Counselling Corner with Sharyn Lynch
What is Sensory Processing?
Sensory Processing – or Integration as it is also known – is related to how we register and interpret sensory input in our environment and body. It is the way the brain receives, organises and responds to sensory input in order to behave in a meaningful & consistent manner.
As your child is exposed to various sensory inputs, they gradually learn to organise them within their brain and are able to give meaning to them. By organising sensations, your child is able to modulate their response and as a result, they seem to be more connected with the world and in control of their emotions. All of our senses need to work together for effective sensory processing. 1
If a child has difficulties with Sensory Processing they might:
•Show heightened reactivity to sound, touch or movement.
•Be under-reactive to certain sensations (e.g. not noticing their name being called, being touched, high pain threshold).
•Appear lethargic/disinterested; appearing to mostly be in their ‘own world’.
•Have difficulty regulating their own behavioural and emotional responses; increased tantrums, emotionally reactive, need for control, impulsive behaviours, easily frustrated or overly compliant.
•Be easily distracted, show poor attention and concentration.
•Have poor motor skills; appears clumsy, poor coordination, balance, and/or poor handwriting skills.
•Have poor sleep patterns.
•Display restricted eating habits or is a picky eater.
•Become distressed during self-care tasks (e.g. hair-brushing, hair-washing, nail cutting, dressing, tying shoelaces, self-feeding).
•Love movement; seeks out intense pressure (e.g. constant spinning, running around, jumping, crashing in objects/people).
•Avoid movement-based equipment (e.g. swings, slides etc).
•Appear floppy or have ‘low muscle tone’, tire easily and is often slumped in postures.
•Performs tasks with too much force, has big movements, moves too fast, writes too light or too hard.
What activities can help?
There are lots of tools and resources available to help provide sensory feedback to your child and help their body efficiently regulate. Each child’s needs are specific to them!
Working with an Occupational Therapist can further support your child to develop a sensory diet and find out what works best for them!
Some activities and tools for home or school may include;
§ Animal walks can provide great proprioceptive input, Support motor skills and are fun for all the family!
§ Have a Trampoline? Trampolining can help children to understand and feel where their bodies are in space
§ Swings allow for varied intensity of movement that may be needed for kids who under-respond or over-respond to vestibular input. Predictable, rhythmic swinging promotes calm and organization while unpredictable, arrhythmic swinging is alerting.
§ Weighted Blankets are great to support a child who may be anxious, fidgeting, difficulties sitting still, or seeking deep pressure touch
§ Nail Biting, Anxious, chewing on clothes? Try a Chewy toy
§ Fidget Toys target the tactile system and can be great regulators for attention
§ Need help with providing your child movement while they stay seated? Try Disc-O-Sit!
§ Visual schedules can help enable a child to see and understand what is going to happen next.
Useful Websites and Reads:
Book: The Super ids Activity Guide. By Dayna Abraham
https://childdevelopment.com.au
