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- Thread starter Pembo
- Start date
This has been a hot topic in the clinic I work in. We provide OT, PT, and Speech Therapy to children, many of whom have sensory integration problems.
A good book to read is "The Out of Sync Child" and then "The Out of Sync Child has fun" They are written about sensory integration disorders and in intelligent language but not full of "jargon" They are written by Carol Stock Kranowitz and you can find them in Barnes and Noble.
From what I have gleaned from the Occupational Therapists I work with, Sensory Integration Disorder involves three basic systems: Tactile (touch), Vestibular (processing movement and balance) and Proprioceptive (body position, muscles and joints). The brain needs to be able to integrate these senses to allow a person to function.
Children with sensory integration dysfunction, are either over sensitve or under-sensitive to sensory stimulation. For kids who are over-sensitive, bright light, too much movement, too much noise, certain types of tastes and textures can send them into sensory overload, causing "behavior" problems. For kids who are under-sensitive, they may be clumsy, not know where they are in space, and seek stimulation.
At our clinic, the therapists work together to help the children with these difficulties get the stimulation they need, so that learning can take place. Some kids need to swing and move a lot during therapy. Other kids need weighted vests and jackets to calm them so they can focus. Some kids need to work with the flourescent lights out, etc.
Every kid with sensory integration dysfunction is different and it manifests itself in different ways. What we strive to do is really observe each child individually and analyze their behaviors to see what they are "seeking" or avoiding. For example, a girl with autism is constantly hitting. She hits people, the walls, the floors, etc. It is NOT a behavior, rather a symptom of sensory integration dysfunction in which this child is seeking proprioceptive and tactile input because she doesn't know/feel where her hands are in space. When she hits, she gets input and knows where her hands are.
This is not an official explanation, just the way it was explained to me and the way I interpreted it. If I have made any errors in my explanation or terminology, I apologize. This is all new to me as well.
For more information, get the book I mentioned above, and find a good Occupational Therapist to speak with.
Hope this helps!
Holly
A good book to read is "The Out of Sync Child" and then "The Out of Sync Child has fun" They are written about sensory integration disorders and in intelligent language but not full of "jargon" They are written by Carol Stock Kranowitz and you can find them in Barnes and Noble.
From what I have gleaned from the Occupational Therapists I work with, Sensory Integration Disorder involves three basic systems: Tactile (touch), Vestibular (processing movement and balance) and Proprioceptive (body position, muscles and joints). The brain needs to be able to integrate these senses to allow a person to function.
Children with sensory integration dysfunction, are either over sensitve or under-sensitive to sensory stimulation. For kids who are over-sensitive, bright light, too much movement, too much noise, certain types of tastes and textures can send them into sensory overload, causing "behavior" problems. For kids who are under-sensitive, they may be clumsy, not know where they are in space, and seek stimulation.
At our clinic, the therapists work together to help the children with these difficulties get the stimulation they need, so that learning can take place. Some kids need to swing and move a lot during therapy. Other kids need weighted vests and jackets to calm them so they can focus. Some kids need to work with the flourescent lights out, etc.
Every kid with sensory integration dysfunction is different and it manifests itself in different ways. What we strive to do is really observe each child individually and analyze their behaviors to see what they are "seeking" or avoiding. For example, a girl with autism is constantly hitting. She hits people, the walls, the floors, etc. It is NOT a behavior, rather a symptom of sensory integration dysfunction in which this child is seeking proprioceptive and tactile input because she doesn't know/feel where her hands are in space. When she hits, she gets input and knows where her hands are.
This is not an official explanation, just the way it was explained to me and the way I interpreted it. If I have made any errors in my explanation or terminology, I apologize. This is all new to me as well.
For more information, get the book I mentioned above, and find a good Occupational Therapist to speak with.
Hope this helps!
Holly
GlennandAnn
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Pembo, PM me. I did my master's thesis on SI dysfunction.
Ann
Ann
Hi there. My DD has SID. She was diagnosed at age 5. the "Out of Snyc Child" is the best book out there. It will give you lots of information. You can also go and do a search on the net. DD was at an OT rehab place almost 2 years called Dove Rehab which specializes in OT for SID. DD has other issues also . She has General Anexity Disorder and Mild OCD. She is not medicated but she is going through behavioral modification and has a psychologist. Our Peditrician and Pediatric Neurologist were very knowledgeable on SID. Please feel free to e mail me if you have any questions at gail17@optonline.net Holly was very informative.
Gail
Gail
GlennandAnn
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Hi, Holly!! You did a great job summarizing it! The OT who gave you the information also did a great job of explaining to you. One thing I'd like to say is that through all of my research and through working with kids w/SID, it can be a real "social dysfunction" for them. Not being able to understand where your body is in relation to other things, not being able to tolerate certain types of stimuli, or being under-receptive to those things can really make a child stand out socially. That's one thing that is important to remember. SID is getting a lot of attention lately, which is a wonderful thing. When I began to study it, I found that I knew a lot of people who could be "classified" as having SID- namely my husband who MUST cut every tag, and has said about a million times that his clothes were binding him!
