Hugz4me The Sensory Place

Sensory Systems and possible Interventions for Parents:

Areas to observe related to the Auditory system;

1.   Does the child cover his/her ears alot?
2. Does the child seem to shy away from loud noises?
3. Does the child verbalize concerns regarding noises?

Interventions:

Create a social story, have the child use headphones, use a piece of cotton in their ears to decrease noise. Limit the time spent in loud areas such as cafeteria's, stores or malls. Practice a calming strategy to help when in loud places.

Areas to Observe related to the Visual System:

1. Does the child hold things at odd angles to his/her eyes?
2. Does the child move his/her face very close to an object when looking at it?
3. Does the child seem to notice a light that is flickering when others don't notice it?
4. Does the child seem to be very distracted by posters and other items on the wall to the point it interrupts his/her ability to work?

Interventions:

Turn florescent lights off when possible and use regular light bulbs. Play games that include gesturing and visual information eg. Simon Says. Help the child recognize when items in the visual field are distracting them. Have the child in the front of the classroom to help with visual distractions.

Areas to Observe related to the Gustatory System:

1. Does the child seem to be very particular about what he/she will eat, such as food with certain textures?
2. Does the child gag easily?
3. Does the child seem to have a strong reaction to seemingly mild tastes?
4. Does the child seem to have a very high tolerance for spicy foods?

Interventions:

Stimulate the mouth with an electric toothbrush, slowly introduce new foods, new textures using very small bites. Offer multiple tries for a particular food ( this can take anywhere from 15-20 repetitions) Massage around the child's mouth, Make a list of 5 to 10 foods and give the child a choice to choose a new food each day or week.

Areas to Observe related to the Tactile System:

1. Does the child seem to pull away from touch?
2. Does the child seem to move herself into positions in which he/she is touching others?
3. Does the child seem to have a particularly hight threshold for pain?
4. Does the child seem to have a particularly low threshold for pain?
5. Does the child seem to avoid touching certain textures?
6. Does the child insist on washing their hands after touching certain textures?

 Interventions:

Slowly introduce different textures to the child, ressuring him that he can wash his hands if the texture feels to uncomfortable. Warn the child ahead of time if you are going to touch them. Let the child choose clothing with textures that will feel okay to them. Create clear boundries around things like brushing teeth or hair by using counting to help the child reduce anxiety.

Areas to Observe related to the Olfactory System:

1. Does the child smell things repetitvely?
2. Does the child seem to notice smells that are difficult for others to perceive?
3. Does the child seem particularly sensitive to smells to the point that they become distressed?
4. Does the child seem to have difficulty identifying and discriminating between smells?
5. Does the child lick things that are inappropriate?
6. Does the child gag frequently?

Interventions:

Play a game where the child tries to identify different smells in their environment, have the child chew gum to distract from smells. Count to see how long it takes for the smell to fade to the pointthe the child doesn't notice it anymore. Have a child suck on a candy to help distract from the smell. Slowly introduce new smells to the child. You can do this by buying a few candles to smell or by going through the spice rack, make this into a game.

A child with sensory integration disorder may also have poor coordination and poor muscle tone. Some children with the disorder are impulsive, while others are distractible. Many also walk on their toes consistently to avoid the sensation associated with putting their feet on the floor.

The most common treatments for children with SPD include occupational therapy and listening therapy. Physical therapists, speech/language therapists and others trained to use a sensory integration approach also may help with a child's treatment. The family also plays an integral part in a child's treatment by identifying priorities and serving as an expert on the child and his or her problems and behaviors. Together, a treatment program is formulated for the child.