Most of us take for granted that our brains can collect the majority of information we receive from our five senses, organize it, and respond appropriately. This isn’t the case for many who have sensory issues be they young or old. Sounds such as loud noises at the fair, or touching something sticky, can cause some to cry, yell, or hide–this behavior is an outcome of sensory dysregulation.
One of Rehab Specialists of Idaho’s occupational therapists, describes the need for sensory integration therapy like managing a cup overflowing with water. “An example using a cup is how much sensory input you can take. Kids who have a big cup can take in a lot of input before they get overwhelmed and have a breakdown or behavior. Kids who have a little cup can only take so much, and it is very limited, before they have a breakdown in performance, behavior, or function. As a therapist your goal is to help the patient manage and to cope with input. Maybe you can go rest for a minute and empty that cup, or you can swing for a minute and then have the ability to come back to the activity that is noxious to you.”
According to the American American Occupational Therapy Association, problems effectively integrating sensation can limit a child’s ability to attend to tasks, perform coordinated motor actions, develop social relationships, manage classroom demands, perform self-care tasks, and participate in family activities.
The open play gym concept at RSI is a great place to give your child the sensory supports they need to help regulate and process many types of inputs including jumping, swinging, sliding, spinning, ball pit, foam pit, monkey bars and more. Utilizing strategies from Ayers’ Sensory Integration®, therapists can instruct and guide your child to a more meaningful play experience.
“We have a lot of interdisciplinary collaboration. The setup we have at our clinics is great. We can have loud, we can have soft, we can have fast, we can have slow, we can have messy, we can have clean. We have a lot of tools at our disposal to help families find the best tool for their situation and their needs,” said a therapist with RSI.
If you would like to meet with an occupational therapist and discuss your child’s sensory concerns give us a call to schedule a free screening.