What is Sensory Integration

What is Sensory Integration (SI)?

Sensory Integration, simply put, is the ability to take in information through senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision and hearing), to put it together with prior information, memories and knowledge stored in the brain and to make a meaningful response. SI occurs in the central nervous system and is generally thought to take place in the mid-brain and brainstem levels in complex interactions of the brain responsible for such thing as coordination, attention, arousal levels, autonomic
Functioning, emotions, memory, and higher level cognitive functions.

In 1972, an US educationist Dr. Ayers revealed that 10% - 30% among children between 3-13 years old had such characteristics poor concentration, poor memory, inattentive impulsive, inability in delivering expression, timid, stammer, unsocial, lachrymose etc. She also found that the factor leads to all these problems is Sensory Integration Dysfunction, she stated “Good sensory processing enables all the impulses to flow easily and reach their destination quickly. Sensory Integrative dysfunction is a sort of traffic jam in the brain. Some bits of sensory information get tied up in traffic and certain parts of the brain do not get the
Sensory information they need to do their jobs.”

What is Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID)?

Sensory Integration Dysfunction is the inability of the brain to correctly process information brought in by the senses. SID or sensory processing deficits can come in many different forms. The way of living in urban area such as : small activity space, air-conditional, over-protected, less playmates can cause difficulty in processing and organizing sensory information. Sensory integration Dysfunction is treatable through Sensory Integration Training , not medicine.

Sensory Integration Dysfunction or Disorder can greatly influence children’s ability to function, but also can be so subtle that they easily go unrecognized. It is easy to attribute Behaviors and reactions to other cause such as : “He’s stubborn, lazy or doesn’t want to do it,” or “She’s spoiled, shy or headstrong” or to consider it within the norms of the wide range of personality and development characteristics of young children.It is important to identify and address sensory integrative dysfunction to enable the child to function at his or her optimum level and to minimize disruption in family life.

Who has problems with Sensory Integration?

A child who, although bright, may has difficulty using a pencil, playing with toys, or doing self-care tasks, like dressing. Perhaps you have seen a child so fearful of movement that ordinary swings, slides, or jungle gyms generate fear and insecurity. Or maybe you have observed a child whose problems lie at the opposite extreme uninhibited and overly active, often falling and running headlong into dangerous situations. In each of these cases, a sensory integrative problem may be an underlying factor. Its far-reaching effects can interfere with academic learning, social skills, even self esteem.

Research clearly identifies sensory integrative problems in children with developmental or learning difficulties. Independent studies show that a
sensory integrative dysfunction can be found in up to 70% of children who are considered learning disabled by schools.
Sensory integrative problems are not confined to children with learning disabilities. However, numerous studies indicate that learning disabled children are at risk for later delinquency,criminality, alcoholism and drug abuse. Repeated failure in school open the door to self-destructive activities. By interrupting the vicious cycle of failure, intervention to help children with sensory integration and learning problem may also prevent serious social problem later in life.

What do we do with the Sensory Integration Training ?

In WT Learn and Excel Sensory Integration Classroom, if a child is suspected of having a sensory integrative disorder, an evaluation will be conducted and analyzed, after that we will make recommendations regarding appropriate treatment.

The child will be guided through activities that challenge his or her ability to respond appropriately to sensory input by making a successful, organized response. Such active involvement and exploration will enable the child to become a more mature, efficient organizer of sensory information.

SI training in WT learn and excel focuses on the tactile, vestibular and poprioceptive system. This training does not teach specific skills, it provides exposure to sensory input in a controlled environment . We have helped a lot of children, their performance is improving significantly.

Please take attention if your child have below characteristics:

-Distractible hyperactive, or uninhibited
-Poor memory
-Afraid of certain subject without reasons
-Psychological barriers
-Poor in communication or pronunciation
-Coward
-Clumsy
-Loves to spin, swing and jump
-May tire easily, do not like reading
-Very impulsive
-Oversensitivity or undersensitivity to smells
-May have an exceptionally high pain tolerance
-Resists new situations
-Dissocial
-Self-distrustful
-Hypersensitive, constantly be crashing into things seeking extra stimulation
-Hypersensitive , avoid being touched or touching things when at all possible.