Sensory Smarts Occupational Therapy Department

The Seven Senses Visual Olfactory Gustatory Auditory Tactile Propriopection Vestibular

Visual System May affect: ◦ Understanding of spatial concepts (large, small, and numerical) ◦ Identifying objects from background ◦ Eye tracking ◦ Focusing ◦ Eye contact

Auditory System May affect: ◦ Sensitivity to noise ◦ Ability to work with background noise

Tactile System May affect: ◦ Activity Level ◦ Social skills development ◦ Behavior ◦ Body Awareness/ personal space ◦ Motor Planning ◦ Oral-motor Skills  **Good, organized touch information stays in the central nervous system for minutes.

Proprioceptive System May affect: Coordination Awareness of body in space Motor planning Gradation of movement Activities of daily living **Lasts in Nervous system 1 ½- 2 hours. Perfect for transition times or before writing or reading tabletop tasks. Provide it to students throughout the day so they don’t have to seek it out in a less appropriate way.

Vestibular System May affect:  Balance  Coordination  Speech and language  Muscle tone  Level of alertness  Bilateral integration  Auditory processing  Visual processing  Comfort in movement **Vestibular information stays in the nervous system for approximately 8 hours.

Sensory Integration

“Sensory integration is the neurological process that organizes sensation from one’s body and from the environment and makes it possible to use the body effectively within the environment.”

Sensory Integration

Signs of Sensory Processing Difficulties Delays in speech, language, and motor skills Difficulty making transitions from one situation to another Unable to unwind Over or under- sensitivity to touch movements, sights, or sound Social/emotional problems Unusually high or low activity level

Personal Perspective Head-banging—To fight tension and to provide a thudding rhythm in my head when my mind was screaming too loud for me to be able to hum or to repeat a hypnotic tune in order to calm down. Williams, 1994 Rocking, hand-shaking, flicking objects, chin-tapping—Provide security and release, and thereby decrease built-up inner anxiety and tension, thereby decreasing fear. Williams, 1994 I was one of these pressure seekers. When I was six, I would wrap myself up in blankets and get under sofa cushions, because the pressure was relaxing. Grandin, 2006

Ways to change our states Put something in your mouth Move Touch Look Listen

Sensory Diet/Buffet The term “sensory diet” describes how our brains need input (sensorimotor input) to function properly. Everyone has a unique “formula” to help their brains maintain a balance. Before designing a sensory diet, consult an occupational therapist (OT) to help assess and design a diet that meets the needs of the individual.

The BIG Picture Sensory Strategies may HELP but are not a quick fix. Use a Multidisciplinary Approach Sensory needs are constantly changing