientation. It’s what keeps us upright when walking and helps gymnasts perform flips without getting disoriented.
Located in the inner ear, the vestibular system is foundational to how we move through the world — and yet it’s rarely talked about outside of therapy spaces.
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2. Proprioception (Body Awareness)
This is the sense that tells you where your body is in space without having to look. When you close your eyes and touch your nose — thank proprioception. It helps regulate movement, force, and coordination.
For kids (and adults!) who seek deep pressure or are sensitive to clothing, proprioceptive input can be calming or stimulating depending on need.
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💡 Why This Matters — Especially for Women Leaders
Understanding all seven senses isn’t just academic — it’s deeply practical, especially in leadership, parenting, coaching, and mental health. Here’s how:
Stress Management: Knowing your own sensory profile helps you create environments that regulate rather than overwhelm. Brandi shared tips on using movement, deep pressure, or sound strategically.
Team Building: When we understand that people interpret and respond to the world differently — through their sensory filters — we can lead more inclusively.
Mental Health & Burnout: Many symptoms of overwhelm (e.g., irritability, brain fog, shutdown) are tied to sensory overload. Supporting the vestibular and proprioceptive systems can be a non-verbal, body-based way to reset.
🎧 Listen to the Full Conversation
Brandi breaks this down in such an accessible way. Whether you're a parent, educator, leader, or just curious about your own nervous system, this episode will leave you with new insight and tools.
Brandi's episode
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Final Thought:
The more we understand the full range of human senses, the more we can meet ourselves and others with compassion and intention. As Brandi reminds us, "everyone processes the world differently — and that’s not wrong, it’s human."
Let’s keep learning, feeling, and growing. 💛
—Toni
