What is Sensory Processing?
“The inability to use information received through the senses in order to function smoothly in everyday life….it influences the way a kid learns, moves, relates to others, and feels about themselves.”
- Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A., The Out of Sync Child
We receive and perceive sensory input through sights, sounds, touch, tastes, smells, and movement. When one or more of these areas are not processing these senses correctly, it leads to challenges. Some areas that are impacted by difficulties in sensory processing include emotional control, behavior, social interactions, motor skills, and learning. Sensory processing difficulties often co-exist or are confused with other problems such as learning disabilities, behavioral issues, and ADHD.
What Do Sensory Processing Difficulties Look Like?
Sensory processing difficulties can affect kids in many different ways. Some kids will be withdrawn, scared of new experiences, and fearful of movements, while others are “overly active”, unable to sit still and pay attention, and completely lacking fear of any movement. Motor skills, such as coloring, writing, and using utensils are often challenging. Regular routines and tasks such as bedtime, mealtime, dressing, and bath time can be a struggle. Sometimes sleep is impacted, and often frequent meltdowns are common whenever routines are disrupted. During the preschool years, children with sensory processing difficulties often have difficulty taking part in classroom activities in the same way their peers do.
What Causes Sensory Processing Difficulties?
There are seven main systems involved in sensory processing: Tactile (touch), Visual (seeing), Auditory (hearing), Gustatory (taste), Olfactory (smell), Vestibular, and Proprioceptive. While most people are familiar with the first five, the last two may be less recognizable but are very important. They combine to give us valuable information about where our bodies are in space and how to move and adapt to our environment. When any of these seven are not fully developed and/or not able to work together smoothly with the others, the brain receives confused or inadequate information so sensory processing is impaired.
How Do You Treat Sensory Processing Difficulties?
Following an evaluation by an occupational therapist with experience in treating children with sensory processing challenges, an individualized program is developed taking into consideration your child’s needs. Often therapy sessions are provided in the clinic once or twice per week. Therapy sessions are typically fun and your child will feel like they are playing although they are doing very important work. Home activities and suggestions will accompany the therapy sessions to help progress go quicker and to help difficult areas of life become easier. If it would be advantageous for your child, a visit to their school or consultation with teachers or other caregivers may occur.
“The inability to use information received through the senses in order to function smoothly in everyday life….it influences the way a kid learns, moves, relates to others, and feels about themselves.”
- Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A., The Out of Sync Child
We receive and perceive sensory input through sights, sounds, touch, tastes, smells, and movement. When one or more of these areas are not processing these senses correctly, it leads to challenges. Some areas that are impacted by difficulties in sensory processing include emotional control, behavior, social interactions, motor skills, and learning. Sensory processing difficulties often co-exist or are confused with other problems such as learning disabilities, behavioral issues, and ADHD.
What Do Sensory Processing Difficulties Look Like?
Sensory processing difficulties can affect kids in many different ways. Some kids will be withdrawn, scared of new experiences, and fearful of movements, while others are “overly active”, unable to sit still and pay attention, and completely lacking fear of any movement. Motor skills, such as coloring, writing, and using utensils are often challenging. Regular routines and tasks such as bedtime, mealtime, dressing, and bath time can be a struggle. Sometimes sleep is impacted, and often frequent meltdowns are common whenever routines are disrupted. During the preschool years, children with sensory processing difficulties often have difficulty taking part in classroom activities in the same way their peers do.
What Causes Sensory Processing Difficulties?
There are seven main systems involved in sensory processing: Tactile (touch), Visual (seeing), Auditory (hearing), Gustatory (taste), Olfactory (smell), Vestibular, and Proprioceptive. While most people are familiar with the first five, the last two may be less recognizable but are very important. They combine to give us valuable information about where our bodies are in space and how to move and adapt to our environment. When any of these seven are not fully developed and/or not able to work together smoothly with the others, the brain receives confused or inadequate information so sensory processing is impaired.
How Do You Treat Sensory Processing Difficulties?
Following an evaluation by an occupational therapist with experience in treating children with sensory processing challenges, an individualized program is developed taking into consideration your child’s needs. Often therapy sessions are provided in the clinic once or twice per week. Therapy sessions are typically fun and your child will feel like they are playing although they are doing very important work. Home activities and suggestions will accompany the therapy sessions to help progress go quicker and to help difficult areas of life become easier. If it would be advantageous for your child, a visit to their school or consultation with teachers or other caregivers may occur.
