WHAT IS SENSORY INTEGRATION? It is the ability to receive and accurately process information from our senses. We use this information to organize our behavior and successfully interact with our world.
MY CHILD SEES AND HEARS FINE, HOW CAN THERE BE AN ISSUE? You are right, we usually think about the 5 major senses; hearing, touch, taste, sight and smell but there are other senses that are essential to our survival. These systems include our Vestibular system which processes balance and movement and the Proprioceptive system which is our internal awareness of our joints and muscles in space. These two systems also give us the ability to modulate behavior and attention.
WHAT CAUSES THESE PROBLEMS? No one knows for sure. There does seem to be a link within family members. Parents will often tell us " this is like me." There is also a risk for kids that had some birth trauma, pregnant mothers that spent a lot of time on bed rest and children of international adoptions, chronic ear infections and sometimes we just don't know.
SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER: Is when one or more of our senses are NOT being processing efficiently. These children are receiving poor feedback from their sense of touch, body position, movement or gravity. They live in a world that is totally foreign to ours.
SENSORY PROBLEM
Overly reactive to touch, movement, sights or sounds.
SIGNS OR BEHAVIORS
Behavioral issues include distractibility, withdrawal when touched, avoid certain textures in their clothes or food. Fearful reaction to ordinary movement on the playground. Sensitive to loud noise or covering ears to normal input like the vacuum or public toilets.
Under-reactive to sensory stimulation
Coordination Problems
Delays in academic achievement or activities of daily living
Behavioral concerns
High or low activity (arousal) level
Seeks out intense sensory experience such as twirling, intentional falling, crashing, and bumping into walls. The child may fluctuate between under and over- responsiveness.
May have poor balance; may have difficulty learning new skills, appears awkward, stiff or clumsy.
May have problems in academic areas despite normal or above average intelligence. May appear generally disorganized. Can experience problems with handwriting, using scissors, tying shoes, buttoning clothes.
May be impulsive or easily distractible, have difficulty planning or have a disorganized approach to tasks. May have difficulty transitioning between tasks or adjusting to new ones. May get frustrated, aggressive, withdrawn or have difficulty in social situations.
May be constantly on the move or may be slow to get going may also fatigue easily
