July 21
— For most children, the exploration of new sights and sounds
is exhilarating.
But for 5-year-old Tanner, noise can be painfully overwhelming, setting
him off on a temper tantrum. Even his own mother’s touch can be traumatic
for him.
“There were times when I couldn’t understand how upset he would get,”
says his mother, Karen. “It didn’t seem just behavioral to me. It seemed
something else was going on.”
In fact, there was something else going on. After years of searching
for answers, Tanner was diagnosed with Sensory Integration Dysfunction,
abbreviated DSI (Dysfunction in Sensory Integration, so as not to be
confused with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, SIDS).
What Is
the Condition?
DSI is a complex neurological disorder, manifested by difficulty processing
sensations. DSI causes children to process sensation from the environment or
from their bodies in an inaccurate way, resulting in “sensory avoiding”
patterns. Children with DSI can also have “sensory seeking” patterns or “dyspraxia,”
a motor planning problem.
Children with sensory seeking patterns do not always process that
sensory input is coming in to the brain, so they may seek out more intense
or longer duration sensory experiences. Those with sensory avoiding
tendencies have nervous systems that feel sensation too easily or too much.
They are overly responsive to sensation, so certain sounds and touches may
feel painful, making them respond with aggression or withdrawal. Children
with dyspraxia have difficulty with fine- and gross-motor skills and trouble
with balance.
Like Tanner, 6-and-a-half-year-old Emma Reinhardt is overly sensitive
to sensation.
“Things that can be just simply annoying to the rest of us, can
actually be painful to her,” says her mother, Terri Reinhardt.
For example, Emma’s head is extremely sensitive to touch and she finds
the sound of running water painful, so washing her hair generally involves
kicking, screaming and crying. The size and feel of a bathtub also frightens
Emma, so she usually takes a bath in a small bucket in the kitchen. Whenever
her brother plays the violin, she screams, and clipping her toenails is an
ordeal.
Improving Quality of Life
Though Sensory Integration Dysfunction can often go undetected or be
misdiagnosed, it can be treated. Occupational therapy can facilitate the
development of the nervous system’s ability to process sensory input in a
more normal way.
In Emma’s case, an occupational therapist works with her to confront
the sensation she fears. To change her reaction to sound, she is encouraged
to blow a toy whistle while she swings an activity that calms her. To learn
how to cope with her sensitivity to touch, the occupational therapist
strokes her arms with brushes.
“If we can find these kids early, we can prevent them from losing
self-esteem,” says Lucy Miller, Ph.D., an occupational therapist who directs
the Sensory Integration Dysfunction Treatment and Research center at The
Children’s Hospital in Denver. “We can prevent school failure, we can
prevent all kinds of family problems.”
While therapy is not a cure, some experts speculate that it may
actually change the way the brain experiences sensations, so that the child
can begin to respond in a more normal way.
For Tanner, such therapy has made all the difference.
“Therapy for Tanner has completely given him quality of life back,” his
mother says. Her son is happier, has fewer outbursts and gets along better
with people.
And now the loving touch of his mother no longer leaves Tanner shouting
in pain.
Q&A:
Sensory Integration Dysfunction
What kind of behavior might indicate this condition?
Children with sensory seeking patterns may be hyperactive, unaware of
touch or pain, touch others too often, engage in unsafe behaviors, such
as climbing too high, or enjoy sounds that are too loud. Those with
sensory avoiding behaviors may respond to being touched with aggression
or withdrawal, be overly cautious or afraid to try new things,
uncomfortable in loud or busy environments, or overly sensitive to
smells. With children who have dyspraxia, some behaviors that can be
observed are difficulty with fine- and gross-motor skills, clumsy and
awkward movements and trouble with balance.
How is Sensory Integration Dysfunction diagnosed?
Sensory Dysfunction is usually diagnosed by an occupational therapist, a
speech and language pathologist or by a physical therapist. The primary
standardized assessment tool for children ages 4 through 8 who may have
learning, behavioral or developmental delays is the Sensory Integration
and Praxis Test, which can be administered by a therapist who is SIPT
certified. Therapists also use clinical observation and parent-teacher
interviews to assess sensory integration dysfunction.
How is Sensory Integration Dysfunction treated?
Occupational Therapy is used to treat the condition, with the goal of
enabling children to take part in the normal activities of childhood.
For example, therapists may evaluate how a child perceives sensation and
how that affects his/her emotions, attention, motor skill or learning
abilities. Treatment, which usually occurs in a sensory-enriched gym
with tactile, visual, auditory and taste opportunities, can facilitate
the development of the nervous system’s ability to process sensory input
in a more normal way. For more information, call (303) 764-8494 or see
Web links at right. |
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W E B
L I N K S
Sensory
Integration Network
Sensory
Integration International
“If we can find
these kids early, we can prevent them from losing self-esteem.”
— Lucy Miller,
DSI expert
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