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The Full Story

Sensory Integration

What is Sensory Integration (SI)?

The body’s ability to take in information from the environment through our senses. The input travels to our brain where it is organized so we can respond to it.

What is Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID)?

  • Difficulty to process and interpret sensory input received through the senses.

  • May also be called Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

What are the Main Sensory Systems?

  • Tactile: touch input

  • Proprioceptive: input taken in by the joints and muscles that tells us our body position

  • Vestibular: input regarding movement through space

  • Visual: input register through the eyes

  • Auditory: input registered through the ears

  • Gustatory—input registered through the mouth

What are Some of the Characteristics of SID?

  • Clumsiness

  • Difficulty maintaining attention to task

  • Unusually high or low energy level

  • Social/emotional issues

  • Behavioral challenges/”melt downs”

  • Impulsivity

  • High or low pain tolerances

  • Avoidance of activities that children typically enjoy (play in sand)

  • Abusive/rough play to self or others

  • Unusual eating habits

How Does Sensory Integration Dysfunction Affect Behavior?

Many children with SID present with behavioral challenges. The inability to process and organized sensory input can lead to a “fright, flight, or fight” response to specific uncomfortable stimuli. This stimulus may be non-harmful to us but to a child with SID the stimuli may be perceived as painful. The flight or fight response causes the child to either avoid the stimulus or fight in order to get away. The uncertainty of sensory input can lead to a child’s need to control his/her environment. This response may be displayed as a behavioral outburst or “meltdown”/ Structure and schedules can help children can help eliminate some of the uncertainty that leads to behavioral problems.

Children Respond Differently to Different Sensory Inputs

You may find your child refuses to touch playdough, but loves to swing. A child may crave sensory input in one-sensory system, but avoid it in another. You may also find that some days are better than others. The sensory system is very unique and every child processes sensory stimulation differently.

How can Occupational Therapy help with SID?

Occupational Therapy (OT) can provide a child with a “sensory diet” or a specific variety of activities that help the child grow and learn within their environment. OT’s main focus is to determine factors that will allow the child to participate in meaningful daily life activities.

What are some therapeutic strategies I can do at home to help my child cope with SID?

All activities should be recommended and monitored by a licensed therapist

  • Visual schedules – creating a picture schedule creates clear expectations for the day’s activities

  • Calming Strategies

    1. Listening to soft music

    2. Slow swinging, rocking, or gliding

    3. Use of a weighted blanket

    4. Warm bath

    5. Gently massaging back/arms/legs with lotion

  • Alerting strategies

    1. Sitting on ball to complete task

    2. Fast swinging/jumping/walking/running

    3. Drinking cold water

    4. Riding a bike

Sensory Integration Disorder FAQs

Will my child be able to learn to focus and become self-regulated independently?

Yes, by providing the appropriate sensory input throughout the day your child will learn to control his/her own behaviors. Contact ABC Pediatric Therapy, specifically an occupational therapist, for more ideas geared towards your child’s specific needs. We are here to answer any questions and to educate and empower you to help your child.

How is it helpful to have my child swing or jump during therapy?

Sensory gyms with swings, trampolines, and slides are used to help a child learn about their body and get comfortable with those experiences if they find it too overwhelming or they use the play equipment to help them calm down and increase their attention for more demanding tasks like reading, writing or math.

What is a sensory diet?

A sensory diet is specially designed list of activities that your therapist puts together for your child based on their needs throughout the day to help them with attention, controlling their arousal level, and to help them tolerate the many demands of their day. It will be unique to your child and your therapist may need to adjust it depending on your child’s response to the activities.

Can Sensory Processing Disorder cause delays in speech or in motor milestones like walking?

When a child is struggling to organize and make sense of his world he can become frustrated or less attentive to what is going on around him. As a result, they may have difficulty with expressing themselves or become fearful of exploring their world which is so vital in learning how their body works and how to use it in skills like crawling, walking, or riding a bike.

Is my child being behavioral or experiencing sensory processing deficits?

It could be both and may just be one or the other. You have to look at each situation and child differently. Consider whether there was an event or situation that may have been overwhelming for the child and they had a temper tantrum. Maybe they were at a family event with lots of people, noise, and food smells and this caused the child to get over-excited, have a tantrum or cry and try to hide. This could very likely be a response to their sensory system being over loaded. Of course, children will try to test the limits and have tantrums when you recognize that and enforce the expectations or limits. Talk with your occupational therapist, behavior therapist or psychologist to determine the best techniques to use. It is very likely that you will use a combination of both sensory strategies and behavioral modification techniques to get through each day.

When should my child start therapy?

If you ever see your child’s daily function being affected by his/her under or over responsiveness or if s/he is consistently showing other signs of potentially having SID, it may be beneficial to come into therapy. An Occupational Therapy evaluation will determine if therapy will help your child. We see children of all ages!

Through steady improvement, your child can attain a boost of confidence.

Help your child find new levels of independence with pediatric physical, occupational, or speech therapy in Gwinnett & Hall County, Georgia.

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