Author: Varsha Biyani | June 25, 2022
Sensory integration is a normal procedure in which our brain receives sensory information from our bodies and surrounding environment, interprets the sensory information and organises and integrates our purposeful responses. It is believed that sensory integration provides an important function for engagement in meaningful, health-promoting activities that support participation in life.
Sensory integration is important for everyday functions, such as academic skills,attention,auditory discrimination, body awareness, motor planning, emotional security,eye-hand coordination.
Children who struggle with sensory processing, Sensory Processing Disorder, which is a condition where multisensory integration is not adequately processed so they struggle to provide appropriate responses to the demands of the environment.
The signs of Sensory Processing Disorder are:
Difficulty analysing the information from the senses, inappropriate response to sensory stimulation, limited ability to respond to sensory information in an appropriate manner, difficulty using sensory information to plan and execute actions. To identify or evaluate The sensory processing disorder, here at Sethu we use the sensory profile 2. The sensory profile 2 is a family of assessments that evaluate sensory processing in children and also helps to identify the effect of sensory processing on functional participation in a child’s: home, school and community. It is a set of judgement-based caregiver or teacher questionnaires. The information collected helps formulate hypotheses for a child’s sensory issues. This questionnaire is completed by Parents and/or teachers (with regular contact with the child). The patterns of responses given by a parent or teacher or caregiver indicate the child’s sensory processing patterns.
Sensory Profile 2: What’s new?
In this sensory profile 2 all the infant, toddler, child, short, and school companions are combined in one kit, with one manual which has updated content on sensory issues and also has shorter administration time (reduced number of items except toddler form).
Sensory Profile 2 is divided into age criteria basis, as:
Infant sensory profile 2: Birth-6 months
Toddler sensory profile 2: 7-35 months
Child sensory profile 2: 3-14 years
Short sensory profile 2: 3-14 years
School companion sensory profile 2: 3-14 years
The forms have greater consistency between each other. Now, in Sensory Profile 2 we can record Infant and Toddler records on two separate forms. All this data helps in planning interventions, planning sensory issues.
Sensory Integration Therapy is designed to help children with sensory-processing problems cope with the difficulties they have processing sensory inputs. This therapy offers: 1.Increase in understanding 2.Assistance to parents and professionals 3.Intervention guidance. Thus, addressing all of the sensory systems focusing primarily on vestibular, tactile, and proprioceptive systems. The therapy also includes vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile activities that are designed to meet the child’s specific needs for development. These therapy sessions are ‘play-oriented’. An occupational therapist using sensory integrative procedures always provides fun for the child. The sit therapy room is full of appealing equipment: ramps to slide down, platforms to swing on, bolsters to climb over, inner tubes to jump into, trapezes to swing from.
In addition, sensory integration therapy is believed to increase a child’s threshold for tolerating sensory-rich environments, make transitions easier from one activity to another, and reinforce positive behaviors. A child who previously exhibited the problem of over or under-responsiveness to sensory stimulation may improve after sensory integration therapy. The child may show better emotional adjustment, and improved personal-social skills. Some may show improvement in language or daily routine tasks. It also uses therapies such as deep pressures, brushes, and weighted cuffs to calm the child.
Does your child have sensory issues? call Sethu for an assessment today.
Reach out to our People Team on +91-7720013749 or email us at [email protected] between 9 am to 5 pm on Tuesday to Saturday.