Find Your Focus, the Pick It Up Coaching Blog

Discover Your Unique Modalities and How They Shape Your Perception

7/4/2024

Do you prefer silence, music, or a humming café while working on your computer?

When making a big decision, do you listen to your gut, consult a friend, or research all options?

Do you learn a new game by reading the instructions, watching a video, or asking someone to teach you?

Each approach to working, decision-making, and learning represents a distinct processing modality. The concept that people process information differently is not new; many of us identify as visual or auditory learners. However, Denslow Brown’s book, The Processing Modalities Guide, takes this idea a step further. I first encountered this valuable concept in her Strengths-Based Coaching class, and it has helped me better understand my own and my clients' experiences. Brown's identifies nine ways to process information:

Modality Strength Continuum
Brown explains that in addition to our modality preferences, we also have varying strengths across different modalities, ranging from weak to gifted. For example, someone may have poor vision, an exceptional sense of smell, and arthritis in their joints affecting their movement. These physical differences can greatly influence their perception of the world and the extent to which they rely on each modality.

Brown explains that in addition to our modality preferences, we have varying strengths with each modality, ranging from weak to competent to gifted.

Modality Sensitivity Continuum
Brown also identifies that individuals have varying sensitivities across the modalities, ranging from hyposensitive (oblivious) to hypersensitive (very aware). For example, someone may have a hard time concentrating when their partner is on the phone in the next room (hypersensitive auditory modality) or they may not notice a huge new painting in the living room (hyposensitive visual modality). These sensitivities affect what we notice and how we rely on the different modalities.