How to Diagnose Sensory Integration

Sensory integration is a dysfunction in which children have trouble processing information through their senses. These senses include touch, taste, vision, movement, smell and hearing. Children with sensory integration issues tend to have one or more senses that either over or under-react to stimuli, and the disorder can inhibit a child's development or behavior.

Instructions

• 1

  Watch your child for any abnormal activity. They may be oversensitive to sound at various events, avoid eating certain foods based on texture or be sensitive to being touched and withdraw.

• 2

  Determine if your child has another condition that may contribute to sensory integration troubles. Children with autism, Asperger's syndrome or other developmental disabilities are at a greater risk.

• 3

  Identify the particular sense your child seems to have issues with. Test them by providing various stimuli and asking your child to react. Children with sensory integration will either become aggressive upon interaction or uncomfortable and fearful.

• 4

  Ask your child questions about why they don't respond well to various stimuli. They may have trouble putting their problem into words. Don't press them to come up with explanations--just ask questions and keep track of their answers.

• 5

  Take your child to an occupational or physical therapist prepared with your observations and the information you've gathered from your child. Only a trained health professional can make a conclusive diagnosis of your child's potential sensory integration issues.