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2012年8月28日 星期二

Helping the Child Who Has Sensory Processing Issues


There's something up with a child you know. He's clumsy, picky, always on the move, or flopped in a chair like a wet noodle. He's impulsive, intense, and quirky. Maybe he has a learning disability, ADHD, or autism, or maybe not, but his behavior and responses to everyday sensations are puzzling. Why does he withdraw or act out? Why are transitions so difficult? Can he really hear the fluorescent lights that he claims are distracting him?

It's very likely that this child you're concerned about has sensory processing disorder, also known as SPD or sensory integration dysfunction. An estimated 1 in 20 children and almost all children with autism have SPD.

The nervous system of a child with sensory processing disorder is wired atypically, causing her body to process everyday sensations differently. Unable to rely on her senses to give her an accurate picture of what is going on in her body and her world, she is prone to anxiety, distractibility, impulsivity, and frustration. A child with SPD will tune out or act out when overstimulated. The need for sensory input such as movement and touch can be so overpowering that the child truly can't control her need to seek it out. An everyday sound or sensation may be experienced as so intense that it sets off a primitive fear response, also known as a fight-or-flight response. Many of us have difficulty tuning out background noise, or prefer clothes that fit a certain way. These are sensory preferences. When a child's sensory issues interfere significantly with learning and playing, he needs the help of an occupational therapist and a sensory smart adult who can teach him how to feel more comfortable in his body and environment.

Fortunately, many of the accommodations that can make a huge difference in the life of a child who has sensory issues are simple and inexpensive. Here are just a few:


Cut out clothing tags, turn socks inside out or buy seamless ones, and avoid clothing with embroidery and elastic that will touch the skin and create distracting, irritating sensations.
To tolerate the intense sensation of having his teeth brushed, the child with SPD may need to use nonfoaming toothpaste and have his mouth and lips desensitized by using a vibrating toothbrush or even just gently pressing a hand-held vibrator against his cheek, jaws, and lips before attempting to brush.
To calm and focus a child with sensory issues, you can try applying deep pressure against the skin as you compress her joints. Hugging, or pressing pillows against her body or rolling her up in a blanket to play "burrito" are often enjoyable ways for a child to get input. Always pay close attention to what a child is telling you, in words or body language, about her response to sensory input. Do not upset her with unwanted touch.
In school or at home, allow him to sit on an exercise ball or an inflatable cushion, with a smooth or bumpy surface. This will meet the movement needs of a child who just has to be able to squirm and help the child with poor body awareness to better sense where his body is when he's seated. When these needs for movement and body awareness are met, the sensory child will focus better on listening, eating, or doing schoolwork.
Provide a quiet retreat when she's overwhelmed by the sensory onslaught of everyday life. Whether she sits alone with you in a car outside of a party or restaurant, or in a quiet, darkened room, listening to relaxing music on a personal music player with headphones, a sensory break can do wonders for a child's ability to tolerate her environment.

A pediatric occupational therapist who is both trained and experienced in helping children with sensory issues can work with parents and teachers to plan and carry out activities for the child that can help him or her function better at home, at school, and away. She can also help problem solve and discover accommodations that will ease the child's discomfort, and set up a "sensory diet" of activities that will help him. Whether working on a consultation basis, in a sensory gym nearby, at home or at school, the right sensory smart OT can make a huge difference for a child with sensory processing disorder.

copyright (c) 2012 Nancy Peske




Nancy Peske is an author and editor and the parent of a child who at age 2 was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and multiple developmental delays. She is coauthor of the award-winning Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues. You can learn more about sensory issues at http://www.sensorysmartparent.com





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2012年5月26日 星期六

Helping the Child Who Has Sensory Processing Issues


There's something up with a child you know. He's clumsy, picky, always on the move, or flopped in a chair like a wet noodle. He's impulsive, intense, and quirky. Maybe he has a learning disability, ADHD, or autism, or maybe not, but his behavior and responses to everyday sensations are puzzling. Why does he withdraw or act out? Why are transitions so difficult? Can he really hear the fluorescent lights that he claims are distracting him?

It's very likely that this child you're concerned about has sensory processing disorder, also known as SPD or sensory integration dysfunction. An estimated 1 in 20 children and almost all children with autism have SPD.

