Sensesaving

Sense-saving is a term used to describe practices and interventions aimed at preserving or optimizing the function of the human senses and reducing exposure to disruptive or harmful sensory input. The scope includes vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, and the brain's processing of sensory information.

The term has appeared in design discourse, healthcare, and education to describe preventive and restorative aims rather than a single standardized protocol.

In environmental and product design, sense-saving favors reducing sensory load through features such as glare-free lighting, acoustical treatment, muted color schemes, and uncluttered layouts.

In digital interfaces, it emphasizes accessibility and predictability—clear contrast, legible typography, simple navigation, and feedback that helps users anticipate outcomes.

In clinical settings, sense-saving may involve protective strategies to preserve sensory function during treatment, sensory rehabilitation after injury, and therapies to mitigate sensory damage from disease or environmental exposure.

In education and workplace contexts, sense-saving supports individuals with heightened sensory sensitivity or processing differences by applying universal design principles, scheduling accommodations, and deliberate pacing to prevent overload.

The term remains informal, and practitioners often aligns it with related concepts such as sensory processing, neurorehabilitation, sensory hygiene, and universal design.

Critics note that sense-saving can be diffuse and context-dependent, lacking a single operational definition or universal metrics. As a cross-disciplinary idea, its value lies in drawing attention to how environments, technologies, and practices can protect and optimize sensory function while avoiding overstimulation.