Earlier this week I attended a training on sensory integration. I have
attended many trainings on this topic in the past but each time, I come
away with something new, and this time was no different. As I listened
to the trainer talk about
different kids with different needs, why some kids struggle with
crowds, noises or tight clothing it struck me that we all struggle with
sensory processing difficulties on all different levels. I do not like
certain materials of clothing or textures of food
and my mood would directly reflect that preference if I was made to
wear or eat something that I did not like the feel of. We put kids in
classrooms with loud noises or too bright lights and look to the child
to correct their behavior when it is unwanted or
otherwise negative. The truth is that some kids feel itchy in any type
of clothing and their fidgeting is not always a result of ADHD,
non-compliance or attention seeking as we often label them. They have a
sensory processing difficulty and we should look
to reduce their discomfort instead of medicating or using behavioral
interventions to reduce what we see as disruptive behavior. Of course in some cases kids do require medications or other interventions to reduce
unwanted behaviors, but we need to look to
the basics first:
- Are they comfortable?
- Can they see?
- Can they hear
over the background noises?
- Are they too cold or too hot?
- Do they feel
physically grounded to the floor or are they dizzy or off balance?
Our
kids are so good at compensating for what they struggle
with and it is how they can often go so long with real issues before
anyone picks up on it. A registered occupational therapist can tell you
if your child has needs in this area. All too often our kids are denied
ongoing OT because, again, they can often appear
as though they would not benefit from this. Push for it. Demand it. Our
kids do not always develop their senses in a typical way as a result of
poor muscle tone and dysfunction of the endocrine system and it isn’t
until later in life, often once they reach
school age, that we see the struggles that they are having. Early work
with a registered OT can save a lot of time in meetings later on with
teachers and administrators telling you that your child can’t seem to
sit still or can’t focus, won’t follow directions
or is disrupting the group. Before you let anyone tell you that your
child needs medication or a special plan in place, especially if that
plan involves restrictions, ask yourself- is he comfortable? Is she
grounded in space (not dizzy or feeling like she’s
tipping)? Does he feel constricted or not constricted enough? Does she
always seem to bump into things, is she “clumsy” or tripping more than
she should? Does he cover his ears even at the slightest noise? Is she
only happy when she’s moving or is she fearful
of any movements other than walking? These are all signs of sensory
processing disorder and the great news is that there is a lot that you
can do about it.
Your child does not have to live their lives being
uncomfortable or feeling out of control. Sensory
integration as a part of daily life will make an enormous improvement
to your child’s quality of life. Always consult a registered OT before
incorporating sensory integration but do it soon and do it often because
I have seen firsthand the transformation that
takes place once we target and treat the problematic areas. We’d love
to hear your stories of how sensory integration has improved your
child’s life!
Submitted by:
Patrice Carroll
