Sensory Integration
We all have 8 senses, these are:
Tactile (touch)
Auditory (sound)
Gustatory (taste)
Visual (sight)
Olfactory (smell)
Vestibular (balance and movement)
Proprioception (body awareness)
Interoception (Inner body feelings such as cold, hot, hunger or needing the toilet)
To be able to function and participate in everyday activities we need our brains to process and integrate all our senses together.
If we receive accurate messages we should then be able to carry out an adaptive response. This means responding appropriately to the sensory information. For example getting out of the way of a car coming towards you or moving your hand away from a hot surface.
When sensory processing is not working adequately these message can appear too intense or not intense enough changing a child’s response to the information.
This becomes a difficulty when the sensory processing interferes with a child’s ability to complete their occupations (everyday activities).
As an Occupational Therapist and Sensory Integration practitioner I am able to complete an assessment to help you better understand your child’s sensory needs and how these are impacting on their independence in their occupations.
A bespoke intervention plan can then be created around this.
