When your child hears fine but still misses the instructions

Some children pass every hearing and vision test but still struggle to process what they hear and see. Here is how SPaCE uses movement to help, free, for children aged 7 to 12.

Your child's hearing test came back fine and their eyes have been checked, and yet the instruction in a noisy classroom still seems to go straight past them. If that sounds familiar, a sensory processing program for kids might be worth knowing about, and we are delighted to introduce SPaCE, a free movement program for children aged 7 to 12 with taster sessions starting at our Balcatta home from the week of 19 October.

Many parents describe a child who misses the instruction when the room gets busy, loses their place on the page halfway through a sentence, or is startled by a ball that seemed to come from nowhere. These moments are easy to put down to not listening or not trying, when the child is often working very hard just to keep up with everything coming in. Because every child is different, this can look very different from one child to the next, and some children barely seem to notice a busy room while others find it exhausting.

When we talk about processing, we mean what happens after sound and light reach the ears and eyes. A child can hear and see perfectly well and still find it harder for the brain to make sense of what comes in, particularly when a lot is going on at once. We use the word to describe what some children experience day to day, and we do not use it as a diagnosis, which is also why you do not need one to take part.

SPaCE stands for Sensory Processing and Cued Exercise. Children move in response to sound, rhythm and visual signals, so they get to practise listening and looking while their body is busy doing something enjoyable. Around those cues sit active games, strength work and motor skills activities, all adapted to each child so that everyone can have a go at their own level. The program was developed by researchers at The University of Western Australia together with Thriving in Motion, and it is led by our Accredited Exercise Physiologists.

Sessions are active and social, with children moving together in groups of up to 14. Families can look forward to children building coordination and confidence, and regular movement is also good for focus and mood. Being part of a group gives children the chance to connect with others who understand what a busy room can feel like, and our team can share ideas for home and school so that what happens in a session carries over into everyday life. We would like every child to leave feeling that they did well, and the games are designed so that there is always a way in, whatever a child finds easy or hard on the day.

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SPaCE is for children aged 7 to 12. It runs as two 50-minute sessions a week, and the groups run continuously. Parents and carers are welcome to stay. There is no cost to families because the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation funds delivery, and no diagnosis is needed, although funding may be available if you decide you would like a formal diagnostic assessment. You can read more on the SPaCE program page.

The first step is to register interest. We will then have a conversation with you about your child, followed by a short intake assessment, and then we will find the right group. Taster sessions are running at 5/2 Gibberd Road, Balcatta from the week of 19 October on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, and you can check the session times on our timetable. Full groups begin in February 2027 at Balcatta and Craigie, with more locations being confirmed. We would love to hear from you.