What is Sensory Integration?

Simply speaking, sensory integration is the ability to take in, sort out and connect information from the world around us. This process is controlled by our Central Nervous System (our nerves, our spinal chord and our brain). The information we take in comes through our senses. Our spinal chord and brain sort out and connect this information. In normal development, sensory integrative functions take place at an automatic level. In other words, you don't have to think about it. Just as our circulatory system controls our blood flow, our respiratory system controls our breathing, our digestive system breaks down food to give us energy, our sensory integrative system takes in the sensory messages from our senses, sorts out and connects the sensations in our brain so that we can use this information for appropriate responses. A well integrated nervous system is necessary for all of us. Without an efficient nervous system, we are not able to interact comfortably with the world around us. For most children, sensory integration develops in the course of ordinary childhood activties. But for some children, sensory integration does not develop as efficiently as it should. This can result in a number of problems in areas such as motor skill development, social interactions, behavior and academic functioning.

What does Sensory Integration do for us?

This sensory motor foundation equips us for living in two ways:

1. By providing a system for protection or survival
2. By allowing us to interact and learn from our environment.

What are the sensory systems?

Tactile: Tactile refers to touch. We have two types of touch receptors or channels in our bodies. One is called the protective system. This channel responds to light or unexpectsd touch. It helps alert our body to any stimuli that may be potentially dangerous to us. It is necessary for the survival of the individual. This is the system that is working when a bug lands on our arm and we swat at it or quickly move.

The other touch system is the discriminative touch system. That is, it responds to evironmental stimuli so that we can learn or gain information through contact with things in our enviroment. This system gives us information about the quality of stimuli, hard, soft, rough, smooth, velvety, etc. Through this channel we can "feel" the difference and learn discrimination.

It is necessary that these two systems be balanced and work together. It is necessary to protect ourselves from harm, on one hand, but interaction is necessary if we are also to enjoy and learn from our environment. Therefore, in a sensory integrative evaluation we are finding out:

1. Whether or not the child is uncomfortable with touch.
2. How well the child can discriminate between different types of touch.

Vestibular: In our inner ear lies our vestibular mechanism or balance center. Movement or changing the position of our head, sends messages to this center. It lets us know information about where our body is in space. It gives us information about such things as are we moving, or is the room moving? How fast are we going? Are we right side up or upside down? In the sensory integration evaluation, we determine whether the child is under or over sensitive to gravity and movement as well as how well the child processes the input from gravity and movement.

Proprioceptors: These receptors give us information from our muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. Therefore, they give us information about the position of our body parts. You don't have to "look" at them to know where they are, you just "know". An occupational therapy evaluation assesses the child's internal awareness of body parts and position.

Olfactory: This is our sense of smell. Smells sometimes will affect emotion, as well as alert us to possible dangerous situations.

Gustatory: This is the sense of taste.

Vision: Our eyes "see" for us. Although our visual skills are dependent on our ability to "see", we must be able to control our eyes effectively so that we may move our eyes without stress or strain. If our eye muscle control is poor, we may fatigue or skip letters, words, lines, etc., when reading. In the sensory integration evaluation, we may assess the child's eye muscle control as well as visual perceptual skills.

Auditory: Auditory is the process of hearing. Some people have difficulty with their auditory mechanisms-they do not hear "clearly". Adequate auditory processing is an important aspect of our interaction with our environment. Some people are more sensitive to noises than others. This over sensitivity may affect interactive and attentional behavior.

What are some signs of Sensory Integration Dysfunction

Overly sensitive to touch, movement, sights or sounds
Under-reactive to touch, movement, sights or sounds
Inability to unwind or calm self
Difficulty making transitions from one situation to another
Impulsive, lacking in self-control
Activity level that is unusually high or unusually low
Physical clumsiness or apparent carelessness
General delays in gross and fine motor skills
Delays in speech or language
Delays in academic achievement
Easily distracted
Social and/or emotional problems
Easily frustrated
Poor self concept

Typically, a child with a sensory integrative disorder will show more than one of the above signs.

What can be done?

If a child is suspected of having a sensory integrative disorder, an evaluation can be conducted by a qualified occupational therapist. Evaluation usually consists of standardized testing, interview and structured observations of responses to sensory stimulation, posture, balance, coordination and eye movements. After carefully analyzing test results and other assessment data along with information from other professionals and parents, the therapist will make recommendations regarding appropriate therapy.

If therapy is recommended, the child will be guided through activities that challenge his or her ability to respond appropriately to sensory input by making a successful, organized response.

Training of specific skills is not usually the focus of this kind of therapy. Adaptive physical education, movement education and gymnastics are examples of services that typically focus on specific motor skills training. Such services are important, but they are not the same as therapy using a sensory integrative approach.

Home programs and sensory diets are an integral part of the therapy process.One important aspect of therapy that uses a sensory integrative approach is that the motivation of the child plays a crucial role in the selection of the activities. Most children tend to seek out activities that provide sensory experiences most beneficial to them at that point in development. It is this active involvement and exploration that enable the child to become a more mature, efficient organizer of sensory information.

Where do I go?

CTG has several qualified occupational therapists to assess your child's sensory processing and motor skills. We administer the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests and other standardized testing. All of our therapists have extensive knowledge of Sensory Integration.

For further information call us at 913-383-9014 or contact us at ctg@childrenstherapygroup.org

A good book on Sensory Integration is The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A.