Occupational therapists can help children with sensory processing differences to regulate and integrate sensory information. Through sensory-based interventions, Occupational therapist can help children improve the processing and integration of sensory inputs in order to gain appropriate adaptive responses to everyday stimuli. As a result, the approach not only improves the child’s ability to engage in daily activities but also enables them to navigate their environment effectively.
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Why is Sensory Integration Needed?
Many children with sensory integrative problems develop a tendency to avoid or reject simple sensory/motor challenges, responding with refusals or tantrums when asked to perform.
If this becomes a long-term pattern of behavior, the child may miss important experiences, such as playing games with peers that are critical in building feelings of competency, mastering a wide repertoire of useful skills, and developing flexible social strategies.
Children can present with different types of sensory integration difficulties (also known as sensory processing difficulties):
- Hyper (over) sensitive
- Fear of heights
- Dislike of touch experiences eg. nail cutting, messy play, hair cutting
- Dislike of loud and sudden sounds
- Avoidance of playground equipment (swings and slides)
- Hypo (under) sensitive
- Appears to have no fear or doesn’t feel pain
- Seeks movement or touch opportunities (fidgets, rocks, runs about, leans on peers)
- Mouths or chews things
- Poor attention to the environment or people around
- Motor Planning (Praxis)
- Appears clumsy
- Difficulty creating movement ideas
- Difficulty planning and executing new movements
- Poor posture
- Slouches at desk
- Fidgets/difficulty sitting in one position for an extended period
- Impact on fine motor coordination & ball skills
- Poor balance
Sensory integration provides occupational therapists with a framework for assessing and treating children who present the difficulties outlined above.
Our Goals for Sensory Integration
The primary goal and purpose of the sensory integration unit would be to provide comprehensive SI services, primarily to children with the aim of making our clients independent in their life roles. Sensory integration provides occupational therapists with a framework for assessing and treating children who present the difficulties outlined above.