Supporting Children’s Diverse Learning

All of these children are demonstrating signs of problems with sensory integration:Thomas covers his ears when the children are

singingTemple rolls all over the floor while others are

sitting circle timeBrianna refuses to touch play dough, sand or paintMiguel climbs on top of tables and jumps offCassandra often falls down and skins her knees.William refuses to play on playground equipment

Autism vs SPDChildren with Autism will have always have

some sensory processing disorder issuesChildren diagnosed with Sensory Processing

Disorder do not necessarily have Autism Spectrum Disorder

In fact, sometimes children who display SPD are misdiagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorder

See background view of the room

around you

Smell of a candle burning

Hear children laughing outside

Feel the air blowing from an air conditioner

Hear sounds of the television in another room

Feel the blanket wrapped around

your legs

Taste of the coffee you are

drinking

This is Sensory

Integration!

Everyone has difficulty processing some sensory stimuli and everyone has sensory preferences

It becomes a sensory processing disorder when a child is on extreme ends of the continuum demonstrating disruptive, unpredictable fluctuations which significantly impact their developmental skills or everyday functioning

Sensory Processing DisorderSensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a

condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses….a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly (Ayers, 1999).

A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks.

Tactile: the sense of touch; input from the skin receptors about touch, pressure, temperature, pain and movement of the hairs on the skin.

Auditory: input relating to sounds; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to sounds

Taste: input relating to the mouth; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to input within the mouth

Smell: input relating to smell; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to different odors.

Visual: input relating to sight; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to what one sees.

Vestibular: the sense of movement; input from the inner ear about equilibrium, gravitational changes, movement experiences and position in space.

Proprioception: the sense of "position"; input from the muscles and joints about body position, weight, pressure, stretch, movement and changes in position.

Responses to Sensory InputChildren typically learn through interaction

with their environment

Because SPD affects the child’s overall development, participation in typical experiences will be lacking, inconsistent, or ineffective

A child who is overwhelmed by sensory information from his environment will unable to learn effectively

A child who is under-stimulated by the environment will also lack the input necessary to learn

Types of Responses to Inputs

Typical ResponseUnder-

StimulatedOver-Stimulated

Under-Responder

Impact on LearningCoordination problemsPoor attention span or difficulty focusing on

tasksAcademic-related problems such as poor

handwriting and difficulty cutting with scissorsProblems with self care skills such as tying

shoes, zippingLow self-esteemOver-sensitivity to touch, sight, or soundsUnusually high or low activity level

Sensory AvoidersMost common type of sensory problemOver-responsive to sensations Brain unable to reduce stimuliChildren may be passive and try to get away

from objects or activities that are frightening to them

May choose to do a less frightening activityOther children may be aggressive or forceful in

their response to sensations – kick and scream not to do what is frightening to them

Sensory SeekersCraves excessive stimulationNever satisfied with the amount of

stimulation received

Sensory Under-RespondersDoes not seem to notice inputs from the

sensory system Gives less of a response to stimuli than other childrenMay react very slowly or need extra strong input before responding

Any combination of the above sensory integration disorder types could occur in any combination of senses

Websites

http://www.spdfoundation.net

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com