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Autism Teaching Methods:
Sensory Integration
Therapy
All children learn about the world through their senses. A common symptom of Pervasive Developmental Disorder and autism is an
unusual response to the senses of hearing, sight, touch, smell and/or movement.
According to the National Information Center for Children and Youth with
Disabilities, children with pervasive developmental disorders "may seem underresponsive or overresponsive to sensory stimuli. Thus, they may be
suspected of being deaf or visually impaired. It is common for such young
children to be referred for hearing and vision tests. Some children avoid gentle
physical contact, yet react with pleasure to rough-and-tumble games. Some
children carry food preferences to extremes, with favored foods eaten to excess.
Some children limit their diet to a small selection."
Is your child super
sensitive to certain noises, bright lights or crowds? Does he look out of the
corners of his eyes? Is he afraid of swings or very clumsy? Does he dislike
being touched or hugged unless he initiates it? Is he extremely irritated by
tags or seams on his clothes? Does he refuse to wear a coat and fuss over socks
and shoes? Does he have an unusually high or low tolerance for pain?
These may be signs of Sensory Processing
Disorder, also known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Sensory processing
problems are fairly common
among children with autism, PDD and Asperger's Syndrome. Please be aware that
sensory problems alone do not mean a child has autism. Some children have a
sensory processing disorder only, but no other diagnosis.
The theory of sensory integration was developed by occupational therapist A.
Jean Ayres, Ph.D. Sensory integration occurs when our brains organize the
information from our senses for our use. For some people, sensory integration does not
develop as it should. Sounds and sights may seem stronger, more chaotic and more
distracting or disorienting than they do to other people. People with sensory
integration dysfunction may have trouble with balance and coordination. Occupational and physical therapists who are also trained in
sensory integration techniques offer a range of activities designed to help
the child process the information he receives from his senses in a more typical
manner.
An occupational therapist (OT) can develop a treatment plan for a child that a
parent can also follow at home. The child may need to play with
different textures (such as sand, play-dough or shaving cream), to swing, or to
sit atop a large ball. The activities should be just challenging enough to help
the child respond better to sensory information without being overwhelmed.
"Traditional sensory integrative therapy takes place on a
1:1 basis in a room with suspended equipment for varying movement and sensory
experiences," according to
Marie DiMatties
and Jennifer Sammons at The Council for Exceptional Children.
"The goal
of therapy is not to teach skills, but to follow the child's lead and artfully
select and modify activities according to the child's responses."
"The
How
Does Your Engine Run? Program is a step-by-step method that teaches
children simple changes to their daily routine, such as a brisk walk, jumping on
a trampoline before doing their homework, and listening to calming music, that will
help them self-regulate or keep their engine running 'just right.' Through the
use of charts, worksheets, and activities, the child is guided in improving
awareness and using self-regulation strategies," according to DiMatties and
Sammons.
Children with autism, PDD and Asperger's Syndrome may
receive free physical and
occupational therapy at their public schools or through their state's early
intervention program. Parents can ask their school system to evaluate their
child to see if he qualifies for these services, including sensory integration
activities.
An occupational therapist will work with the child to
improve his sensory motor skills in addition to fine motor skills (holding a pencil, using
scissors) and self-help skills (using buttons, zippers and silverware). A
physical therapist can work on gross motor skills such as walking, running,
balance and climbing. Also, parents and caregivers can learn sensory-rich activities
to do at home with the child. This therapy is almost never offered as a sole
treatment for autism or PDD; instead, it may be a piece of a larger program.
Some studies show people benefit from Sensory Integration Therapy
while other studies do not show a benefit. A small study released in 2008 by
Temple
University researchers found that children with autism spectrum disorders
who had sensory integration therapy had fewer "autistic mannerisms" than
children who received fine motor therapy.
Sensory integration treatment can be expensive if not covered by
medical insurance or provided by the
school or early intervention office.
Remember, a child's "occupation" is play and learning
about his world.
Helpful web sites and books:
The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Kranowitz. A companion to her first book, this
revised edition
includes many good ideas for parents who want fun and educational activities for
their child with sensory problems. Siblings will likely enjoy these activities,
too.
Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder
by Dr. Lucy Jane Miller, a Sensory Processing Disorder researcher. She discusses
the warning signs and symptoms of SPD, the four types of the disorder,
treatments and coping strategies.
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