SENSORY INTEGRATIONCALLUM MACKINNON

PROGRAM COORDINATORCAMP LOYALTOWN

OUTLINE

• WHAT IS SENSORY INTEGRATION?• UNDERSTAND THE HUMAN SENSORY SYSTEMS.• UNDERSTAND AND DESCRIBE SENSORY INTEGRATIVE DYSFUNCTION

(HYPOSENSITIVITY AND HYPERSENSITIVITY).• THERAPIST INTERVENTIONS – EVIDENCE BASED.• REFERENCE TO CAMP.

• FUN ACTIVITY – HUMAN HUNGRY HIPPO GAME

WHAT IS S.I?

• SENSORY INTEGRATION IS THE PROCESS OF MAKING SENSE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE SENSORY INPUT RECEIVED FROM IT.

• AN ONGOING NEUROLOGICAL PROCESS IN YOU AND ME…24/7/365.

• DESCRIBE THREE ACTIVITIES OR TASKS THAT YOU DO THAT HELP YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.

• IDENTIFY THE SENSES THAT ARE AFFECTED FOR EACH ACTIVITY, AND WHY THESE ARE ‘ALERTING’ TO YOU.

• IDENTIFY THREE ACTIVITIES THAT YOU DO BEFORE BEDTIME TO CALM YOURSELF DOWN.

• IDENTIFY THE SENSES THAT ARE AFFECTED FOR EACH, AND WHY THESE THINGS ARE ‘CALMING’ TO YOU.

SENSORY SYSTEMS IN HUMAN BODY

• AUDITORY (HEARING)• VESTIBULAR (GRAVITY AND MOVEMENT)• PROPRIOCEPTIVE (MUSCLES AND JOINTS)• TACTILE (TOUCH)• VISUAL (SEEING) • THE OLFACTORY / GUSTATORY SYSTEM (TASTE)

(AYERS, 1989)

SENSORY INTEGRATIVE DYSFUNCTION (ALSO KNOWN AS SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER)

DIFFICULTIES PROCESSING SENSORY INFORMATION MANIFEST AS:

• THE INDIVIDUAL BEING OVER REACTIVE TO SENSORY INPUT (HYPERSENSITIVE)

• THE INDIVIDUAL BEING UNDER REACTIVE TO SENSORY INPUT (HYPOSENSITIVE)

SI DYSFUNCTION:THE AUDITORY SYSTEM

THE VESTIBULAR SYSTEM

THE PROPRIOCEPTIVE SYSTEM

THE TACTILE SYSTEM

THE VISUAL SYSTEM

THE OLFACTORY / GUSTATORY SYSTEM

THERAPIST INTERVENTIONS…

•THERAPIST PROVIDES CONTROLLED SENSORY INPUT THROUGH PLAY

•OVERALL AIM OF ORGANISING THE SENSORY SYSTEMS ‘FOR USE’

•ROLE OF CAREGIVERS IS CRUCIAL

•ACCOMMODATE UNDERLYING DIFFICULTIES WITH SENSORY PROCESSING THROUGH ADAPTING OCCUPATIONS OR THE ENVIRONMENT

EVIDENCE SHOWS…• SENSORY INTEGRATION LEADS TO PERSONAL GROWTH

• REMEDIATION OR ACCOMMODATION OF SENSORY INTEGRATIVE DYSFUNCTION

• LESS ‘DISRUPTING’ BEHAVIOURS

• IMPROVED COMMUNICATION

• IMPROVED LEARNING

EXAMPLES OF INTERVENTIONS…

• BALL GAMES• CLIMBING FRAME• HAND CLAPPING• USE OF TEXTURED TOYS• MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS• BOUNCING ON A TRAMPOLINE (MOST OF WHICH WE HAVE AT CAMP…)

CAMP

• DESPITE NOT OFFICIALLY USING SENSORY INTEGRATION AT CAMP IN PROGRAM AREAS, WE ARE STILL DOING A LOT OF THE MAIN POINTS ARE FROM THIS THEORY… (SENSORY ROOM, MUSIC, RECREATION).

• MANY CAMPERS WHO COME TO CAMP LOYALTOWN HAVE PROBLEMS PROCESSING SENSORY INFORMATION.

• STAFF SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHY CAMPERS ARE BEHAVING THE WAY THAT THEY ARE… E.G HATE BEING IN LARGE GROUPS, THINK MUSIC/ EA DANCE NOISES ARE REALLY LOUD…