Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD's)
Sensory processing and discrimination disorders involve the incorrect processing of sensory information. Incorrect processing of visual or auditory input, for example, may be seen in inattentiveness, disorganization, and poor school performance.
The subtypes are:
Causes
The mid-brain and brain stem regions of the central nervous system are early centers in the processing pathway for multisensory integration, these brain regions are involved in processes including coordination, attention, arousal, and autonomic function. After sensory information passes through these centers, it is then routed to brain regions responsible for emotions, memory, and higher level cognitive functions. Sensory processing disorder not only affects interpretation and reaction to stimuli at the midbrain areas, but impacts several higher functions. Damage in any part of the brain involved in multisensory processing can cause difficulties to adequately process stimuli in a functional way.
People with Sensory Processing Deficits have less sensory gating (electrophysiology) than typical subjects.
Visual Information Processing Issues
Visual processing refers to how a child uses the data he sees. It involves how quickly he can understand something when he sees it and how well he remembers that information.
A child with visual information processing issues may have trouble accurately making sense of what he sees. It may lack visual-spatial skills.and may also:
Standardized tests for the diagnosis of SPD's
Sensory integration therapy
Vestibular system is stimulated through hanging equipment such as tire swings
The main form of sensory integration therapy is a type of occupational therapy that places a child in a room specifically designed to stimulate and challenge all of the senses.
During the session, the therapist works closely with the child to provide a level of sensory stimulation that the child can cope with, and encourage movement within the room. Sensory integration therapy is driven by four main principles:
This therapy retains all of the above-mentioned four principles and adds:
The subtypes are:
- Visual
- Auditory
- Tactile
- Taste
- Smell
- Position/movement
- Interoception.
Causes
The mid-brain and brain stem regions of the central nervous system are early centers in the processing pathway for multisensory integration, these brain regions are involved in processes including coordination, attention, arousal, and autonomic function. After sensory information passes through these centers, it is then routed to brain regions responsible for emotions, memory, and higher level cognitive functions. Sensory processing disorder not only affects interpretation and reaction to stimuli at the midbrain areas, but impacts several higher functions. Damage in any part of the brain involved in multisensory processing can cause difficulties to adequately process stimuli in a functional way.
People with Sensory Processing Deficits have less sensory gating (electrophysiology) than typical subjects.
Visual Information Processing Issues
Visual processing refers to how a child uses the data he sees. It involves how quickly he can understand something when he sees it and how well he remembers that information.
A child with visual information processing issues may have trouble accurately making sense of what he sees. It may lack visual-spatial skills.and may also:
- Find it hard to see the differences between similar-looking shapes or letters, like O and Q
- Have trouble comparing and seeing differences between certain colors, shapes and patterns
- Struggle to locate something specific on a page
- Skip lines when he reads or read the same line repeatedly
- Find it hard to stay in the lines when writing
- Have trouble copying information from the board
- Bump into things and have trouble navigating new places
Standardized tests for the diagnosis of SPD's
- Sensory Integration and Praxis Test. (SIPT)
- DeGangi-Berk Test of Sensory Integration (TSI)
- Test of Sensory Functions in Infants (TSFI)
- Standardized questionnaires
- Sensory Profile, (SP)
- Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile
- Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile
- Sensory Profile School Companion
- Sensory Processing Measure (SPM)
- Sensory Processing Measure Preeschool (SPM-P)
Sensory integration therapy
Vestibular system is stimulated through hanging equipment such as tire swings
The main form of sensory integration therapy is a type of occupational therapy that places a child in a room specifically designed to stimulate and challenge all of the senses.
During the session, the therapist works closely with the child to provide a level of sensory stimulation that the child can cope with, and encourage movement within the room. Sensory integration therapy is driven by four main principles:
- Just right challenge (the child must be able to successfully meet the challenges that are presented through playful activities)
- Adaptive response (the child adapts his behavior with new and useful strategies in response to the challenges presented)
- Active engagement (the child will want to participate because the activities are fun)
- Child directed (the child's preferences are used to initiate therapeutic experiences within the session)
- Sensory processing therapy
This therapy retains all of the above-mentioned four principles and adds:
- Intensity (person attends therapy daily for a prolonged period of time)
- Developmental approach (therapist adapts to the developmental age of the person, against actual age)
- Test-retest systematic evaluation (all clients are evaluated before and after)
- Process driven vs. activity driven (therapist focuses on the "Just right" emotional connection and the process that reinforces the relationship)
- Parent education (parent education sessions are scheduled into the therapy process)
- "joie de vivre" (happiness of life is therapy's main goal, attained through social participation, self-regulation, and self-esteem)
- Combination of best practice interventions (is often accompanied by integrated listening system therapy, floor time, and electronic media such as Xbox Kinect, Nintendo Wii, Makoto II machine training and others)
Resource for teachers
SPD Resource Pack |