Finger Flicking & Sensory Integration Disorder

Sensory Integration Disorder, also known as Sensory Processing Disorder, is a misfiring of sensory signals in the brain which can make it difficult to live a normal life. Effects can range from "seeing" colors to not feeling pain. People with SID have many ways of coping with this disorder that bears a slight resemblance to Autism.

What is Sensory Integration Disorder?

• SID is a neurological disorder in which the brain is unable to process ("integrate") the information received from the senses. Sensory integration is how the brain is able to match up a certain visual with a smell and taste (think banana, recognize the smell of banana, imagine banana taste), but it also affects every thing from how a person moves to whether they can feel a touch. People with Sensory Integration problems may have odd or even extreme sensory needs such as needing to be touched, or tasting, seeing, smelling or feeling things constantly, to not wanting to be touched at all and everything in between. Because one measures body movement by one's location in space, touch and sounds, SID can even affect the ability to walk, hold objects or write.

How the Brain Misfires

• SID is a known co-morbid disorder of Autism and can effect every sensory system in the body from the five senses (sight, sound, taste, smell and touch) as well as the proprioceptive and vestibular senses that tell the brain where limbs are in relation to the rest of the body and where the body is in space.

  Some people only have one affected sense while others have multiple sensory issues. The same person might be both hyper-sensitive and hypo-sensitive to touch depending on the object, its texture and other factors. Other people may feel or show no pain even though they have been hurt. Motor clumsiness can result in "floppy" posture and difficulty walking or clenching the hands.

Compensating

• A person with sensory integration difficulties may use compensatory behaviors to even out their reception of sensory information. Some hypo-sensitive children may look for extreme physical interactions, such as rough play or firm hugs, because they have difficulty feeling. Extremely sensitive people may avoid the sensation altogether. People with light sensitivity may only go outside at night or while wearing dark glasses, while an auditory sensitivity may cause some people to hum or scream (as a means to control the auditory environment) or cover their ears.

Stimming

• "Stimming" is a colloquial term for "self stimulatory behavior." It is common in SID (as well as many other neurological disorders ranging from Autism to ADD). While stimming is often seen as an undesirable or abnormal trait to be eliminated, it can have varied effects on the person doing it. Finger flicking is a common stim that may help the flicker "sense" the location of his hands by providing a constant stream of sensory feed back. Or it may provide a sense of comfort or amusement. Common stims include staring at spinning fans or flashing lights, spinning in circles, swinging, rocking, vocalizations and many more. If someone can think of something to do, they can stim it. Stimming does not in and of it self cause damage to the stimmer (unless she is banging her head against a wall or similar), but sometimes seizures can be mistaken for stims or tics (particularly in Tourette's) while other stims (such as masturbation) are not appropriate to do in public. A stim is a conscious action unlike a tic which is an unconscious action or reaction.

Treatment

• People with Sensory Integration Disorder benefit from occupational therapy with a sensory integration approach. Therapy typically consists of trying to help hyper-sensitive people slowly learn to tolerate stimuli as well as providing appropriate alternative stimuli to hypo-sensitive sufferers. This can include various sensory toys and objects, weighted blankets, alternative textiles (for textures) and types of food. Sensory Integration Disorder can not be cured but with help sufferers can learn how to manage their sensitivities and have a greater quality of life.