Sensory Integration is the ability for our body to organize the sensory information that it receives in order to appropriately and efficiently respond to everyday ordinary situations in natural environments. Currently, we acknowledge, the following senses: vision, smell, taste, hearing, touch, vestibular sense, proprioception, and interoception.
As occupational therapists we emphasize the importance of using a sensory integration approach due to the significance it has on developmental, cognitive, academic, and emotional growth. Sensory Integration provides children with the ability to regulate themselves for the purpose of demonstrating calm and adaptive behaviors. If calming behaviors are achieved, the ability to attend, concentrate, respond appropriately, and to engage in age-appropriate functional activities increases. When adaptive responses are accomplished, children successfully overcome some of the internal and/or external challenges experienced.
Common difficulties experienced in natural environments may include:
- Clumsiness and poor postural control
- Difficulty remaining calm: constantly running, touching objects, and jumping with no apparent purpose
- Emotional outbursts/ ‘tantrums’
- Poor attention
- Social avoidance/difficulties
- Impulsivity
- Unusual level of arousal (passive vs. active)
- Poor tolerance to food textures
- “Picky eater”
- Poor tolerance to grooming activities (cutting nails, brushing hair, brushing teeth)
- Difficulty crossing to/from two different heights/surfaces
- Poor tolerance to clothes
- Poor tolerance to unstable equipment (swings/stairs/slide)
- Difficulty crossing to/from two different heights/surfaces
- Constantly falling and/or crashing objects
Benefits of multi-sensory approaches during therapy may include:
- Modulation of sensory systems
- Self-regulations
- Improved function in school, home and community
- Improved independence with activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Maximized functional ability to perform daily and recreational activities
- Enhanced motor planning ability
- Active involvement and exploration of environments
- Efficient organization of sensory information
Source: Northern Speech Services