The nervous system of a child with sensory processing disorder is wired atypically, causing her body to process everyday sensations differently. Unable to rely on her senses to give her an accurate picture of what is going on in her body and her world, she is prone to anxiety, distractibility, impulsivity, and frustration. A child with SPD will tune out or act out when overstimulated. The need for sensory input such as movement and touch can be so overpowering that the child truly can't control her need to seek it out. An everyday sound or sensation may be experienced as so intense that it sets off a primitive fear response, also known as a fight-or-flight response. Many of us have difficulty tuning out background noise, or prefer clothes that fit a certain way. These are sensory preferences. When a child's sensory issues interfere significantly with learning and playing, he needs the help of an occupational therapist and a sensory smart adult who can teach him how to feel more comfortable in his body and environment.

Fortunately, many of the accommodations that can make a huge difference in the life of a child who has sensory issues are simple and inexpensive. Here are just a few:


Cut out clothing tags, turn socks inside out or buy seamless ones, and avoid clothing with embroidery and elastic that will touch the skin and create distracting, irritating sensations.
To tolerate the intense sensation of having his teeth brushed, the child with SPD may need to use nonfoaming toothpaste and have his mouth and lips desensitized by using a vibrating toothbrush or even just gently pressing a hand-held vibrator against his cheek, jaws, and lips before attempting to brush.
To calm and focus a child with sensory issues, you can try applying deep pressure against the skin as you compress her joints. Hugging, or pressing pillows against her body or rolling her up in a blanket to play "burrito" are often enjoyable ways for a child to get input. Always pay close attention to what a child is telling you, in words or body language, about her response to sensory input. Do not upset her with unwanted touch.
In school or at home, allow him to sit on an exercise ball or an inflatable cushion, with a smooth or bumpy surface. This will meet the movement needs of a child who just has to be able to squirm and help the child with poor body awareness to better sense where his body is when he's seated. When these needs for movement and body awareness are met, the sensory child will focus better on listening, eating, or doing schoolwork.
Provide a quiet retreat when she's overwhelmed by the sensory onslaught of everyday life. Whether she sits alone with you in a car outside of a party or restaurant, or in a quiet, darkened room, listening to relaxing music on a personal music player with headphones, a sensory break can do wonders for a child's ability to tolerate her environment.

A pediatric occupational therapist who is both trained and experienced in helping children with sensory issues can work with parents and teachers to plan and carry out activities for the child that can help him or her function better at home, at school, and away. She can also help problem solve and discover accommodations that will ease the child's discomfort, and set up a "sensory diet" of activities that will help him. Whether working on a consultation basis, in a sensory gym nearby, at home or at school, the right sensory smart OT can make a huge difference for a child with sensory processing disorder.

copyright (c) 2012 Nancy Peske




Nancy Peske is an author and editor and the parent of a child who at age 2 was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and multiple developmental delays. She is coauthor of the award-winning Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues. You can learn more about sensory issues at http://www.sensorysmartparent.com





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2012年1月12日 星期四

Therapy Swings - Helping Kids Regulate and Learn About Their Bodies


As moms and teachers everywhere know, kids have a lot of energy. They need to move and play to get that energy out. This is true of all kids but this necessity is taken to a whole different level when dealing with kids with special needs. Children with ADD, ADHD, Sensory Integration issues, and Autism all benefit from daily movement and stimulation. Although each kid is different, occupational therapists often use various kinds of swings and swinging techniques to help these kids regulate their bodies. Swinging therapy helps kids focus and increases a child's body awareness.

Occupational therapy is a key component to a successful program for kids with Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID). Swings of various kinds are used to help regulate the vestibular system and some can provide proprioception for calming kids down and increasing body awareness. Often times parents find carrying over occupational therapy techniques into the home a daunting task. Many parents turn their family rooms in an OT clinic but not everyone has the skills or ability to hang swings from their ceilings or cover their floors in mats. The best solution for most families is an indoor swing that has a variety of attachments and a solid support bar.

To create the perfect indoor swinging area for your child you should invest in attachments that best meet their individual needs. Here is a list of components that might benefit your child if they suffer from ADHD, Autism, or a Sensory Integration Disorder. All of the products listed here are by Theraplay Toys (also known as Play Away). We have found this product to be the most convenient, affordable, and sturdy indoor swing system available.


