Come to your Senses

National Sensory Awareness Month is October 2007 Is parenting or teaching some children more difficult than you expected?

Do you have days so frustrating you don’t know where to turn? Do you know about Sensory Integration Dysfunction (DSI) sometimes called Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) ?

Sensory Integration develops through ordinary childhood activities for most children. The child’s motor planning ability is a natural outcome of the process, along with the ability to adapt to incoming sensations. However, in some children (possibly as many as 5-15%) sensory integration does not develop as efficiently as it should. When sensory processing is disordered, there may be problems in learning, development, and/or behavior. Difficulties in processing sensory information was studied and defined over thirty years ago, and yet many parents, teachers and physicians are not aware of the warning signs and symptoms. DSI/SPD is a complex disorder of the brain that affects both children and adults. They may feel overwhelmed by sensory information, such as touch, sound or movement, or they may seek more intense sensory input. These children and adults do not experience sensory information the same as others. Their brains interpret the information differently. They react differently or may experience delays in development and daily living skills. There are several forms of the disorder; each person may have a number of different behavioral and sensory patterns. Here are a few common signs/symptoms from infancy and early childhood:

• Difficulty eating, sleeping, toileting. • Under/Over responsive to sensory input (touch, light, sounds, textures, • movement) • Delayed speech and language, gross motor and/or fine motor skills • Unusually high or low activity levels, sometimes a combination • Difficulty transitioning from one activity/environment to another • Can have a meltdown for no apparent reason, often inconsolable • Difficulty with haircuts, bathing, brushing teeth, certain clothing

Here are a few common signs /symptoms from school-age through adulthood including some from above:

• Difficulty sitting still, fidgety, restless or in constant motion • Moves slowly and takes a long time to complete a tasks/homework • Seems clumsy, awkward and uncoordinated • Difficulty with handwriting, using scissors, buttoning, zipping, tying • Easily distracted, disorganized, poor attention span • Poor posture, slumps, leans while standing or sitting • Difficult behaviors, aggressive, emotional, irritable

If you suspect a child may have a sensory dysfunction, locate a pediatric occupational or physical therapist with specialized training in Sensory Integration. When children with sensory deficits are accurately identified, they can begin a program of occupational or physical therapy conducted in a sensory-rich environment, which helps these children to manage their responses to sensations and to behave in a more functional manner. Contact the American Occupational Therapist Association (AOTA) through their website: www.aota.org. To learn more visit: www.sensoryinformation.com and to read more visit: www.SIfocus.com