Sensory integration (SI) refers to how we process and use the information from our senses. Our senses (touch, taste, sound, sight and olfactory) work together to give us a picture of our surrounding world and our place in it.

People with Sensory Integration Dysfunction, or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) experience essentially a “traffic jam” that inhibits them to understand the incoming sensory experiences appropriately.

For example, a child who has a hard time integrating touch may avoid what he perceives as unpleasant touch experiences such as getting his hands messy with paint, chalk, or glue. On the other hand, another child may crave touch input and actively seek it out.

The inability to integrate their senses causes challenges in countless everyday tasks. Behavior problems, anxiety, depression, clumsiness, and inability to relate with others can all be due to SI dysfunction.

The following are some common signs/red flags of SI dysfunction:

• Over-sensitive to touch, noises and/or smells or other people
• Breaks toys
• Bumps into others; misjudging personal space
• Tendency to fall often
• Irritable when being dressed; uncomfortable in clothes
• Unable to identify dangerous situations
• Refuses to go to anyone but mom or dad
• Refuses to eat certain foods
• Avoids getting dirty (may use fingertips as opposed to whole hand to grasp things due to texture)
• Resists cuddling, arches away when held (infants and toddlers)
• Difficulty making friends
• Clumsy; poor motor control; weak; poor handwriting
• Constantly moving, may not get dizzy even after excessive spinning
• Unaware of pain
• Fearful of heights; may not be able to jump off curb without excessive fear.

Children with SPD are often intellectually gifted; their brains are just wired differently. They require adaptive learning to how they process their sensory information to make accurate sense of their surroundings.

At SINEWS our goal is to help your child integrate their senses in a meaningful, fun way so that he/she may behave in a more functional manner and can take part in the normal activities of childhood. It is important to note that, although clinical one-on-one therapy with the child is essential, your child’s therapy will be very family-centered. Parents will work with the therapist to learn more about their child’s sensory needs. A sensory “diet” may be created for at home use to continue providing opportunities for increased function in multiple settings. Together, automatic and appropriate responses to sensation can occur so that daily occupations can be performed and social skills fostered.

For more information on the Sensory Integration problems and treatments, the following website is a reliable reference: http://www.spdfoundation.net/ot.html