TeenHealthFX - Answers - Sensory Integration Disorder

Diseases, Conditions & Concerns / Question
Published: June 12, 2009

Dear TeenHealthFX,

When I was about four years old, I was diagnosed with a severe case of Sensory Integration Disorder, but because I was so young my mom never bothered to tell me what that was. I was in occupational, regular, and physical therapy all the time until about third grade when I couldn't handle it anymore and put a stop to my treatments altogether. My mom couldn't push me into staying because it made me feel like I wasn't normal. Now, I'm sixteen years old, and as I've grown older, I have figured out that I'm not "normal" and should have never stopped. My brain never seems to function the way it's supposed to, and being on an individualized education plan is getting to be very hard for me to hear because I don't know what's wrong or why I depend on it so much. I'm in a regular highschool with decent grades, but I couldn't do it without that IEP. I've researched the disorder to no end but there's nothing on it, and I've seen another occupational therapist who said there was nothing she could do, but I NEED ANSWERS!!! My muscles give out, my senses react in odd ways, and no two doctors can come up with the same diagnosis. I've been prescribed antidepressants due to the stress of this situation, but whenever I get off them on accident I go into fits of rage! I used to be on ADHD medication (misdiagnosed) and atleast that calmed me down. Other than that, rejoining all three types of therapy has barely helped me at all now that I've already been stuck to old habits for so long. I feel like there's no place for me other than an asylum because nobody seems to know what to do. There's such limited information available to me and my family. What can I do? Where should I go from here? I really could use any advice because I feel really alone in all of this. Thanks for any help you can offer, frankly I feel like you're my last hope! Signed, Alone with Sensory Integration

Signed: Sensory Integration Disorder

Dear Sensory Integration Disorder,

In order to answer your question, it is important to know about the basics. Sensory integration is the ability to take in information from your surrounding environment with the use of your senses. These include touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing. Once your body has this information, it gets sent to specific regions in the brain that process the information. The brain also tries to combine the information with prior information, memories, and knowledge already stored in the brain. These brain regions are involved in processes including coordination, attention, arousal, and autonomic function. After sensory information passes through these centers, the information then goes to other brain regions which are responsible for emotions, memory, and higher level cognitive functions. This entire process is call “sensory integration.”

Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID, also called sensory processing disorder, SPD) is a neurological disorder causing difficulties with processing information from the five classic senses (vision, auditory, touch, olfaction, and taste), the sense of movement (vestibular system), and/or the positional sense (proprioception). It is a complex disorder of the brain that affects developing children and adults. People with SPD can sense the information correctly, through touch, sounds, etc, but the brain cannot integrate the information normally, thus, you perceive it abnormally. This means that the information tends to be analyzed by the brain in an unusual way that may cause distress or confusion. People with this disorder misinterpret everyday information.

The following is a good table to learn about the different signs and symptoms that may occur with this disorder:

Sensory	Symptoms
Auditory	Responds negatively to unexpected or loud noises Holds hands over ears Cannot walk with background noise Seems oblivious within an active environment
Visual	Prefers to be in the dark Hesitates going up and down steps Avoids bright lights Stares intensely at people or objects Avoids eye contact
Taste/Smell	Avoids certain tastes/smells that are typically part of children's diets Routinely smells nonfood objects Seeks out certain tastes or smells Does not seem to smell strong odors
Body Position	Continually seeks out all kinds of movement activities Hangs on other people, furniture, objects, even in familiar situations Seems to have weak muscles, tires easily, has poor endurance Walks on toes
Movement	Becomes anxious or distressed when feet leave the ground Avoids climbing or jumping Avoids playground equipment Seeks all kinds of movement and this interferes with daily life Takes excessive risks while playing, has no safety awareness
Touch	Avoids getting messy in glue, sand, finger paint, tape Is sensitive to certain fabrics (clothing, bedding) Touches people and objects at an irritating level Avoids going barefoot, especially in grass or sand Has decreased awareness of pain or temperature
Attention, Behavior And Social	Jumps from one activity to another frequently and it interferes with play Has difficulty paying attention Is overly affectionate with others Seems anxious Is accident prone Has difficulty making friends, does not express emotions

Unlike many neurological problems that require validation by a licensed psychiatrist or physician, this condition is most often diagnosed by an occupational therapist. It is also important to note that numerous psychological, psychiatric and neurological disorders appear the same as sensory integration dysfunction. These can include schizophrenia, conduct disorder, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), autism (or disorders on the autism spectrum), pervasive development disorder (PDD), and Tourette syndrome. This is because many of the signs and symptoms of sensory integration dysfunction look like symptoms of other common disabilities, making it very difficult to differentiate one from another.

There is no known cure; however, there are many treatments available. Sensory integration (SI) therapy is not "one size fits all." According to SI theory, people with sensory integration issues have their own unique set of sensory responses that need to be addressed. What is calming and focusing for one may be over stimulating for another, and vice versa. The person’s unique set of sensory responses must be considered when designing a sensory diet. The main form of sensory integration therapy is a type of occupational therapy that places the person in a room specifically designed to stimulate and challenge all of the senses.

During the session, the therapist works closely to provide a level of sensory stimulation that they can cope with, and encourage movement within the room. Sensory integration therapy is driven by four main principles:

Just Right Challenge (the person must be able to successfully meet the challenges that are presented through person child adapts his behavior with new and useful strategies in response to the challenges presented)
Active Engagement (the person will want to participate because the activities are fun)
Patient-Directed (the person’s preferences are used to initiate therapeutic experiences within the session).

People with lower sensitivity (hyposensitivity) may be exposed to strong sensations such as stroking with a brush, vibrations or rubbing. Play may involve a range of materials to stimulate the senses such as play dough or finger painting.

People with heightened sensitivity (hypersensitivity) may be exposed to peaceful activities including quiet music and gentle rocking in a softly lit room.

While occupational therapists using a sensory integration frame of reference work on increasing the ability to tolerate and integrate sensory input, other therapists may focus on environmental accommodations that parents and school staff can use to enhance the function at home, school, and in the community. These may include selecting soft, tag-free clothing, avoiding fluorescent lighting, and providing ear plugs for "emergency" use (such as for fire drills).

As SID usually occurs with other conditions, such as anxiety, depression, etc, it is a good idea to see your doctor regularly to make sure all issues are handled in the appropriate manner.

Lastly, a good book to read is called “The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Integration Dysfunction” by Carol Stock Kranowitz (1998).

Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation website also has a wealth of information.

Hope this helps and good luck with everything.

Signed: TeenHealthFX