Sensory Integration Therapy Benefits

What is sensory integration therapy?

Back in the 1970s, A. Jean Ayres, who was super into occupational therapy, came up with this cool idea called Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT). It's all about helping kids who get overwhelmed by the everyday stuff we all feel, hear, and see. Imagine not being able to stand the sound of a vacuum cleaner, or finding the tag on the back of your shirt feels like it's poking you with needles. That's the kind of stuff some kids deal with, and SIT is here to help them cope better.

Here's the thing: our senses are a big deal. They're like the backstage crew of our lives, influencing how we feel, learn, and act every single day. But when a kid's senses get their wires crossed, even simple stuff like focusing in class, playing games, or just putting on socks can feel like climbing a mountain.¹ 

SIT steps in with all these fun activities, like digging your hands into a sandbox or swinging high in a hammock, to help kids get more in tune with their senses. It's about turning those "oh no" moments into "aha" moments, so they can groove along with the world's rhythm a bit easier, making everyday life not just manageable, but fun.

What are sensory processing disorders?

Sensory Processing Disorders (SPDs) happen when someone has a hard time handling what they see, hear, touch, taste, or smell. Imagine if the tag on your shirt felt like it was poking you like a needle, or if a normal room light seemed as bright as the sun. That's how overwhelming everyday things can be for someone with SPD.

People with SPD might react in unusual ways to things they experience through their senses. Some might get upset by certain sounds or textures, while others might not seem to notice them at all. This can make it tough for them to do everyday things like going to school or hanging out with friends. SPDs are often found in people who have autism, but they can also affect others.

Now, doctors are trying to get better at figuring out when someone has SPD. They ask parents about their kids' behaviour and watch how kids act in different situations. They're also using cool science tools like brain scans to learn more.²

Purpose of sensory integration therapy (SIT)

Sensory integration therapy is designed to help kids who have a hard time with things they feel, see, hear, smell, or taste. Here's why it's important:

1. Helps with daily tasks: Makes it easier for kids to do everyday things like getting dressed, eating, and playing
2. Improves learning and emotion: Helps kids do better in school and feel better emotionally by making sense of what they sense
3. Uses fun activities: Through play, like swinging or touching different textures, it teaches kids how to handle sensory information better
4. Aims for better responses: The goal is to help kids react more calmly to things that used to bother them, like loud noises or bright lights
5. Based on brain science: The therapy uses activities that can change the way the brain works, making it better at processing sensory info
6. Leads to improvements: Kids can become more focused, have fewer meltdowns, get along better with others, and even do better with skills like language

Sensory Integration Therapy is all about helping kids deal with the sensory world around them so they can feel more comfortable and confident in their daily lives.³

Basic ideas behind sensory integration therapy

Sensory integration therapy is based on some cool brain science. Here's a simple breakdown of its main ideas:

• Brain power: Our brain can organize itself. When it has trouble doing this with what we see, hear, touch, or feel, it might make learning or behaving hard
• Mixing senses: The brain needs to combine different senses (like smell, taste, and sight) to help us do everyday things
• Special senses: Some senses, especially how we balance (vestibular system), feel our body position (proprioceptive system), and touch (tactile system), are super important. They help us move smoothly, know where we are, and react to what's around us
• Brain changes: Our brain can change based on what we do or experience. Sensory Integration Therapy uses special activities to help improve how our brain deals with senses
• Dealing with sensory info: Sometimes, our brain might react too much (like being bothered by noises) or not enough (not noticing noises) to things we sense. This therapy helps manage that
• Balance system: From when we're very young, our balance system tells our brain about movement and where we are compared to gravity. It's linked to lots of things we do, like staying alert, keeping our balance, and understanding space
• Feeling and moving: Our sense of touch and body awareness are crucial. They're connected to other senses and help us plan and do movements smoothly
• Turning thoughts into actions: This is about taking an idea, planning how to do it, and then actually doing it. It's a big part of the therapy
• Sensory challenges: If our brain doesn't handle sensory information well, it can make everyday stuff like eating or playing with friends difficult
• Making the brain better: By doing certain activities, the therapy aims to help the brain process sensory information better, making daily tasks easier

How sensory integration therapy helps

Sensory integration therapy is like a toolbox full of activities that help people, especially those who find the world around them a bit too much sometimes. Here's how it helps in different areas:

Making sense of the world

• Getting along with sensory stuff: Imagine if the feeling of a shirt tag or the sound of a blender was super annoying. This therapy helps make those things less bothersome
• Telling things apart: It also helps people notice the difference between things they touch, see, or hear. Like knowing if something is soft or scratchy just by touching it

