FollowSensory Processing Disorder and Therapy
Sensory processing disorder is a disability that can stand on its own but it can also be seen in other conditions such as Tourette syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, nonverbal learning disability, ADHD, learning disability and down syndrome. This condition affects various things in children such as learning, attention and daily living. Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder and Therapy used to teach the person how to react to certain stimuli will help them to learn how to process these thoughts.
Photo credit- Keystone Pediatric
What Is Sensory Processing
In the majority of people, some things happen automatically without people thinking about them. These things not only include body position and movement but also things with the senses like smell, touch, taste, vision and hearing. Our nervous system gives information about all these things to our brains. From there, that information is utilized to understand what is going on with not only our bodies but our surroundings as well.
Sensory integration is the method of how the brain processes and uses all of this information. When it comes to sensory processing, there are a few stages involved including registering, orientating, organizing, interpreting and responding.
Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory processing disorder is when the brain has issues not only processing the sensory information but using this information as well. There are three categories of sensory processing disorder: sensory modulation disorder, sensory discrimination disorder and sensory-based motor disorder.
Who’s At Risk
In 2004, the American Journal of Occupational Therapy did a study on sensory processing disorder and found that between 5% and 15% of kids has some type of sensory processing disorder. This disorder can be inherited but environmental factors may be involved as well. It is also seen in highly gifted children.
The Signs
Some symptoms of sensory processing disorder include being accident-prone, being either over-alert or under-alert and having low self-esteem. Other signs also include having a stooping posture, having troubles learning new movements or skills, having social or emotional troubles, being very sensitive to movements, touch, tastes, sights or sounds and having troubles sitting still.
Therapy Activities
With therapy for sensory processing disorder, kids will engage in activities that are designed to challenge their ability to respond the right way to sensory input. Therapy activities include tactile stimulation along with proprioceptive and vestibular stimulation.
