Sensory Integration

Modulation/ Regulation Problems

Modulation: Ability to respond appropriately to stimuli.

Modulation/ Regulation problems: HYPOreactive

Delay responses to sensory stimuli. Oblivious to touch, pain, smell, taste, sound,etc.

Modulation/ Regulation problems: HYPERreactive

Over reacts to sensory stimuli.

Tactile defensiveness: Avoidence to textures in clothing and food.

Auditory defensiveness: Holding hands over hears

Gravitational Insecurity: fear of leaving feet’s from the ground.

Sensory discrimination/ Perception problems

Difficulty differentiating one stimuli from another. “Can they differentiate? Can they discriminate?

*Visual perception problems: confuse “b” from the “d”

*Tactile perception problems: can’t differentiate a box from a square by touching

*Proprioceptive problems: Using too much or too little force. Ex: breaks toys/ writing too hard

Vestibular/Bilateral Problems

Vestibular controls posture and arousal. Do they have enough balance to free both hands?

Challenges: Riding a bike, cutting w/scissors and writing. Clumsiness and in coordination.

Praxis Problems

Dyspraxia: Difficulty w/ motor planning

Challenges: Clumsy/ awkward movements, knocking things down, sequencing and timing are difficult, difficulty imitating others.

Sensory seeking Problems

Seeking intense sensory stimulation

• Proprioceptive seeking: Stomping, jumping, intentionally bumping into objects/people.

• Tactile seeking: touching things/people excessively.

• Vestibular seeking: intense swinging w/o becoming dizzy.

HYPOSENSITIVITY APROACH

WAKE UP!: Arousal technique

Tickling with a feather, roller coasters, tactile/vestibular useful.

HYPERSENSITIVITY APPROACH

CHILL OUT! Organizing/ calming techniques:

A big hug, snugging in a blanket, propioception.

Grading to build tolerance

Calming sensation + alerting sensation help build tolerance.

SPECIFIC APPROACHES: VESTIBULAR TECNIQUES

*Use to increase/decrease defensiveness, arousal or organization

Swinging:

• Linear/ consistent = calming

• Fast/ unpredictable = alerting

*Dynamic sitting: therapy ball, inflatable disk

*Austronant program

Automatic Activation: Nausea and blaching > shift slowly to linear swings and increase propioception.

SPECIFIC APPROACHES: TACTILE + PROPIOCEPTION

Calming effect for sensory defensiveness, anxiety and increase arousal.

• Weighted vest

• Tactile incorporation into activities

• Squishes, massages and join compressions

• Wilbur get protocol (brushing)

PASSIVE TACTILE STIMULATION= more defensiveness

SPECIFIC APPROACHES: HYPERRESPONSIVE

Modify environment to build tolerance.

• Visual sensitivity: replace lights w/ halogen lights

• Auditory: sound absorbing walls

• Tactile: gradual introduction of tactile sensation

SPECIFIC APPROACHES: GRAVITATIONAL INSECURITY

Building tolerance and decrease fear to movement.

• Being with activities close to the ground

• Gradually move up and decrease physical support

SPECIFIC APPROACHES: DYSPRAXIA

• Verbal instructions

• Visual demonstration

• Physical A w/ motion

SPECIFIC APPROACHES: OTHER PROGRAMS

• Alert program: For self-regulating

• Social stories

• Sensory Diet: Daily plan to help the child to stay regulated

Consultation Role

Educational Role; WE DO NOT TREAT AS CONSULTANTS

Sensory Assessments

COMPS

COP

Ayres

SIPT

Sensory Inventory/ Sensory Profile