Understanding the Benefits of Sensory Integration Therapy
Sensory integration therapy is meant for people who have a sensory integrative dysfunction or for those who have problems when it comes to understanding a sensory input. This would include children who have autism spectrum disorder or ASD.
An occupational therapist will be able to help children and adults in getting or regaining the skills that are important for performing activities of everyday life. They also help patients in recovering, developing, maintaining and improving the skills which are needed to get a fulfilling and successful life. Growing areas of clinical work in pediatrics is actually for treating children with sensory processing difficulties.
Sometimes, there’s an overlooked condition on the fact that more children are showing sensory processing disorder or SPD. such disorder actually is known as sensory integration disorder which also happens for those having difficulties in taking in as well as in interpreting sensory information and react to such information. This actually is a complex neurological condition which affects the way sensations are experienced and is processed. If the sensory signals are not organized to the right responses, the daily routine and activities of a child will become disrupted.
The sensory system which is a component of the nervous system pass the message out of the physical world. Such messages in fact gives out a sense of who we truly are and to where we are when it comes to space. If our sensory system is intact, the foundation skills on development and high level learning is present. But if there is a miscommunication between such message and on how this is processed where it could impact the developmental growth of a child and its functional independence.
Sensory problems usually accompanies autism. Sensory sensitivities to such symptoms which helps in diagnosing autism. A good example is that a lot of people are hyper-sensitive for fluorescent or bright lights and others find some sounds, taste and smell that’s overwhelming. There are some types of touch like stiff shirt on the skin to where it can feel very uncomfortable.
An occupational therapist will evaluate children in knowing which stimuli they are really sensitive with and they will then work with every child and their family in developing some coping mechanisms and treatment plans. They then use sensory integration approach that is play-based and focused on providing safe environments for children in order for them to become exposed to different stimuli.
Sensory integration therapy is in fact used in order to help children in learning and in using all the senses together which is sight, taste, smell, touch and their hearing. It is likewise claimed that such therapy will help improve the challenging behaviour which has been caused by difficulties in processing sensory information.
Children are in fact the biggest benefactors of sensory integration therapy, but caregivers and parents will also get benefits. Through giving out coping strategies and in treating such condition, the therapist could help children in overcoming such problems initially, which may seem insurmountable. Implementing such treatment will help children in building mental and physical frameworks in their nervous system so they could perceive sensory input, regulating the responses and in understanding the significance of sound, movement and texture.