Understanding Sensory Integration Disorder

Michael is not your typical 3 year old; he seems a bit quirky. He stands back and watches as the other kids play together. Rather than push a toy truck on the floor, he clenches it in his hand. His diet consists of cottage cheese, yogurt, and other creamy foods. When approached by another child, he often screams at or pushes the child. He fixates on objects and exhibits repetitive behaviors. His language skills are not as developed as those of other children his age. Michael suffers from Sensory Integration Disorder (DSI). History The concept of DSI was developed in the late 1970s by A. Jean Ayers, PhD. Dr. Ayers was a psychologist and occupational therapist who studied the relationship between sensory processing and motor planning problems primarily in children who were intellectually disabled. Her theory, sensory integration, is now often used to treat children with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and more. Definition DSI is a neurological disorder in which the brain does not put together certain information obtained from the senses. In other words, the senses do not interact effectively. This may be due to a detachment in neurons which interrupts the transport of the message to the brain, inconsistent sensory messages, or consistent sensory messages which do not link properly with other sensory messages. DSI affects approximately 12-17% of children in the United States. The disorder begins before birth and continues throughout adulthood. Almost 70% of children with DSI also experience from some type of learning disability. Children who suffer from pervasive developmental disorders such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, head trauma, and anxiety disorder are prone to DSI. Children born prematurely are also more likely to exhibit signs of DSI. Characteristics Children diagnosed with DSI often exhibit some or all of the following characteristics: • Oversensitivity to touch, movement, sights, or sounds. A child may only wear certain fabrics because they don’t like the way others feel. They often become overwhelmed and act out in a large group. Some may pull away from physical contact. • Under responsive to touch movement, sights, or sounds. This child may throw himself onto the floor in order to satisfy his craving for physical sensation. • Social and/or emotional problems. When among other child her age, a child with DSI does not interact appropriately with the other children. The child may seem to be a loner or feel that she doesn’t belong. • Difficulty making transitions/resistance to change. Children with DSI often have difficulty moving from one activity to another. • Poor organization of behavior. The child may often be distracted, aggressive, impulsive, or frustrated. • Lacks purpose in activity/lacks exploration or manipulation of toy. A child with DSI may play with toys improperly. • Coordination problems/physical clumsiness. • Delays in speech, language, or motor skills. • Poor academic performance/delayed academic development. Diagnosis and Treatment A diagnosis of DSI often follows an evaluation by an occupational therapist. An evaluation may include a controlled examination of the child’s responses to various stimuli. Developmental testing may also be performed. Treatment is delivered by an occupational therapist and includes activities which help the child respond properly to sensory stimuli. These activities are designed to be fun and often seem like play. Parents can be taught to administer this therapy to their child at home. One goal of treatment is to help the child with DSI feel comfortable in the world around them. As with any developmental or neurological disorder, early detection is the key. The earlier DSI is diagnosed and treated, the more successful the treatment will be.