What is Sensory Processing?
Sensory processing is the ability of the brain to process all sensations so that we can interact adequately with our environment. Sensory processing is so basic to human functioning that we often take it for granted and do not realize its importance. From the moment we awake until the time we fall asleep, we are constantly bombarded by sensations. These sensations may come in many different forms, like heat, cold, sounds, pain, smells, visuals, the feel of clothing on our skin, sensations of movement, etc.
The role of sensations is to help us be connected to our environment. Sensations allow us to understand where we are and what we are going to do. Sensations give meaning to our experiences and are an essential component of child development. We are motivated to interact (or not interact) with our environment when we experience sensations. As we engage in our environment, we begin to understand how the world works. This understanding is the foundation for further skill development.
What is the importance
of sensations in the learning process?
Do special needs children have sensory processing
problems?
What are SCHOOL OPTIONS solutions to sensory processing
problems?
Is it true that only young children respond positively
to sensory interventions?
What is the importance of sensations in the learning process?
Sensations act as powerful building blocks in the learning process. Proper sensory processing is essential for children to develop adaptive and functional skills of every day life, such as self help skills, social skills, play skills, and school readiness skills. Adequate sensory processing promotes healthy self-esteem, confidence, adaptability, and a drive to learn without fear. More specifically, sensations contribute to the healthy development of:
Motivation and Attention
When children discover trampolines and swings for the first time and begin jumping and swinging, they usually come back time after time, because they enjoy the sensations they receive through their bodies. Children do certain things (for example, swinging) because they feel good to them. They avoid others (for example, loud noises, appliance sounds, etc.) because they are not pleasurable. Optimal learning occurs when children are interested in what they are doing. When children experience pleasure in an activity, they are motivated to explore that activity, and they are ready to learn. Motivation is one factor contributing to proper attention, which is essential in the learning process. When the brain functions properly, many sensations are constantly filtered and tuned out so that children can focus on important tasks. For example, a child can focus on a puzzle he is completing in spite of the music playing in the background, other children moving around him, the sensations of clothing on his skin, and the sunrays entering the room. The child’s brain can filter all of these non-important sensations so that he can focus on the puzzle. As children engage in interesting activities, they develop greater attention span and concentration. Also, some activities may require a child to look back and forth between a task and another person who is playing with her. Adequate attention span and rapid shifting of attention are essential in the development of many skills, especially academic and social skills.
As children are interested in their environment and begin exploring what is around them, their bodies learn from that experience and gradually develop motor skills in response to the activity. When jumping on the trampoline, children gradually develop proper balance and postural adjustments as they experience different body movements and positions. Children learn to string beads by watching what their hands are doing, discovering which finger movements are the most effective, and feeling the beads and the string through their fingers. Children learn to walk, climb, reach, manipulate, talk, etc., as a result of experiencing sensations and learning from them.
As children engage in activities with varied sensory stimulation, they begin developing essential cognitive skills such as sorting, organizing, sequencing, making decisions, recognizing errors, solving problems, etc. These skills allow children to plan their actions, develop good judgment, and learn more complex subjects such as math, reading, writing, etc.
Do special needs children have sensory processing problems?
Everyday, more scientists are discovering that some children seem to have structural differences both in the way their brain has developed and in the way it operates. These brain differences result in many problems, including the way sensations are processed. Sensory processing problems can greatly effect all areas of child development. Some children may have an out of balance nervous system that cannot adapt to even the simplest situations. They may have poor attention, lack of motivation, difficulty understanding the situation and difficulty interacting and learning. As children are unable to cope with the physical and mental demands placed on them, they are likely to display behavioral problems, such as self-stimulatory and/or self-injurious, task avoidance behaviors, lack of flexibility, high anxiety, fear, etc. It is important to understand that these children have no control over these problems, as they have an underlying neurological basis. However, our occupational therapy approach has helped many children overcome some of these challenges.
If a child has sensory processing problems resulting in poor balance and poor body awareness, he or she will be more likely to trip, fall, and hurt himself or herself when moving. This child will not be motivated to participate in social/physical games or other physically challenging situations. Sensory processing problems can cause a child to feel over stimulated by sensations in his environment. This child will have difficulty completing school work. He or she may be unable to remain seated for long periods of time, or unable to focus on the same tasks for more than a few seconds or minutes, greatly affecting the learning process. Sensory processing problems can interfere with cognitive development. For example, when a child is unable to engage in typical activities such as building with Lego blocks, he or she may not be able to develop the organizational and problem solving skills that typically would be learned.
What are School Options solutions to sensory processing problems?
At School Options, we have integrated new findings from the fields of neuroscience and neurobiology into our occupational therapy and consulting practice. Based on complex analysis of a child’s problems, abilities, and needs, we design individualized therapy programs to promote attention, acquisition of motor skills, and overall learning. The goal of our approach is to produce immediate improvement as well as permanent changes.
We support the use of current educational approaches (i.e. Applied Behavior Analysis, TEACCH, Pivotal Response Training, etc.) when teaching special needs children. However, we firmly believe that sensory and motor interventions need to be incorporated into these educational approaches in order for the child to get the most benefit from them.
Our approach can help identify sensory input that a child is seeking or avoiding during unwanted behaviors (as for example during many self-stimulatory behaviors) and come up with solutions to integrate various approaches into the child’s behavioral plan.
All of our services are designed to improve your child’s motivation, attention, and overall skill development while decreasing behavioral problems. Our goal is to increase your understanding of your child and help you create an environment that will allow your child to be happier and more independent.
Is it true that only young children respond positively to sensory interventions?
No it isn’t. We have seen individuals of all ages respond to our occupational therapy approach which has produced immediate improvements as well as permanent changes. While it is true that the brain is more capable of changing and healing at a faster pace in younger children, these changes can occur throughout the life span. It is for this reason that older adults who have a stroke receive intensive rehabilitation services to help their brain heal from the injury and recover some or all of the lost abilities.