Thinking and solving problems

• Staying focused: It can be hard to pay attention if you're always distracted by what's going on around you. This therapy helps people focus on their homework, games, or conversations
• Learning better: With better focus comes better learning. It's like clearing a path in the brain to make room for new information and ideas

Feeling Good

• Less worry: When things don't feel too overwhelming, there's less to be anxious or stressed about. This therapy can help make the world feel safer and more comfortable
• Handling feelings: It teaches ways to deal with big emotions, so they don't take over. This means fewer meltdowns or tantrums
• Behaving better: When you feel better, you act better. This therapy helps reduce actions like acting out or being too hyper

Moving smoothly

• Big movements: This therapy helps with big body movements, like running, jumping, or climbing. It's like becoming more of a ninja on the playground
• Small movements: It also helps with little movements, like writing neatly, tying shoes, or cutting with scissors

Playing and making Friends

• Joining in: Feeling less stressed and understanding how to play and talk with others makes joining in games and conversations easier
• Having fun with others: When joining in feels good, there's more laughing, playing, and making friends

How sensory integration therapy helps kids with autism

Sensory integration therapy is a special kind of help for kids with autism. Autism makes things like talking, playing, and making friends harder for some kids. They might also feel bothered by certain sounds, lights, or touches. Here’s how this therapy makes things a bit easier.

Autism and its daily challenges

• Lots of kids have autism: In the UK, a few kids in every school might have autism. It's something that makes their brain work a bit differently
• Feeling anxious: Many kids with autism also feel very anxious. This means they might get worried or scared more easily than other kids
• Families feel it too: Having a kid with autism can be tough on families. They might worry more and might need to spend a lot of time and money to help their kid

Sensory stuff and autism

• Too much or too little: Most kids with autism find things like noise, light, or touch either too much to handle or they hardly notice them at all
• Makes daily stuff hard: This can make everyday things harder—like playing, talking to others, or even getting dressed

What sensory integration therapy does

• Helping join in: The main goal is to help these kids do more things on their own, like playing with others or learning new things at school
• Different ways to help: The therapy uses fun activities to help kids get better at dealing with too much or too little sensory stuff. Some activities help kids understand and use their senses better, while others might change the way things are done to make it easier for the kid
• Playing to learn: A big part of the therapy is playing. Kids get to do activities that help them learn without feeling like it’s too hard or too easy
• Research says it can help: Some studies show that this therapy really helps, but doctors and scientists are still trying to learn more about it⁴

Sensory integration therapy for kids with ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can make it super hard for some kids to focus, stay still, and not act on impulse. Let’s break down how this therapy can be a game-changer:

ADHD and the Sensory World

• Understanding ADHD: Imagine having so much energy that sitting still feels impossible, or finding it super hard to listen without getting distracted. That's what some kids with ADHD experience
• Sensory overload: Just like with autism, kids with ADHD might find the sensory world around them overwhelming or not stimulating enough. They might get easily sidetracked by a ticking clock or feel uncomfortable with certain textures

How sensory integration therapy steps in

• Tackling sensory issues: This therapy is all about helping kids with ADHD navigate their sensory experiences better. It aims to reduce how distracted they get by their senses so they can focus more
• Engaging activities: Through fun activities like playing with different textures, swinging, or balancing, kids learn to process sensory information in a way that doesn’t overwhelm them
• Benefits beyond the senses: As kids become more comfortable with their sensory world, they might find it easier to focus, manage their energy levels better, and act less impulsively
• Life skills: Improving sensory processing can have a big ripple effect, helping kids do better in school, interact more easily with friends, and participate in group activities without feeling stressed⁵

Summary 

So, let's tie it all together. Sensory Integration Therapy is this amazing tool, kind of a secret weapon, for kids who feel like the world is just too intense—too loud, too prickly, or just too overwhelming. It's like it turns down the volume on things that used to send them into a tailspin. Suddenly, the stuff that's part of everyday life—getting dressed, heading off to school, or just chilling with friends—doesn't feel like a mountain to climb.

Imagine it's like fine-tuning the brain, helping it get the hang of processing all the sensory signals coming its way. The result? Fewer meltdowns over what might seem like no biggie to others, being able to focus in class instead of getting sidetracked by every little thing, and enjoying hangouts without feeling like you're on sensory overload. But here's the kicker—it's not just about avoiding those big sensory freakouts.

It's about rejigging the brain's approach to sensory information, making everyday life feel a bit more doable. Whether it's kids tackling the extra hurdles of autism, or ADHD, or just finding the sensory side of life tough, Sensory Integration Therapy hands them a set of tools for their daily journey. At its heart, Sensory Integration Therapy is so much more than therapy. It's a way to help kids feel more at home in the world, making every day a little less about surviving and a lot more about enjoying.