Sensory Integration Therapy

What is Sensory Integration Therapy and Who Benefits Most?

Sensory Integration Therapy is a form of therapy typically provided by an occupational therapist that aims to help individuals with sensory processing difficulties, improve their ability to process and organise sensory information. 

This is done through a progressive approach wherein the therapist integrates different sensory inputs incrementally. The end goal is to help the client enhance their daily functioning, emotional regulation, and ability to maintain attention even when confronted with different sensory information.

What is Sensory Integration Therapy and Who Benefits Most?

Sensory Integration Therapy is a form of therapy typically provided by an occupational therapist that aims to help individuals with sensory processing difficulties, improve their ability to process and organise sensory information. 

This is done through a progressive approach wherein the therapist integrates different sensory inputs incrementally. The end goal is to help the client enhance their daily functioning, emotional regulation, and ability to maintain attention even when confronted with different sensory information.

How is This Therapy Used for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder or ASD?

When Sensory Integration Therapy is provided to children, the approach typically utilises structured, play-based activities that seek to address the child’s sensory systems in a fun and engaging way, that isn’t overly confronting. These can include approaches such as:

How is This Therapy Used for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder or ASD?

When Sensory Integration Therapy is provided to children, the approach typically utilises structured, play-based activities that seek to address the child’s sensory systems in a fun and engaging way, that isn’t overly confronting. These can include approaches such as:

How Does Conscious Healthcare SA Assess Sensory Integration Issues?

When it comes to sensory integration, environments and therapy rooms are often set up to reflect the needs of the client. For children, as an example, the rooms can be set up for all the aforementioned activities (swinging and spinning, obstacle courses for sensory-motor integration, tactile play stations, etc.).

While adult clients won’t typically engage in the same activities and may not need specific sensory stations, environments will accommodate their needs. This can include softened lighting or a devoted area to practise yoga or undertake resistance exercises like wall pushes or lifting weights.
How Does Conscious Healthcare SA Assess Sensory Integration Issues?
There are a variety of methods that can be used in order to assess the presence of sensory issues among young children, adolescents, and adults. While there’s no one-size-fits-all means of assessment, a mixture of standardised assessments, clinical observations, functional assessments, and questionnaires can all help shed light on an individual’s sensory integration needs.

Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) is a common form of assessment that assesses sensory discrimination, praxis (motor planning), and processing among young children typically aged 4 to 8 years. 

For adolescents and adults, there is a self-reporting tool that allows the client to note their sensory preferences and sensitivities, resulting in a Sensory Profile.

OTs will also make clinical observations during therapy and will assess how the client responds to different sensory inputs and other factors, including their ability to plan and sequence movement, bilateral control and their posture. Functional assessments are also part of the process, where the OT may assess how the individual navigates home, school, and/or work (depending on their age and sensory difficulties). Questionnaires and interviews with people close to the client can also provide much needed context that can be used to make a complete assessment.

How Does Conscious Healthcare SA Assess Sensory Integration Issues?

When it comes to sensory integration, environments and therapy rooms are often set up to reflect the needs of the client. For children, as an example, the rooms can be set up for all the aforementioned activities (swinging and spinning, obstacle courses for sensory-motor integration, tactile play stations, etc.).

While adult clients won’t typically engage in the same activities and may not need specific sensory stations, environments will accommodate their needs. This can include softened lighting or a devoted area to practise yoga or undertake resistance exercises like wall pushes or lifting weights.
How Does Conscious Healthcare SA Assess Sensory Integration Issues?
There are a variety of methods that can be used in order to assess the presence of sensory issues among young children, adolescents, and adults. While there’s no one-size-fits-all means of assessment, a mixture of standardised assessments, clinical observations, functional assessments, and questionnaires can all help shed light on an individual’s sensory integration needs.

Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) is a common form of assessment that assesses sensory discrimination, praxis (motor planning), and processing among young children typically aged 4 to 8 years. 

For adolescents and adults, there is a self-reporting tool that allows the client to note their sensory preferences and sensitivities, resulting in a Sensory Profile.

OTs will also make clinical observations during therapy and will assess how the client responds to different sensory inputs and other factors, including their ability to plan and sequence movement, bilateral control and their posture. Functional assessments are also part of the process, where the OT may assess how the individual navigates home, school, and/or work (depending on their age and sensory difficulties). Questionnaires and interviews with people close to the client can also provide much needed context that can be used to make a complete assessment.

Can Adults Also Benefit from Sensory Integration Therapy?

Yes! Sensory Integration Therapy isn’t just for children. Adults can also greatly benefit from this therapy, but typically the tasks and activities that are integrated differ from those for children. For adults with sensory processing difficulties, an occupational therapist will adapt methods to better reflect the needs and day-to-day experiences of adults.

Other activities are also focused on helping the client manage real world situations, such as tolerating noise in a busy office, techniques for managing sensory overload when caught in large crowds, and methods for improving focus while at home.

Self-regulation strategies can also take centre stage, whether this is using noise-cancelling headphones, using weighted blankets when the nervous system is overwhelmed, or practicing mindfulness techniques that can help reduce the perceived intensity of different sensory inputs. Adult clients are also often provided guidance on how to advocate for their sensory needs in workplaces or other settings.

Finally, environmental modifications can also be put into practice, such as installing noise dampening wall panels, adjusting to softer lighting (e.g. switching out fluorescent lights for warmer LEDs), and even changing textures, like placing soft rugs over hard surfaces.

Can Adults Also Benefit from Sensory Integration Therapy?

Yes! Sensory Integration Therapy isn’t just for children. Adults can also greatly benefit from this therapy, but typically the tasks and activities that are integrated differ from those for children. For adults with sensory processing difficulties, an occupational therapist will adapt methods to better reflect the needs and day-to-day experiences of adults..

Other activities are also focused on helping the client manage real world situations, such as tolerating noise in a busy office, techniques for managing sensory overload when caught in large crowds, and methods for improving focus while at home.

Self-regulation strategies can also take centre stage, whether this is using noise-cancelling headphones, using weighted blankets when the nervous system is overwhelmed, or practicing mindfulness techniques that can help reduce the perceived intensity of different sensory inputs. Adult clients are also often provided guidance on how to advocate for their sensory needs in workplaces or other settings.

Finally, environmental modifications can also be put into practice, such as installing noise dampening wall panels, adjusting to softer lighting (e.g. switching out fluorescent lights for warmer LEDs), and even changing textures, like placing soft rugs over hard surfaces.