Dr. A. Jean Ayres, an occupational therapist, educational psychologist, neuroscientist, lecturer, widely published researcher, author, and practitioner, was the founder of sensory integration (SI) theory. SI theory explains how difficulties with receiving and processing sensory input can relate to difficulties experienced in the classroom or in everyday life. Since her time in the 1970s, new brain imaging techniques have uncovered the truth to her theory. SI refers to how the body processes, integrates, and organizes sensory information from the body or the surrounding environment. It is how we react to or ignore information that we receive from our senses, such as vision, auditory, tactile, gustatory, olfactory, proprioception, vestibular, and interoception. This process is automatic and happens constantly throughout our lives. For some people, this anatomical neurological process does not develop as efficiently and can, therefore, affect their activities of daily living (ADLs), schooling, behavior, and socialization.
Sensory integration difficulties can be categorized into two main subtypes: sensory modulation dysfunction and dyspraxia. Sensory modulation dysfunction refers to the brain’s ability to make sense of information in the immediate environment and how to effectively participate despite this. If a person experiences effective modulation, they can ignore the input that is not relevant to the task being completed.
Sensory Modulation Dysfunction is a spectrum, ranging from over-responsivity to under-responsivity. People who are over-responsive may have heightened reactions to sensory input. They may be very picky eaters, avoid playground equipment that moves, have strong reactions to loud sounds, and be sensitive to touch. Under-responsivity may involve reduced reactions to sensory input, such as appearing fearless, being sensory-seeking, fidgeting a lot, chewing on different objects, and having poor attention.
Dyspraxia refers to difficulty with motor planning and execution, which ties into physical coordination. Dyspraxia also has two main subtypes: Vestibular Bilateral Integration and Sequencing (VBIS) and Somatodyspraxia. VBIS is where the body has a hard time processing vestibular and proprioceptive sensations, affecting their ability to balance, control extension, bilateral integration, and motor planning. People typically appear clumsy, have poor spatial awareness, and have a hard time completing multi-step activities. Somatodyspraxia involves difficulty coordinating and completing new motor tasks, along with poor tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive processing. People with somatodyspraxia typically appear disorganized in their movements, may bump into things/trip often, have a hard time transitioning between activities, and have lower self-esteem.These difficulties can be costly for the person experiencing them, potentially taking away from their everyday life.
Occupational therapy helps combat these difficulties through SI interventions, including exposure to sensory input, movement, balance, physical activities, and therapeutic listening. Each person presents differently and can receive different treatment strategies based on the symptoms they experience.
Additionally, plans (Sensory Diet) can be put in place for a client in their environment outside of therapy to help effectively modulate throughout their daily life. For many, small adjustments can change the way they interact with the environment and go about their everyday life. Professionals can help you understand and combat these issues to improve your overall quality of life.
