Interventions to Support Sensory Processing Lake Michigan Academy Amy Barto, Executive Director Grace Joldersma, Support Services Coordinator.

Interventions to Support Sensory Processing

Lake Michigan AcademyAmy Barto, Executive Director

Grace Joldersma, Support Services Coordinator

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, "Normal sensory integration is central to learning to express words and thought, which in turn affects how a child learns social skills. . .

. . . These cognitive and communication activities involve a complex range of subtle behaviors such as listening and reacting, interpreting body language and non-verbal cues, and responding to and anticipating the emotions of others. . . .

. . . Sensory integration processing also affects children’s ability to mentally and physically organize themselves for making orderly transitions from one activity to another."

Most Often Identified Challenges

• Autism

• Asperger’s

• SID: Sensory Integration Disorder/Dysfunction

• SPD: Sensory Processing Disorder

Other Challenges Connected to Sensory Processing

• ADHD• PDD• CAPD: Central Auditory Processing Disorder• Learning Disabilities• Stroke & other Brain Injuries• Visual Impairment• Hearing Impairment• Anxiety• OCD

What’s It Like?

• Sensory Overload Simulation– http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=BPDTEuotHe0&feature=related

• Sensory Overload– http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=X_6s4O1cWag&feature=related

Sensory Systems

• Sight

• Sound

• Smell

• Taste

• Touch

• Visual• Auditory• Olfactory• Sense of Taste• Tactile

• Vestibular

• Propioceptive

Signs of Visual Dysfunction

• Squinting

• Avoidance of printed images

• Neglectful of detail

• Bumping into things

• Frequent headaches

• Rubbing eyes

• Awkward coordination

• Test for Visual Perception– http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Ahg6qcgoay4&feature=related

Visual Focused Interventions

• Visual-Spatial Activities– Handwriting Without

Tears– Fine motor

• Light Sensitivity– Color overlays– Dim lighting

• Support in Visual Arts

• Visual Discrimination– Find & Search– Shape Sorter type

activities

• Visual Coordination– Bal-a-Vis-X– Tetris & Some Video

Games– Mazes

Signs Of Auditory Dysfunction

Hypersensitive:

Covers ears and startled by loud sounds, distracted by sounds not noticed by others, fearful of toilets flushing, hairdryers and/or vacuums, resists going to loud public places (even cafeteria at school).

Hyposensitive:

May not respond to verbal cues, loves loud music and making noise, may appear confused about where a sound is coming from, may say "what?" frequently.

from http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-integration-dysfunction-symptoms3.html

Auditory Focused Intervention

• Sound Muffling Headphones

• Paraphrasing Directions

• Consistent Use of Visual Cues for Directions

• Sound Health CD’s

• The Listening Program

• Therapeutic Listening

Signs Of Tactile DysfunctionHypersensitive:

Refuses or resists messy play, resists cuddling and light touch, dislikes kisses, rough clothes or seams in socks, resists baths, showers, or going to the beach.

Hyposensitive:

Doesn't realize hands or face are dirty, touches everything and anything constantly, may be self-abusive, plays rough with peers, doesn't seem to feel pain (may even enjoy it!)

from http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-integration-dysfunction-symptoms3.html

Tactile Focused Interventions

• Towel before getting in shower.

• Macaroni “sand”

• Elastic waist pants (or skirts for girls)

• Flip flops; crocs; slip on shoes

• Worry stone

• Fabric swatches

• Consistent physical play

Signs Of Vestibular Dysfunction

Hypersensitive:

Avoids playground and moving equipment, fearful of heights, dislikes being tipped upside down, often afraid of falling, walking on uneven surfaces, and avoids rapid, sudden or rotating movements.  

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Hyposensitive:

Craves any possible movement experience, especially fast or spinning, never seems to sit still, is a thrill seeker, shakes leg while sitting, loves being tossed in the air, never seems to get dizzy, full of excessive energy.

from http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-integration-dysfunction-symptoms3.html

Vestibular Focused Intervention

• Swinging

• Spinning

• Stability Ball

• Balance Board

Sense of movement; input from the inner ear about equilibrium, gravitational changes, movement experiences and position in space.

• Ballet

• Martial Arts

• Bal-a-Vis-X

• Rocking Chair

Signs Of Proprioceptive

DysfunctionUnder-responsive:

Constantly jumping, crashing, and stomping, loves to be squished and bear hugs, prefers tight clothing, loves rough-housing, and may be aggressive with other children.

Over-responsive:

Difficulty understanding where body is in relation to other objects, appears clumsy, bumps into things often, moves in a stiff and/or uncoordinated way.

Difficulty Regulating Input:

Doesn't know how hard to push on an object, misjudges the weight of an object, breaks objects often and rips paper when erasing pencil marks.

from http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-integration-dysfunction-symptoms3.html

Propioceptive Focused Intervention

• Resistance Bands• Stability Balls• Theraputty• Steamroller

The sense of "position"; input from the muscles and joints about body position, weight, pressure, stretch, movement and changes in position.

• Chewing• Sucking• Heavy Work Activitie

s

Joint Compression Therapy

Some Last Thoughts….

• Sensory Processing impacts all learners.

• Movement boosts learning efficiency.

• For sensory complex children, the wrong stimulation can as detrimental as none.

• For sensory complex children, be sure to consult with an OT.

Resources

• http://sensory.ning.com/

• Sensory Processing Disorder.com

• www.sensorysmarts.com

• Neurodiversity.com

• http://www.neurodiversity.com/sensory_integration.html

• Literacy of Teaching

Text Resources

• Aron, Elaine. The Highly Sensitive Child. 2002.

• Biel, Lindsey. Raising a Sensory Smart Child. 2005.

• Horowitz, Lynn. Helping Hyperactive Kids: A Sensory Integration Approach. 2007.

• Smith, Karen. The Sensory Sensitive Child: Practical Solutions for Out-of-Bounds Behavior. 2004.