The hidden costs of a workspace that doesn't work
- Declining productivity — employees distracted, unfocused and unable to perform consistently in an environment not informed by sensory science
- Return-to-office resistance — staff morale and engagement suffer when workspace transitions are made without understanding the sensory and environmental impact on people
- Burnout and absenteeism — sensory overload from poorly designed spaces draining energy, focus and resilience faster than organisations realise
- Inclusion gaps — open-plan environments that work for some but create significant performance barriers for others — particularly neurodiverse employees
- Wasted investment — workspace redesigns and wellbeing programmes that don’t address the root cause — the sensory and environmental mismatch between people and place
Most workspace decisions are made without the most critical piece of data: how your environment is actually affecting the brains and bodies of the people working in it.
The science-based solution: The organisational Sensory Audit™
- The Sensory Audit™ is a structured 60-item on-site assessment that evaluates how environmental stimuli influence employee health, regulation and performance
- Conducted by Dr Annemarie Lombard and our team of licensed occupational therapists, it translates brain-body science into a clear, prioritised and evidence-based picture of how your workspace is performing — and exactly what needs to change
- Using principles of sensory ergonomics, we assess your environment across 60 categories and benchmark every result against global best-practice standards — from Critical Risk through to Sensory Optimised.
- Every recommendation is scientific, objective, and performance-focused, ranging from simple, no-cost adjustments to strategic, long-term investments.
How is the Sensory Audit™ different to other workplace assessments?
- It goes beyond health and safety compliance — we focus exclusively on how sensory and environmental factors affect human performance, wellbeing and regulation
- It combines objective measurement with lived experience — structured environmental observations are validated through structured discussions with the people actually using the space daily
- It covers three dimensions that no other assessment addresses simultaneously — the shared environmental workspace, individual workstations and the organisational wellbeing and support culture
- It produces a clear benchmark score — every area is rated against a five-level scale from Critical Risk to Best Practice, so you know exactly where you stand
- It connects directly to your people strategy — findings naturally link to Senses@Work™ individual assessments, team workshops and inclusion initiatives for a fully integrated approach
- It is delivered by qualified healthcare professionals — not consultants or designers, but registered occupational therapists with specialist expertise in sensory processing, human occupation and workplace performance
Our Connections
We’ve helped thousands of people and organisations be healthier, happier and more productive
“One of the most commonly overlooked workplace challenges is sensory processing and our sensitivities to the daily onslaught of sensory stimuli. We humans are sensory beings, and are constantly receiving sensory input. In fact, we receive 11 million bits of sensory information every second, of which, only 50% of which we can process consciously. We are all, neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals, processing sensory stimulation differently. But neurodiverse thinkers often can be over or under stimulated by factors in their environment. Elements such as lighting, sound, texture, smells, temperature, air quality or overall sense of security all play a role in how we feel and function in a space. Understanding how we are impacted and how to design spaces to accommodate a diverse population is critical to the creation of successful, welcoming environments. Hence the work that Annemarie and the team at Sensory Intelligence® are doing is so important to helping us on that journey”
Kay Sargent
Senior Principal | Director of Work Place - HOK
How the Sensory Audit™ works?
- Discovery & needs analysis — we meet with key stakeholders to understand your context, challenges and objectives before the audit begins
- On-site audit — our team conducts a structured on-site assessment combining direct environmental measurements, observations and staff discussions across all 60 categories
- Report compilation — a comprehensive report is prepared, including benchmark scores, an executive summary, detailed findings and a prioritised recommendations framework
- Management feedback session — we present findings, unpack results in depth and align with leadership on strategic priorities and implementation ownership
- Implementation support — we support next steps through Sensory Matrix™ individual assessments, targeted team workshops and ongoing consulting where required
Is your workspace supporting your people or working against them?
Every Sensory Audit™ begins with a discovery conversation — tell us about your organisation, and we’ll propose a tailored approach.
Conducted on-site by qualified occupational therapists · Comprehensive report and management feedback session included · Recommendations prioritised by impact and ease of implementation
