Sensory Integration Disorder : Definition, Information, and Resources
Sensory Integration Disorder, Sensory Overload, and Sensory Integration Issues
Is your child fussy about clothes, noises, food textures or tastes, active environments, bright lights, etc.? If so, you may have a child with Sensory Integration Disorder. The NIH defines Sensory Integration as “The involuntary process by which the brain assembles a picture of our environment at each moment in time using information from all of our senses. Children with learning disabilities or autism have difficulties with sensory integration.”
This means your child can have difficulty coping with various stimuli that come in from the environment.
Sensory Integration Disorder and Traditional Classrooms
For children with Sensory Integration Disorder, coping with a traditional school environment can be very difficult. There are bright lights, lots of movement from all of the people, and visual input everywhere. Add in all of the noises, and it overwhelms the senses of your child. Sensory Integration Disorder makes it nearly impossible for your child to process everything he is experiencing. When the environment is overwhelming, learning is often significantly hampered. This is especially true in a traditional school.
If you’d like to see what it’s like to have Sensory Integration Disorder, check out “What it’s like to have Sensory Integration Disorder.”
What are your options for coping with Sensory Integration Disorder?
As a parent, what can you do? The first step is to arm yourself with information about Sensory Integration Disorder. You can watch this video for a better understanding of Sensory Integration Disorder (opens in a new window):
The Out of Sync Child.
Books about Sensory Integration.
First Thoughts:
First gain a better understanding of sensory integration and how to deal with the coping problems it causes for your child. Then you need to think about how best to meet your child’s educational needs. Most likely, you want to find a local provider who can help with sensory integration therapy. Contact the nearest children’s hospital or a child therapy center. That’s often a good place to begin seeking a doctor or therapist.
If your public school has great special education programs, then they may give your child therapy at school. It’s great if they can provide therapy in a low-key learning environment.
If they provide sensory management, then they can help control your child’s learning environment. That might make it easier for learning to take place.
Your child may be over-stimulated while traveling to and from school, if he travels by bus. He can have trouble going from the classroom to other areas of the school too. Any number of issues in a traditional school building can cause a lot of stress. If you find your child can’t cope with the stimuli, then you will have some hard decisions to make.
Alternative Options for Coping with Sensory Integration Disorder
As with many other disabilities, home schooling can be of great benefit, particularly when your child is young. At home, you are able to control your child’s learning environment much better than a school can. Learning is likely to improve in a calmer, more familiar environment.
Keep in mind also, your child needs to be able to learn the basic skills of reading, writing, and math while he is young. If possible, he should learn them without falling far behind peers.
If your child has Sensory Integration Disorder, then you may want to think about homeschooling during elementary school. That can provide your child the best possible learning environment while he is learning to cope. And it can help him stay on track while learning essential academic skills.
As a child with Sensory Integration Disorder gets older, he usually improves in his ability to process and cope with his environment. Once your child reaches a certain level of maturity, the sensory issues aren’t as likely to overwhelm him on a daily basis. At that time, you might want to place your child into a small, traditional school. Doing this can help enhance his coping skills, but only if your child’s learning foundation is already solid.
When you place your child in a traditional program of any kind, be sure his sensory needs are understood. You never want your child to receive punishment or made to feel bad for being unable to cope with the stress Sensory Integration Disorder causes. Your child must have support and reassuring interactions when he is overwhelmed. Otherwise, the environment causes unnecessary stress.
If your child has some sensitivities he can’t manage yet, then be sure his teachers are aware of these difficulties. Be sure your child’s teacher understands what Sensory Integration Disorder is too.
Organizations which may be of help with your child’s Sensory Integration Disorder:
Sensory Integration Disorder Foundation
Pathways Medical Roundtable on Sensory Integration Disorder
For More Information About Sensory Processing & Neurodevelopment, Check Out:
- Sensory Integration Disorder Resources
- Neurodevelopmental Treatment
- Neuropsychological Testing and Cross-Body Patterning
- Visual Aids for Learning
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