Sensory Processing & Sensory Strategies Sara Androyna,COTAL Emily Wolanin, OTRL Sensory Processing

● Means by which the brain receives, detects and integrates incoming sensory information ● Organization of sensation for use ● Associate, interpret information ● Act on information via adaptive response Sensory Processing Sensory Integration Theory

Senses ● Vestibular ● Proprioceptive ● Tactile ● Visual ● Auditory ● Gustatory ● Olfactory Adaptive Response

● Appropriate action ● Organization response to input ● Contribute to neural processing Cultural/Historical Changes in Lifestyle

1940’s One room schoolhouses, walked to school, chores for survival (shoveling snow, cutting grass, splitting wood.

1950’s Stayed outside breakfast to dinner, riding bikes, playing hopscotch, jacks, board games, baseball games.

1960’s Kindergarten and Headstart begin teaching curriculum that used to be in first grade. The world came into the homes with tv, records and magazines.

1970’s Increase in the number of cars, shopping malls and supermarkets. Local stores close. Need for childcare skyrockets as women move out of the home workplace. Outdoor independent play decreases due to time constraints and safety Cultural/Historical Changes in Lifestyle

1980’s Preschool children are socialized in institutional settings like Gymboree. Recess is shortened to increase academic time. Many children enter after school programs or are latch key kids

1990’s Curriculum focused on state/national exams. Children unable to play “itsy bitsy spider” due to underdeveloped hand muscles. Hand held video game usage increases. Children reacting to stressors with school violence. Record childhood depression and mental health disorders. Recommending babies not sleep on their tummies but on sides or backs.

2000’s+ Children as early as 2 being prescribed ADHD meds. Increase in baby carrier use to transport children. Recess removed from many schools as “unnecessary”. Development and usage of social media to entertain and socialize with peers. Large increase in autism. Velcro replaces buttons, zippers and ties to fasten clothing. Building Blocks of a Responsive Integrated Sensory System

Level IV - Academic Readiness, Cognition, Organized Behavior, Self Control, Self Esteem

Level III - Perception, Eye Hand Coordination, Purposeful Activity

Level II - Body Awareness, Bilateral Coordination, Hand Preference, Motor Planning, Postural Control

Level I - Sensory Information, Traditional Senses , Special Senses Vestibular

● Head stability ● Muscle tone ● Postural control ● Body awareness ● Movement in space ● Auditory processing Proprioception

● Sense of muscles and joints ● Body awareness Tactile

● Touch ● Pain and temperature ● Discrimination ● Fine motor skills ● Bonding ● Textures of food Visual

● Motor skills ● Safety awareness Auditory

● Hearing ● Following directions ● Communication Gustatory/Olfactory

● Taste and Smell ● Food preferences Sensory Integrative Dysfunction

● Sensory Modulation ● Sensory based movement disorder ○ Postural-ocular movement disorder ○ Bilateral integration and sequencing ● Dyspraxia Sensory Modulation

● Aversion to sensory stimuli ● Tactile defensiveness ● Gravitational insecurity ● Hypersensitivity ● Hyposensitivity Postural-Ocular Movement Disorder

● Poor posture ● Low muscle tone ● Poor postural movements ● Poor eye hand coordination Bilateral Integration and Sequencing

● Poor postural control ● Poor ocular control ● Poor eye hand coordination ● Inability to use both side of the body ○ jumping jacks ○ skipping ○ running ○ butting shirt ● Poor sequencing Dyspraxia (somatodsypraxia)

● Poor motor planning ● Clumsy ● Awkward ● Poor timing ● Poor endurance ● Poor FMC/GMC ● Poor OMC Principles of SI intervention

● Controlled sensory input ● Adaptive response ● Contributes to sensory integration ● Can be used in the future ● Centered on child ● Guided by therapist Intervention: Sensory Modulation

● Determine arousal level ● Monitor behaviors ○ Movement, cognitive, affective and physiological responses to sensory processing demands. ● Compare consistency of behaviors ● Monitor signs of sensory overload or shutdown ● Home program Outcome of Intervention

● Enhance sensory intake ● Meaningful activity ● Promote adaptive response ● Improve central nervous system functioning Key Ingredients

● “Just right” challenge ● Child directed ● Active involvement of child ● Stimulate more than one sensory system ● Safe ● Provide strategies