How to Apply Sensory Integration Principles

Sensory integration, or SI refers to the way the nervous system organizes messages from the senses and uses the information to respond meaningfully. Each of us depends on appropriate sensory integration to perform everyday tasks. Sensory processing disorder, or SPD, also called sensory integration dysfunction, is a condition where sensations are not processed correctly by the brain and nervous system, which leads to inappropriate responses. SPD affects each person differently. One person may over respond to sensations while another may under respond. Treatment for SPD involves fun, sensory-based activities. Your therapy strategy is more effective if it is a collaborative effort with your therapist.

Instructions

How to Apply Sensory Integration Principles

• 1

  Locate an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory integration. Occupational therapy, provided by a therapist specifically trained in SI, is the most common form of treatment for SPD. Occupational therapists focus on normalizing reactions to sensory stimuli and improve self-help skills. The therapy may feel more like play than work to you or your child. It often involves lots of swinging, slides, therapy balls, spinning and other sensory-rich activities. The key to these activities is that they challenge you or your child, while still allowing for successful completion. Occupational therapy is an excellent way to improve your ability to accurately detect, regulate, respond to sensations and may result in a reduction of specific symptoms.

• 2

  Seek the help of a physical therapist knowledgeable in the treatment of SPD. The intent of physical therapy is to help you move better, make your daily tasks easier and improve your physical abilities. Physical therapy may be particularly important if the SPD involves dyspraxia -- problems performing coordinated and voluntary movements -- because physical therapy helps develop gross motor skills. It is important that your physical therapist has specialized training with SPD. Physical therapy focused on SPD is very similar to occupational therapy, providing a series of sensory and motor skill exercises to improve muscular control and coordination, especially in the large muscles.

• 3

  Try listening therapy. Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to adapt and change throughout life. Listening therapy works on this theory by stimulating the brain with specific sound frequencies and patterns to improve sensory integration function. Brain plasticity diminishes as you age; therefore, older children and adults may experience slower progress. When used in conjunction with occupational therapy, listening therapy may accelerate the sensory integration treatment process.

• 4

  Consider alternative therapies. Little research has been conducted regarding complementary therapies and their effectiveness as a treatment for SPD. However, these therapies may be worth discussing with your therapist and used as an adjunct to conventional therapy. Complementary therapies that have been used in the treatment of SPD include therapeutic body brushing, craniosacral manipulation and acupuncture.

• 5

  Learn body brushing techniques from a physical therapist or occupational therapist. Therapeutic body brushing can be learned from your occupational therapist. This technique involves using a specific sensory brush to brush your child's skin. Most of the body is brushed using brisk, firm movements, often followed by joint compression. According to the Occupational Therapy Innovations website, this process is repeated daily, brushing for a few minutes every two hours.

• 6

  Experiment with acupuncture. Acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine and its belief that energy, or qi, flows along meridians within the body. When this energy is blocked or stagnant, ill health exists. Acupuncture works to unblock this energy through the insertion of needles at specific points along the body. Points specific to the brain and neurological system may be targeted in an attempt to improve sensory integration.

• 7

  Try craniosacral therapy. The intent of craniosacral therapy is to improve neurological functioning and sensory integration. It is thought that through manipulation of the craniosacral system -- the brain and spinal cord being the primary components of this system -- that the whole body benefits. Rebecca Flowers is an occupational therapist certified in craniosacral therapy and sensory integration and praxis testing. She states on her website that this technique involves applying a very light touch to the caraniosacral system to identify and correct body restrictions that impair nervous system functioning. She says that when these blockages are released, profound and dramatic changes can occur, sometimes within hours.

• 8

  Include activities that improve sensory integration abilities daily. Occupational therapists use sensory integration activities, also known as a sensory diet, in their treatment protocol for SPD. However, these activities must be incorporated into daily activities to maximize effectiveness. Many activities can be taught by the occupational therapist to perform at home. Activities range from playdough play to finger painting, rough and tumble play to sand play. One great resource for sensory integration activities is "The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun, Revised Edition: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder" by Carol Kranowitz. This book is full of activities you can complete at home for the various different categories and subtypes of SPD.