Sensory integration involves the five basic senses: touch, vision, taste, smell and hearing. Additionally, it looks at the vestibular system (one's sense of movement) and the proprioceptive system (one's sense of where one's body is). When any of these sensory systems are not signaling properly to the brain, a person is left feeling disoriented with regard to the sense involved. This can be especially disconcerting to a child, particularly if the sensory system is dramatically off.
Sensory integration activities are designed to help normalize the sensory signal being sent to the brain. Repeated stimulation and movement have been found to help encourage more normal signaling pathways to develop and take hold. They also often offer immediate relief to the child who otherwise feels somehow "off" or disoriented by the disorder. Sensory integration activities can bring about a sense of calm and being grounded. Interestingly, these activities are beneficial to all children and assist with normal sensory integration development.
Sensory Processing Disorder is usually diagnosed by a pediatrician or an occupational therapist. Recommendations for specific activities will be determined based on the sensory system involved. Treatment is often begun in a sensory gym or clinic under the guidance of an occupational therapist. Some schools have their own occupational therapist on staff. School and home settings both offer many opportunities for sensory integration activities.
A wide range of sensory integration activities are used to target specific sensory systems. Certain ones are identified by the child's occupational therapist and other recommendations can be found in any number of resources available on the topic. Commonly used activities in the school are found in the gym and on the playground.
Children whose vestibular system is affected benefit from playing on swings, trampolines, rockers, therapy balls and teeter totters. Where touch is impacted, children can play in a sand box or a pail of water, or make and play with play doh and other gooey concoctions. You can bring weighted blankets into the classroom for their calming effect, and let children crawl on and under large bean bag chairs. Create an obstacle course for children out of large foam climbing blocks, nylon tunnels and tents, balance beams, climbing ropes and slides.
Address smell sensitivities with different types of aromatherapy. Let children read scratch and sniff books. For children with auditory sensitivities, make use of soothing music and have them experiment with making different sounds.
The key to successful sensory activities is creativity and keeping it fun for the kids. Individual attention is often very important---what may be comforting for one child can prove to be sensory overload for another. Also, coordinating school sensory integration activities with those done at home is crucial to ensuring maximum impact. By offering these activities in school, you'll be working to improve not only the child's sensory system, but also his ability to perform better in all aspects of his school day.