Sensory processing or sensory integration therapies are usually provided by occupational therapists and are based on what we know about how the brain functions.
Visual – Auditory – Vestibular Integration. Sensory Processing Basics
We know that the outside world offers visual, sound, smell, taste and touch information that we detect and experience through our senses. We also have an unconscious perception of our body position, our movement and our body boundary, through large and important sensory systems. These sensory systems allow us to respond to all kinds of environmental tasks. We reach and pick-up our water bottle through our vision, our position in relationship to the bottle and the just right pressure and shape of our hands to surround the bottle and bring it to our lips. Our sensory systems must work quickly and efficiently for us to smoothly walk, talk and engage in work and play tasks. When sensory systems are not well integrated, the motor planning and the participation in activities and work tasks is much more difficult.
In the case of reading and writing, the triad therapies offer unique methods to improve the foundation skill for achieving academic growth and progress. The therapies improve the student’s ability to get ready to learn by affecting the alert/arousal state for listening and participating. These therapies improve the auditory/visual integration function for smooth directional scanning across text in a left to right direction, with quick efficient sequencing of the letter sound associations. Decoding requires a letter sound association that “sounds like” our language. We “hear” the words we see. Without accurate sequencing and visual/auditory integration we labor over the reading task and loose the meaning of the words. Our language also has melody, and efficient decoding will help us make sense of the emotion embedded in reading.
The vestibular system, when used therapeutically will help integrate sound and the visual processing function of reading/writing. The small muscle groups around the eyes, in the ears and hands and mouth are highly dependent on the sensory/motor functions of the vestibular system. When children have symptoms of poor sensory integration, they often miss out on the point of the story and often misunderstand what their teacher and friends may be trying to communicate to them.
Examples of sensory integration therapies: Bal-A-Vis-X and Therapeutic Listening.
Feedback from Therapy
Here is a response from a mom that I received following a few weeks of the Therapeutic Listening Program;
“My son Tomas has been on the sound therapy for about 5 weeks. And we have noticed dramatic changes in his behavior. First it was small changes such as I did not have to repeat my self 4 to 5 times to get him to do what he was told. I would only have to repeat my self twice. He also had only a couple of outburst of anger in school instead of 4 to 5 outburst. He started to sit still longer from 20 min to 30 min.
We go to church every Sunday for an hour and Tomas would go to Sunday school for an hour after church. At the 4 week mark after we started the therapy I only had to pull him out of church once. Before the therapy I would have to pull him out 3 to four times to get him to calm down. His Sunday school teacher also told me that he was finely doing the projects and activities. I did not tell her about the therapy until after she had told me about this positive changes.
We were forced to move Tomas to a new school because of his bad behavior before the therapy the school could not handle him. The old school suggested that we have him in a very small classroom 6 to 8 children and to have him under supervision at all times. The new school wanted to see how he would do in a regular classroom 19 children. And because Tomas has been on the therapy for 4 weeks he is now doing okay in a regular classroom there are no more violent outbursts. He still has a lot of work to do yet on not blurting and paying more attention. But he is getting his school work done and is spending more of his time in the classroom not outside calming down.
This therapy is working for Tomas and I would defiantly suggest it for children that have SPD related to sensitivity to sounds.”
A happy Mom A. W.
This is great, Tanya…. thanks!