What is Sensory Integration?
Sensory Integration is how our brain receives and processes sensory information so that we are able to do the things we need to do in our daily life.
The 8 senses: Sight, Hearing, Smell, Touch & Taste
The other 3 senses are proprioception, vestibular and interoception:
Proprioception
Our muscles and joints have small sensory receptors that tell our brain where our body parts are. Our brain then uses this information to plan movements so that you can co-ordinate your body.
Vestibular
In our inner ear we have tiny, fluid filled canals. This fluid moves every time we move our head. Receptors in these canals pick up the direction of movement and send this information on to our brain. Your brain uses this information to plan for movement and helps us maintain our balance.
Interoception
Interoception is how our body tells our brain what is going on inside our body, such as when we are hungry or feel full.
Sensory Discrimination
Sensory discrimination is the ability to correctly recognise and respond to sensory input appropriately. This tells us about our body and the world around us. For example, one needs to have adequate tactile discrimination to find a purse in one’s handbag without looking, or to know how tightly to hold your pencil and how hard to press when handwriting.
If someone has difficulty with proprioception or touch discrimination, they may seem clumsy, or use too much or too little force when doing things.
Sensory Modulation
Problems with sensory modulation occur when we either over-respond or under-respond to sensory input, which makes it difficult for us to engage in their environments appropriately. For example, if someone is over responsive to touch, they may be very aware of the label at the back of their top. If someone is under-responsive to touch, they may not notice if someone taps them on the shoulder.
Effective sensory modulation involves being able to ignore irrelevant sensory input, so that one does not become overloaded with information and feel distracted; and being able to notice the significant stimuli so that one can be focused on this information. In a classroom setting, effective sensory modulation will involve a child’s ability to focus on the lesson being taught by their teacher, whilst ignoring the sound of other children playing outside.
For some children sensory integration does not develop as efficiently as it should, presenting as problems developing, learning and regulating their impulses and behaviour, characteristically in either one of or a combination of the below patterns:
Sensory Avoider
• Withdraws
• Dislikes climbing and swinging
• Dislikes loud sounds
• Dislikes messy play and water
• Dislikes grooming and certain clothing
• Uncooperative
• Defiant
• Resistant to changes in routines
• Avoids shoes and socks
• Covers eyes to bright light
• Aversive responses to smells
• Fussy eating
• Frequent meltdowns
Sensory Seeker
• Always on the go
• Rarely sits still
• Fidgets
• Hyperactive
• Inattentive
• Plays roughly and forcefully
• Enjoys falling/crashing
• Often bites or mouths objects
• Often smells objects
• Walks on toes
Sensory Sensitive
• Tearful
• Resistant to changes in routine
• Covers eyes to bright light
• Low frustration tolerance
• Frequent meltdowns
• Aversive responses to smells
• Fussy eating
• Dislikes loud sounds
• Easily distractible
• Distress during messy play and water
• Dislikes grooming and certain clothing
• Dislikes wearing socks and shoes
• Dislikes climbing and swinging
• Fear of heights
Low Registration
• Inattentive
• Day dreamer
• Often lethargic
• Appears tired
• Slow working speed
• Misses instructions
• Appears to not hear what was said
• Well behaved
• Tires easily
Sensory Integration Therapy utilises the brain’s ability to adapt at a young age to facilitate more typical responses to sensory input for enhanced participation and emotional regulation.