Sensory integration refers to the ability to organize the information received from the senses. There are the widely known five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. Others include proprioception, vestibular and tactile. Proprioception refers to the sense of how much force or pressure a person applies with his touch or movements. Vestibular sense refers to a person's ability to discern where he is in space and to balance. Tactile sense refers to a person's reactions to various textures. A child with sensory integration dysfunction has difficulty processing information received from his senses. A number of therapies can address SI dysfunction.
Therapy Defined
Therapy to address sensory integration involves stimulating the senses in a controlled environment and structured manner. Sensory integration therapy is most often performed by occupational therapists. Such therapy involves using structured activities to aid clients in overcoming or learning to cope with challenges related to sensory integration dysfunction. Many of the professional and home-based methods of therapy for young and older children are very similar. Nancy Mucklow, author of "The Sensory Team Handbook," contends that therapies for older children and teens, however, are more effective when not perceived by the patient as "embarrassing, icky, babyish, or awkward." (This determination is subjective and will vary based on the age, disposition and attitude of the individual child.
Vestibular
A child with sensory integration dysfunction may have difficulty determining where his body is in space and with retaining his balance. This type of dysfunction has to do with the position of the head, since a child's sense of balance is primarily controlled by the labyrinth, located in the inner ear. Therapies may include exercises that involve swinging while simultaneously throwing or picking up objects. Other therapies might involve mimicking the movements of the therapist as he leans in various directions.
Tactile
Tactile dysfunction can be particularly challenging. A child may become very irritated by certain sensations produced by the feel of certain fabrics or even touches from other people. Therapies to address tactile issues include placing the hand into a box of beans and filtering out other objects, such as a rubber ball. Therapy strategies may also focus on receiving and giving touch. A therapist may touch the child's hands, shoulders, feet or back in an effort to slowly acclimate him to the associated sensations. The use of hand paints, clay and other objects may also be employed.
Proprioception
A child with sensory integration dysfunction may have a difficult time determining the appropriate amount of pressure to apply for simple tasks. A therapist may employ tactics that include pushing and pulling objects. He may also engage the patient in appropriate forms of touch and tugging to help him learn to process the sensations he is feeling while discussing the amount of pressure that is being applied.
Sports
Parents and therapists may also use a variety of social-based activities to help older children with sensory integration dysfunction. Some common tools include martial arts or participation in organized sports. It may be important to make sure that coaches and perhaps some other parents are made aware of the child's situation. Appropriate levels of activity will have to be determined on an individual basis through observation and trial and error. The stimulation to balance, touch, pressure and muscle memory involved in such activities along with a positive and affirming environment can greatly benefit some children with sensory issues.
Professional Help
In most cases, the child and parents will benefit greatly from the advice of an occupational therapist. The therapist can provide important feedback and modeling to parents and coach them on practices they can employ in the home to further aid their child.
References
- Children's Disabilities Info: Sensory Integration Activities and Accommodations
- Family Education: What is Sensory Integration
- Cerebral Palsy Discoveries: Sensory Integration Therapy
- Learning Rx: Sensory Integration Activities
- National Institutes of Heath: Balance Disorders
- Therapeutic Life Skills: Sensory Integration Dysfunction
- Free Dictionary: Occupational Therapy
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