What is Sensory Integration?
In every second of life our brain is bombarded with hundreds of bits of information (visual, tactile, sensual, olfactory, auditory, sensory). Messages that the nervous system receives let us know about the state of our body and the environment that surrounds us.
Sensory integration is an organization of stimuli that will be used later. Our brain arranges all the information that reaches us so that a person can move, learn, and behave accordingly.
The brain locates, sorts and organizes informations from senses like a policeman directing traffic.
When the flow and organization of stimuli are appropriate, the brain uses them to act and learn. When the flow of stimuli is disorganized, we can’t move how we want to and we stuck in the traffic..
During sensory integration therapy, children learn to understand and organize sensory information.
What are the symptoms that may indicate a sensory integration disorder?
- Child is moving awkwardly, can’t recognise right-left,
- Child does not like sports games, has trouble catching balls,
- Anxiety or avoidance of play on slides, swings, ladders,
- Motion sickness,
- Delayed speech development
- Excessive sensitivity to certain sounds (eg home appliances, storms, baby crying, screaming)
- Difficulties in learning to write (eg having problems with writing from the black-board, confusing similar letters, eg “b” and “d”),
- Difficulties with reading
- Excessive or insufficient mobility,
- Difficulties with concentration and attention, remembering
- Negative reactions to touch stimuli
- Child does not like to walk barefoot, does not like hair washing, combing, teeth cleaning, nail clipping, creams, etc.
- Intolerance of certain foods due to their structure or narrow dietary repertoire, the appearance of a reflex emotion when consuming certain meals.
What is the Sensory Intergation therapy?
Sensory integration therapy aims to help the child in learning how to respond adequately to the stimuli (both external and internal – from the body). With proper exercise and play by the therapist, the child improves motor skills, coordination, concentration, self and body awareness, supports cognitive, social and emotional development. A child during therapy is taught through play, which provides the child with a controlled amount of sensory impressions from various modalities – from atrial, proprioceptive, tactile, visual, olfactory and auditory systems. Tasks are tailored by the therapist to the individual needs of the child. New skills acquired in the classroom improve their self-esteem.
Our specialists work with children with attention deficit disorder, emotional problems, hyperactivity disorders, ADHD, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, mental retardation, delayed speech development, dyslexia and aphasia.
If you notice any of the above symptoms in your child, consult your sensory integration therapist and ask about DIAGNOSIS for the development of sensory integration processes.