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What is sensory integration?

This is how Dr Jean Ayres the developer of sensory integration therapy defines sensory integration.

"Sensory integration is the organization of sensation for use. Our senses give us information about the physical conditions of our body and the environment around us…Countless bits of sensory information enter our brain at every moment, not only from our eyes and ears, but also from every place in our bodies. We have a special sense that detects the pull of gravity and the movements of our body in relation to the earth. The brain must organize all of these sensations if a person is to move, learn and behave normally…When sensations flow in a well- organized or integrated manner, the brain can use those sensations to form perceptions, behaviors, and learning. When the flow of sensations is disorganized, life can be like a rush- hour traffic jam."

Jean Ayres (2000): Sensory Integration and the Child

Sensory Integration Therapy

Kaleidoscope therapists use sensory integration theory and treatment as one of our treatment methods. It is rare for the therapist to use this approach alone but rather it is used alongside other approaches that the therapist feels are beneficial to the child.

SI therapy starts with a good assessment of the child followed by a parent interview. The therapist uses standardized parent questionnaires, (such as The Sensory Profile) and clinical observations to find out about which areas are of concern. Sometimes a thorough evaluation using the SIPT (The Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests) is required. This is a 2-hour test for children between ages 4 and 8. In other cases, a thorough observational assessment is sufficient to determine the areas of weakness.

SI therapy looks like play. The idea of sensory integrative therapy is to provide the child with the sensations that he needs for his development. Input through the vestibular (balance), proprioceptive (sensations from muscles and joints) and tactile (touch) systems are particularly important. For example, you may see the therapist playing a game where the child is swinging on a hammock on his tummy (activating the vestibular sense), pulling a rope to speed up the swing (activating the proprioceptive sense), catching fidget toys (tactile sense) to throw them in a bucket (visual sense).

More information is available at:

Reading material:

A Jean Ayres (2000) (14th ed): Sensory Integration and the Child.

Carol Stock Kranowitz (1998): The Out of Sync Child.

Web:

www.incrediblehorizons.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O6Cm0WxEZA&feature=related

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