Support Bar - a solid support bar is an essential part of a good indoor swinging system. This well constructed support bar is designed to fit in any doorway 29-36 inches. If you are placing it in a doorway temporarily or just want the flexibility of putting it up and taking it down easily it can be soft mounted without any screws. With this type of installation the support bar can hold up to 175 lbs, if you plan on leaving it the doorway for long periods of time or permanently you can hard mount it. The hardware required to hard mount the support bar is included and it will hold up to 300 lbs so parent (or therapist) and child can ride together.


Net Swing - this is one of my personal favorites. This swing envelops your whole body as you swing back and forth. It not only stimulates the vestibular system it provide ample proprioception (pressure to the joints) so it is calming and comforting for kids who seek that type of pressure. Many kids love to relax in the net swing but it is also a good place for them to read a book or do homework with clipboard or hard surface on the lap. For kids that are praxis or suffer from other types of speech disorders doing speech therapy exercises while in a net swing can keep them alert and motivated for a longer period of time.


3 in 1 Platform Swing - this is one of the most innovative therapy swings I have every seen used in occupational therapy. The platform wing has long been a staple of sensory integration therapy. When Jean Ayres invented the therapy she used platform swings to help regulate a child's vestibular system. She added that varying types the types of movement and planes of the body will increase body awareness. On a Platform swing a child can stand, sit, and lie on their back or stomach. This innovative 3 in 1 system can also be removed from the swing and placed on the floor. It has a rotational devise on the underside of the platform that allows the platform to turn endless in circles. This can help kids who cannot tolerate rotary movement learn to do it in a safe manner. Additionally many kids in the Autism spectrum have a deep need to spin and this gives them a safe and appropriate way to get that movement.


One Seated Glider - as with all swing the glider stimulates the vestibular system but it also does so much more. It allows for proprioception as kids push with their feet to make the glider move forward and back. The full body extension also helps with postural stability by adding strength at the core.

These are just a few of the great attachments that can be used for sensory integration therapy in the home. Ironically the product was developed by a Dad of a neuro-typical child because they lived in an apartment in a wet weather climate. Basically his kids were driving him crazy. Then a few parents of Autistic children found out about this amazing product and it has helped so many families. One of my dear friends has had this hanging in her kitchen doorway for the last 5 years. Everyone is the house sits in it from time to time but her Autistic daughter uses it daily to self regulate. It keeps her ticks to a minimum and instead of rocking or picking at her fingers she sits in her net swing. The indoor swing set has given her a tool to self regulate in an appropriate way. It makes her feel good - not just in the calm physical sense - it makes her feel good about herself and increases her self esteem because she feels more in control of her own body.

As a mother of a child with sensory issues and a friend to so many other moms in the same situation I cannot say enough about having an indoor swing therapy set. It is an essential part of a well rounded sensory diet and the perfect arsenal in combating sensory integration disorder.




Alycia Shapiro is Vice President in charge of product development for SensoryEdge. She has advocated for special needs children in order to get the therapy services they need. Many parents either have difficulty getting the proper services or might not know these services are available. You can visit her websites to learn more about educational Toys and Play Therapy.





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2012年1月4日 星期三

Occupational Therapy Jobs - Helping the Autistic


People struggle to find the causes, cures, and treatments for these children. The extent that desperate parents will go to should not be underestimated. Every year children go through pseudo-medical practices to cure their children. Usually these treatments do little or no good and sometimes, the results were fatal. Occupational therapy has been one of the few consistently successful treatments. Occupational therapy is one of many fast growing medical fields, especially for the treatment of autism and other developmentally delayed children.

Occupation therapists are not concerned with finding cures. Their job is to help increase the quality of life and help get past the emotional and developmental barriers of autism. Their work with infants through adults that have developmental delays and help them achieve their fullest potential. They work to improve delays in motor skills, communications, and sensory integration just to name a few. Occupation therapy is on the front line in the battle against autism. They focus on motor skills, sensory overload issues, and communication. Occupational therapy provides many skills that have been used in the fight against autism.

For the toddlers and pre-teens, occupational therapist jobs may include behavior training and modification. This will help a person with sensory integration issues to be able to train themselves on behavior when faced with sensory overload or over stimulation. This helps to blend the children in with society, but also teaches them valuable coping skills. The therapist will also work to increase muscle coordination and balance. This is something that many developmentally delayed children have problems. This is done through games and carefully crafted exercises. Occupational therapists also work to teach the children different learning methods.

