What is sensitization?

Sensitization is when something you used to not notice becomes really noticeable, like your favorite snack suddenly tasting extra delicious.

Imagine you have a toy that makes noise every time you press it. At first, the sound is just fun. But after playing with it for hours, you start noticing every tiny click and buzz. That’s sensitization, your brain is paying more attention to something because you’ve been around it a lot.

Think of your ears as little detectives. When they hear a new noise, they say, “Hmm, what’s that?” But if the same noise happens again and again, your ears get excited and start shouting, “Hey! That sound is back!”

It's like when you first wear socks, you don’t feel them much. But after walking for a long time, those socks suddenly feel like they’re giving you a hug (or maybe a squeeze). Your feet are now sensitized to the sock feeling.

Sensitization helps us notice things that matter, whether it's a toy making noise or a sock that feels extra cozy.