Sensory Integration
What is Sensory Integration (SI) or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)?
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The senses generally include the typical senses but also include two other newly identified senses that are emerging in scientific research. The first newly identified sense is the vestibular system. This refers to the structures within the inner ear that detect movement and changes in the position of the head. This sense helps us with all movement and keeps us from losing our balance and falling. The other newly identified sense is proprioception. This sense refers to the muscles, joints, and tendons, which let us know where our body is in space. This sense allows our body position to automatically adjust in different situations such as sitting in a chair properly and stepping off a curb smoothly. Another dimension of proprioception is praxis or motor planning. This is the ability to plan and execute complex motor tasks such as riding a bike, playing a sport, and manipulating objects.
When Sensory Integration Dysfunction is apparent, there may be gross and fine motor coordination issues, speech/language delays, academic under achievement, impulsivity, distractibility, lack of planning, difficulty adjusting to new or different situations, and therefore the child may react with behaviors such as frustration, aggression, or withdrawal. Sensory Integration is a treatment approach provided by a specialized occupational therapist certified in sensory integration. Sensory Integration techniques are utilized to assist the child in functioning in multiple settings.