As a child grows and begins to explore their surroundings they learn to register information from their senses, process it, and then respond appropriately. This is called sensory integration and it is the process that helps us to understand and respond to our environment. The five senses commonly heard about include sight (eyes), hearing (ears), taste (gustatory), smell (olfactory), and touch (skin). However there are also two other senses; the vestibular sense (information about movement and head position) and the proprioceptive sense (information about our body parts/body awareness).

 

Some children have difficulty with sensory integration and may have a sensory processing disorder. This can make it hard for them to regulate their responses to sensory input. They may be overly sensitive to certain stimuli, or they may not be able to filter out irrelevant information. This can lead to problems with attention, focus, and emotional behaviors. There are many ways to help children with sensory processing disorders. Occupational therapists can help by determining what sensory area a child is struggling with and design appropriate sensory strategies that will help children develop their ability to process sensory information. 

 

Some signs that your child may be under or over-responsive to sensory input:

• Constant need to touch objects

• Constant need to touch or hug people

• Difficulty understanding personal space

• Difficulty sitting still

• Doesn’t like to be touched

• Doesn’t like to touch or wear certain textures

• Difficulty tolerating different food textures

 

If your child is having difficulty with sensory integration, we would like to help. Here at Blooming Tree Pediatric Occupational Therapy, we focus on each child’s individuality and what motivates them to learn. We aim to have children enjoy therapy through the use of sensory play so they are able to bloom and grow.

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