Ann
Ann
GlenandAnn,
Thank you for your perspective on the "social" aspect of SID. I never looked at it that way!
I know what you mean about your husband and the shirt tags! I can't stand wet hair on my neck. It drives me nuts! The OT I work with did a presentation at work the other day, and she gaves us all a checklist of our self-stimulation/sensory integration habits... such as chewing gum, biting our fingernails, chewing ice, tapping our feet, etc. Then she had us try to identify what type of sensation we are seeking with each "habit" and try to guess at why- to gain alertness, to calm down, etc. It was really fun!
I think we all naturally do things to help with our own sensory integration! How fascinating!
Thank you for your perspective on the "social" aspect of SID. I never looked at it that way!
I know what you mean about your husband and the shirt tags! I can't stand wet hair on my neck. It drives me nuts! The OT I work with did a presentation at work the other day, and she gaves us all a checklist of our self-stimulation/sensory integration habits... such as chewing gum, biting our fingernails, chewing ice, tapping our feet, etc. Then she had us try to identify what type of sensation we are seeking with each "habit" and try to guess at why- to gain alertness, to calm down, etc. It was really fun!
I think we all naturally do things to help with our own sensory integration! How fascinating!
BethanyF
DIS Veteran
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- Feb 17, 2002
- Messages
- 5,061
Ann
Thanks for telling me about this thread at the meet the other night. You should have mentioned your thesis, I would have loved to talk to you more about it.
My ds is on the autism spectrum with several SID 'quirks'. His quirks are on both sides of the disorder. He cant handle things like parades or fireworks, its too overwhelming to him to have both the visual and audio input at the same time.
On the other end, he looks for some sensory input. He crashes in to a lot of things, he spins in chairs when he is overwhelmed and he needs a cushion to sit on at school to help him focus. He also clamps his hands over his ears when he is overwhelmed by something. Except he isnt really covering his ears to block out sound, he is putting deep pressure on the jaw joint.
Thanks for telling me about this thread at the meet the other night. You should have mentioned your thesis, I would have loved to talk to you more about it.
My ds is on the autism spectrum with several SID 'quirks'. His quirks are on both sides of the disorder. He cant handle things like parades or fireworks, its too overwhelming to him to have both the visual and audio input at the same time.
On the other end, he looks for some sensory input. He crashes in to a lot of things, he spins in chairs when he is overwhelmed and he needs a cushion to sit on at school to help him focus. He also clamps his hands over his ears when he is overwhelmed by something. Except he isnt really covering his ears to block out sound, he is putting deep pressure on the jaw joint.
Our DS has pretty severe SID and just learning about it and what to do to help him has made a world of difference in all of our lives.He is in first grade and has an air cushion with small rubber bumps on it that he sits on, he also has deep pressure activities available to him at all times and goes to OT, PT and speech each day with therapists that do a lot of sensory work with him. The Out of Sync child was a great book, also SInetwork.org has some great info.
GlennandAnn
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Hi, Bethany. I don't know why I didn't mention my thesis the other night! We enjoyed meeting you and your family. Cameron and Sam were a great match- Cam tends to squeeze other kids sometimes (something we try so hard to discourage- it seems to be "his thing") and Sam didn't mind! He is still talking about his new friend. We look forward to seeing you all at the next Chicago meet!
Ann
Ann
BethanyF
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I agree, Ann, the boys were a good match, even with all the squeezing. Its nice to have a playmate that can give and take the same as the other one dishes out. Its not too often that Sam can find someone to play with at his level. He is usually with my neice that can get a bit put off by Sam's aggressiveness.
I would love to get an opportunity to let them get together again.
I would love to get an opportunity to let them get together again.
BethanyF
DIS Veteran
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I would check with your public school. Im not sure how old your ds is, but most public schools offer a type of early intervention school screening. If he qualifies for the program, they should have an OT on staff to provide the needed therapy.
Oh Kay!
DIS Veteran
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Pembo, I'll second BethanyF. DS was referred to the school district through his preschool. When he was in preschool, he went to see an OT, paid by the district. Now that he is in kindergarten, he sees the staff OT at the school. The first step is to contact the school district.
As to where to find an OT, when DS was evaluated, the distict gave us a list of OT's.
Kay
As to where to find an OT, when DS was evaluated, the distict gave us a list of OT's.
Kay
http://www.sinetwork.org/, this site is updating the directory but says it will be available in a few days. Also we went through the school OT to find botha OT and PT who have sensory training that could work with our DS.
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