What is Sensory Processing?
This is taken from a Fact Sheet provided to me by Knox Community Health Service
*Children recieve a plentitude of information about the world around them through their senses.
There are 5 external senses including sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch. There are also two main internal senses (vestibular and proprioceptive) that tell us about movement and body position.
*Sensory Integration is the ability to take in, sort out, process and make use of sensory information. When it happens normally, it allows children to make an appropriate response to the demands of their environment.
*Sometimes the brain has difficulty effectively sorting, understanding and organising sensory messages. When this happens, sensory information becomes jumbled - it is like a traffic jam within the brain. This is termed Sensory Integration Dysfunction.
*When a child is having difficulties processing sensory information, we primarily see it through their behaviour. Common indicators of sensory integration dysfunction include sensory seeking, sensory avoiding, difficulties with coordination, difficulties of daily living and difficulties with learning (eg, attention and concentration).
Sensory seeking children look for extra sensory information from one or more senses which helps them remain alert. Sensory seekers are often 'on the go' and have difficulty settling for quieter activities. They may be excessively fidgety, put objects in their mouths, touch excessively, make noise for noise sake and seek out intense sensations like crashing their bodies into furniture or objects.
*Sensory avoiding children are overly sensitive to incoming sensory information. They are generally more anxious and may become distressed by light or unexpected touch, dislike hair brushing and washing, dislike certain noises like the vacuum cleaner or trucks and be particularly fussy with food.
*Sensory avoiding children have a tendency to become overwhelmed and will often hit out, withdraw, retreat or become overly emotional.
*It is common for children who have sensory processing difficulties to seek out some sensory information and avoid others.
What can be done?
Plenty! Paediatric occupational therapists diagnose sensory integration dysfunction and provide individual treament to address these issues. They will also suggest modifications to educational environments such as preschool and school, to help your child learn more effectively in these settings.
The earlier intervention takes place for sensory issues, the better the outcomes.