Occupational therapists work with teens and young adults to help them develop living skills. These skills range from personal hygiene, handling money, how to find work, and other skills that help them to function. Occupational therapist work with family and with the individual to help integrate the patient into society or to place them into a proper living condition, where care is provided. Occupation therapists work to teach the young adults and teens different learning methods.

Occupational therapy is an essential part of autism treatment teams, that work with autistic children. They use their training to help give these children and young adults the skills that they will need to integrate into society. Through their work, they give these children a feeling of belonging and skills that will help them to take care of themselves, with limited assistance. No cure exists for autism, there is no antidote, but with the hard work and diligence of occupational therapist, they have chances that were not available to them previously. Those looking into occupational therapist jobs are putting themselves, psychologists, and physical therapists, occupational therapists on the front line of autism treatment. Along with other professionals, such as neurologists is a powerful tool for the battle against autism.




To learn more about careers in Occupational Therapist, visit the Occupational Therapist Jobs page for more information and how to apply for a job.





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2011年12月17日 星期六

Helping the Child Who Has Sensory Processing Issues


There's something up with a child you know. He's clumsy, picky, always on the move, or flopped in a chair like a wet noodle. He's impulsive, intense, and quirky. Maybe he has a learning disability, ADHD, or autism, or maybe not, but his behavior and responses to everyday sensations are puzzling. Why does he withdraw or act out? Why are transitions so difficult? Can he really hear the fluorescent lights that he claims are distracting him?

It's very likely that this child you're concerned about has sensory processing disorder, also known as SPD or sensory integration dysfunction. An estimated 1 in 20 children and almost all children with autism have SPD.

This child's nervous system is wired atypically, causing her body to process everyday sensations differently. Unable to rely on her senses to give her an accurate picture of what is going on in her body and her world, she is prone to anxiety, distractibility, impulsivity, and frustration. A child with SPD will tune out or act out when overstimulated. The need for sensory input such as movement and touch can be so overpowering that the child truly can't control her need to seek it out. Many of us have difficulty tuning out background noise, or prefer clothes that fit a certain way. These are sensory preferences. When a child's sensory issues interfere significantly with learning and playing, he needs the help of an occupational therapist and a sensory smart adult who can teach him how to feel more comfortable in his body and environment.

Fortunately, many of the accommodations that can make a huge difference in the life of a child who has sensory issues are simple and inexpensive. Here are just a few:


Cut out clothing tags, turn socks inside out or buy seamless ones, and avoid clothing with embroidery and elastic that will touch the skin and create distracting, irritating sensations.
To tolerate the intense sensation of having his teeth brushed, the child with SPD may need to use nonfoaming toothpaste and have his mouth and lips desensitized by using a vibrating toothbrush or even just gently pressing a hand-held vibrator against his cheek, jaws, and lips before attempting to brush.
To calm and focus a child with sensory issues, you can try applying deep pressure against the skin as you compress her joints. Hugging, or pressing pillows against her body or rolling her up in a blanket to play "burrito" are often enjoyable ways for a child to get input. Always pay close attention to what a child is telling you, in words or body language, about her response to sensory input. Do not upset her with unwanted touch.
In school or at home, allow him to sit on an exercise ball or an inflatable cushion, with a smooth or bumpy surface. This will meet the movement needs of a child who just has to be able to squirm and help the child with poor body awareness to better sense where his body is when he's seated. When these needs for movement and body awareness are met, the sensory child will focus better on listening, eating, or doing schoolwork.
Provide a quiet retreat when she's overwhelmed by the sensory onslaught of everyday life. Whether she sits alone with you in a car outside of a party or restaurant, or in a quiet, darkened room, listening to relaxing music on a personal music player with headphones, a sensory break can do wonders for a child's ability to tolerate her environment.

A pediatric occupational therapist, trained and experienced in helping children with sensory issues, can work with parents and teachers to plan and carry out activities for the child that can help him or her function better at home, at school, and away. She can also help problem solve and discover accommodations that will ease the child's discomfort, and set up a "sensory diet" of activities that will help him. Whether working on a consultation basis, in a sensory gym nearby, at home or at school, the right sensory smart OT can make a huge difference for a child with sensory processing disorder.




Nancy Peske is an author and editor and the parent of a child who at age 2 was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and multiple developmental delays. Coauthor of the award-winning Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues, available from Penguin Books, Nancy offers information and support on her blog and website at http://www.sensorysmartparent.com She has been active in the SPD community since 2002.





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