Some more intro to SI is needed before I can discuss tone. Sensory Integration looks at the basic 5 senses, as well as proprioception and vestibular.
Proprioception is the ability to know where you are in space, it gives our brain the feedback that is needed for development of strength, and motor planning.
Vestibular system "contributes to our balance and our sense of spatial orientation, it is the sensory system that provides the dominant input about movement and equilibrioception" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestibular_system)
By providing therapy treatment that focuses on using the above senses appropriately you can greatly decrease the time it takes for your child to meet goals and increase their overall strength.
Tone is a term that many have heard, expecially if your child has cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome. Muscle Tone "refers to the amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle" (http://about-cerebral-palsy.org/definition/muscle-tone.html)
Tone is fairly difficult to understand, but the main thing to remember is that if your child's tone is not normal or normalized then your child's ability to increase his/her strength will be difficult.
If you placed the types of tone on a scale you will find that there is normal-low tone- children usually walk later then average, normal-high tone- children usually walk earlier then average. low tone, which we see most often in children with Down Syndrome and high tone, often seen in children with Cerebral Palsy.
Abnormal tone is a sign of inappropriate sensory integration. Therefore, Sensory integration techniques are important to use in the course of treatment. I have found that using "The Sensory Profile" (an Occupational Therapy Test)helps to provide an overall picture of what area your child is having difficulty processing, and what is the most important "sensory diet" for your child to be more successful.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sensory Integration Intro
My first post is going to focus on what I feel affects the most children with disabilities, and that is the ability to process incoming sensory information appropriately. In all my years I haven't seen a child that hasn't had a problem that was related to sensory integration...so here we go!
I will be giving you an overview on the topic, along with book and web site recommendations. I will also be discussing tone and it's relation to SI. Later I will discuss a very important topic that many parents are unaware of, and that is muscle strength and how it is affected by tone.
Sensory Integration "is the method and manner of sensation detection and transmission through the central nervous system" (Ayres, 2005). This includes sensory modulation and sensory discrimination.
You can think of it like a computer, when you type in the information, the computer processes the information, and you get a response. Do we always get the reponse desired, NO. If we don't give the computer enough information, or the correct information then we don't get the correct output. Or if there is a "bug" in the computer system, you might be putting the correct info in but the bug isn't allowing it to process correctly and the output is incorrect.
If a child with SI dysfunction isn't getting the right amount of input, or too much input, or their ability to process is decreased then you will see an "abnormal" response. These reponses can be in the form of behavioral outburst, difficulty falling asleep, refusing to eat or wear certain textures, shutting-down, poor social/play skills, etc.
It's a good possibility that if your child has a disability then SI dysfunction is affecting their development in some way.
I also would like to point out that it is my belief that there are children out there with behavioral problems that are a direct result of undiagnosed SI dysfunction. If you know someone who could fall into this category as you learn more, please refer them to this site. I will be setting up an email address for questions.
Reference:
Ayres, A.J.:Sensory Integration and the Child: Understanding Hidden Sensory Challenges.Los Angeles, 2005, [5].
I will be giving you an overview on the topic, along with book and web site recommendations. I will also be discussing tone and it's relation to SI. Later I will discuss a very important topic that many parents are unaware of, and that is muscle strength and how it is affected by tone.
Sensory Integration "is the method and manner of sensation detection and transmission through the central nervous system" (Ayres, 2005). This includes sensory modulation and sensory discrimination.
You can think of it like a computer, when you type in the information, the computer processes the information, and you get a response. Do we always get the reponse desired, NO. If we don't give the computer enough information, or the correct information then we don't get the correct output. Or if there is a "bug" in the computer system, you might be putting the correct info in but the bug isn't allowing it to process correctly and the output is incorrect.
If a child with SI dysfunction isn't getting the right amount of input, or too much input, or their ability to process is decreased then you will see an "abnormal" response. These reponses can be in the form of behavioral outburst, difficulty falling asleep, refusing to eat or wear certain textures, shutting-down, poor social/play skills, etc.
It's a good possibility that if your child has a disability then SI dysfunction is affecting their development in some way.
I also would like to point out that it is my belief that there are children out there with behavioral problems that are a direct result of undiagnosed SI dysfunction. If you know someone who could fall into this category as you learn more, please refer them to this site. I will be setting up an email address for questions.
Reference:
Ayres, A.J.:Sensory Integration and the Child: Understanding Hidden Sensory Challenges.Los Angeles, 2005, [5].
The Beginning
I am excited to start this venture in providing information to the masses.
I constantly think "how crazy is this(internet)...we have the ability to reach so many people, so easily".
After 9 years as an Occupational Therapist, I have found my pediatric work to be the most enjoyable. I have 5 years of full time work as a pediatric therapist, and 4 years as an adult/geriatric therapist, and have moved into management.
Through this blog I hope to share with you my experience and provide you with some fun ideas and new information to help your child become more independent in every way.
I constantly think "how crazy is this(internet)...we have the ability to reach so many people, so easily".
After 9 years as an Occupational Therapist, I have found my pediatric work to be the most enjoyable. I have 5 years of full time work as a pediatric therapist, and 4 years as an adult/geriatric therapist, and have moved into management.
Through this blog I hope to share with you my experience and provide you with some fun ideas and new information to help your child become more independent in every way.
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