It is understood that two children are the same. However, there may come a time when, as a parent, you will find that your child's behavior may be slightly different in the way he / she reacts and interacts with other children and you can not seem to put your finger on? Is tantrums your child seem endless on the little things, meal times are a nightmare because it refuses to open his mouth, school days are a challenge that teachers complain that notes your children are down and he can not concentrate in class. And if everyone around assure you that its part of a growth phase, you can not help worrying.
Scientific studies have shown that 5-15% of the enrollment of children in the general population have difficulties in their sensory regulation in their environment (Reynolds et al, 2008). This means that some children may have more difficulty than others in the treatment of differences between emotions, movement and sensory stimuli that are necessary for their daily lives. In such cases, intervention and treatment can be helpful to meet the needs of the child, their behavior, the ability to meet and interact with their environment and other children.
What sensory processing disorder?
Sensory Integration Disorder (SPD) was originally defined by Dr. A. Jean Ayres PHD, OTR, occupational therapist and school psychologist as neurological "traffic jam" that prevents parts of the brain to get the information to interpret the appropriate sensory response to the body. Since its previous conclusions, publications inspired many others to study and address the SPD in children and adults.
Sensory Integration Disorder
sensory processing disorder (SPD) can also be described as a condition that the nervous system receives messengers of our meaning, but has difficulty in sensory processing information for relay appropriate motor and behavioral responses. "People with sensory processing disorder (SPD) interpret everyday sensory information such as touch, sound and movement. They may feel overwhelmed by sensory information, may seek sensory experiences or may avoid certain experiences. "(SPD Australia, 2011)
Examples of external behaviors include being oversensitive to sensations such as the texture of the clothes, close physical contact, bright light and some sounds that can be overwhelming and cause irritation in children SPD. Other children may be under sensitive or not sensitive to the environment or stimulation even when pain or heat or extreme cold would normally cause a reaction. Sometimes the disorder in their sensory processing can alter their muscles and joints, which affects the balance of the development of motor skills, posture and body of the child.
Sensory Processing Disorder Signs
How SPD can affect daily life and interactions
Regardless of whether one or more meaning affect children with SPD, their difficulties in sensory processing can lead to emotional problems, social or educational, especially when they have trouble making friends or being part of a social group. This can lead to feelings of low self-esteem, leading them to prefer isolation rather than interacting with their peers. Other SPD children are more responsive behavior that can lead them to be labeled as bad, "out of control" or disruptive in class, affecting their academic performance at school.
Unfortunately, poor understanding of how to meet the SPD children by parents and educators, often leads to feelings of frustration, depression or possible behavior of aggression in children SPD. Furthermore SPD Research studies have shown that daily life of at least 1 to 20 children can be affected by SPD (Ahn et al 2004). Supporting this conclusion, another study suggested that the highest one in six experiencing sensory challenges sufficient to disrupt them, and / or academic, social emotional (Ben-Sasson et al 2009).
SPD, a separate and distinct disorder ASD, ADD or ADHD
Unfortunately, although SPD is more common in children than autism and as common as deficit disorder ' attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD), there seems to be less recognition for this disorder partly because he was never recognized as a distinct disease. Regardless, the need for better research on how to treat and manage this disorder was echoed among parents of children with SPD. In a recent study, US researchers found that children SPD have measurable differences in brain structure, demonstrating for the first time a biological basis that defines SPD out other diagnoses such as ADD or ASD. Using MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), researchers have shown that there was abnormal white matter of the brain pathways (essential for perceiving, thinking and learning) in SPD subjects, mainly involving areas at the back of the brain that serve as connections to the auditory, visual and tactile systems involved in sensory processing.
"More frontal anterior white matter tracts are generally involved in children with only ADHD or autism spectrum disorders. The abnormalities we found are concentrated in a different brain region, indicating the SPD may be neuro- distinct anatomic "(Mukherjee et al, 2013). therefore, this study clearly shows that having only sensory issues is itself a separate and distinct disorder and the specific treatment must be tailored to children with SPD.
learning processing pyramid and the SPD with occupational therapy
Williams and Shellenberger (1996) formulated the learning pyramid and highlights how sensory integration treatment refers to the process of learning of the child (see Figure 1)
FIG. 1 - the Pyramid of learning
They demonstrated that by taking a bottom-up approach of the pyramid and targeting sensory processing conditions, may cause more severe learning behavioral changes and school without specifically addressing specific sensory difficulties individually.
The seven sensory systems are the foundation of the pyramid of learning development. It is beleived that once all the senses are able to work together, then it will lead to a child becoming happier to explore and develop skills in his / her environment, maximizing the development potential of the child.
Occupational therapy uses many techniques to improve children who have sensory needs. More importantly, occupational therapist uses sensory integration as a "clinical setting" for the intervention in children SPD.
Occupational therapists are health care professionals and are well trained in the knowledge of the state and development of the child. OT has the skills and expertise to identify obstacles to the ability of the child to play, do self-care, socialize and learn through a detailed assessment. identifies occupational therapist, changes and overcome the obstacles that interfere with, restrict or prevent the functional performance of a child in order to help improve the development of the child, making them as independent as possible in all areas of their life.
When should parents seek occupational therapy for their child?
Occupational therapist
Parents often weigh between being too anxious in certain stages of growth in the development of their child or seek early intervention when they suspect first sensory problems. The question remains whether any therapeutic intervention is necessary and when treatment should be administered, or symptoms that improved grows in maturity of the child.
Although these emotional struggles are personal to each parenting their child, the most important question remains: "Why wait for the symptoms to be worse before asking for help" He was known? that early intervention helps children with SPD more likely to make significant differences in child development, improving symptoms and better integration in their environment, as every child is different, occupational therapy can provide child-centered approach to maximize the potential of every child in managing his sensory issues.
How occupational therapy help my SPD child?
- help prepare and implement learning activities and important development
- Assess sensory needs and implement strategies to better respond to the environment
- overactive regulate sensory system or hypothyroidism
- Help them stay focused in class and get their homework.
- Enhance self-esteem and self achievements
- Developing appropriate skill set
- Improve gross motor skills such as jumping, playing ball bicycle
- Help them learn to deal with disappointment or failure
- Build capacity for sharing, turn taking and playing with peers
- cope and manage anger and stress
- the rules and good transition
- Organize self and things
- improve balance, coordination and strength
- Expand or improve handwriting and eating habits
What programs and techniques used by occupational therapists for children?
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Sensory integration
- behavior modification
- environmental change
- written by hand without tears
- anger management
- therapeutic listening
- cognitive behavioral approach
- group therapy
- the therapeutic use of self and activities
in BackUp , we offer personalized therapies that meet the needs of each child. Our highly trained therapists and occupational therapists can help assess the difficulties of your child's development, strategise therapy that can help reduce stress and inappropriate or disorganized behavior caused by poor sensory registration, sensory defensiveness, sensory overload, and poor praxis.
www.BackUpSpine.com
Sheena Peregrina, OTRP
BackUp Therapist at work Centre
APL Tower 25th floor / T3 Podomoro City
Jl. S. Parman Kav. 28, Jakarta Barat 11470