Which term describes the process by which information from a damaged sensory channel is replaced by information entering via other sensory channels?

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Sensory substitution is about using intact senses to carry the information that would normally come from a damaged sense, so a person can still perceive the environment through alternative channels. When one sense fails, the brain can learn to interpret signals from other modalities—like hearing or touch—so that environmental information (like location, obstacles, or texture) is still accessible. In orientation and mobility, this is seen when someone relies on auditory cues, cane feedback, or tactile devices to understand surroundings in place of vision, or when devices convert visual scenes into sounds or tactile sensations to convey the same spatial information. This idea is distinct from environmental flow (how the environment changes and guides movement), affordances (what actions an environment supports), or motor learning (improving physical skills through practice).