Sensory integration disorder, formally known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), is the term used to describe an error in the way the nervous system receives and responds to sensory input. A person who has SPD may have trouble performing activities of daily living because sensory information is not interpreted correctly and the resulting response is not appropriate for the situation. If SPD is left untreated, depression, anxiety, clumsiness and behavioral problems can result. Important components of an SPD treatment include a sensory diet, adequate water intake and proper nutrition.
Sensory Integration
Sight, smell, touch, sound, taste, vestibular and proprioceptive inputs interact to create a sensory picture of the world. The vestibular system control's the body's sense of movement and balance, and proprioception is the body's sense of itself in space. It is the collaboration of these senses that defines sensory integration. The loss of one sense can increase the acuity of another, which is exemplified in the case of a blind person with an exceptional sense of touch. This sensory interaction can also disrupt sensory integration when one sense is hypersensitive or hyposensitive and causes discomfort, as in the case of someone with SPD.
Sensory Diet
A sensory diet parallels that of a nutritional diet; it refers to an activity plan that supplies the amount and type of sensory input that a person afflicted with a sensory integration problem needs. Some examples include jumping on a trampoline before getting on the school bus to ensure calm behavior while on the bus, or eating crunchy cereal and using a motorized toothbrush to receive oral stimulation. A sensory diet is highly individualized. Consult an occupational therapist for a personalized sensory diet plan.
Water
Water comprises 45 to 75 percent of the body and 90 percent of the brain. Brain function is highly dependent on a continual supply of water in the diet. Water is crucial for successful electrical transmissions, such as the nervous system transmissions that relay sensory information to the brain. Water is also important for the maintenance of neuron membrane polarity. Insufficient water can reduce membrane polarity, which can damage nervous system function. Nervous system dysfunction can contribute to the development of sensory integration problems.
Nutrition
Protein and fat help form cell membranes and important support structures involved in neurotransmission. It is therefore important to consume healthy fats, such as olive oil and avocados, and complete protein sources that contain all essential amino acids. Carbohydrates are also an important part of the diet, as they provide glucose, the preferred fuel source of the brain. Neurophysiologist Carla Hannaford, Ph.D., states in her book "Smart Moves: Why Learning is Not All in Your Head" that very high sugar consumption can lead to yeast overgrowth. This yeast may be capable of producing alcohol in the stomach, which then inhibits the growth, development and function of the frontal lobe, perhaps causing the symptoms of SPD. Dietary sugar restriction may improve sensory integration.
References
- Sherry Olin, OTR; Boulder Valley School District; Boulder, Colorado
- "Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head"; Carla Hannaford, Ph.D.;1995
- "Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight"; Sharon Heller, Ph.D.; 2002
