Sensory Integration

CVMC’s Sensory Integration Program can be an alternative to drug-based therapy that assists a child and their family to develop strategies for managing sensory challenges at home, school and in the community.

What is Sensory Integration?

Sensory Integration is the process of organizing environmental cues for use in responding to one’s body or environment. Learning to crawl, riding a bike, getting dressed or listening to a teacher in class are all skills learned through sensory integration. A child actively seeks out sensations from their environment to organize and integrate to yield an adaptive response.

Think about riding a bike: Your child must integrate sensations from their vestibular* and proprioceptive** systems to learn to balance on the bike. After many falls, the child’s sensory system integrates the incoming information efficiently to make the right weight shifts to stay upright and ride. Riding a bike then becomes the adaptive response. Children are challenged each day to make adaptive responses.

* Vestibular: “movement sense”, ability to use information related to movement through space
**Proprioception: “position sense”, receptors in muscles, joints and ligaments provide information regarding our body in space

Why might I suspect my child has a Sensory Processing Disorder?

Your son or daughter may display outward signs of a sensory processing disorder. For example:

• Does your child constantly seek out movement?
• Is dressing a major chore?
• Does your child avoid certain tastes or textures?
• Does your child have difficulty sitting still in class to pay attention?
• Is bath time a nightmare?
• Does your child over/under react to loud noises?
• Does your child avoid bright lights?
• Has your child been labeled a “behavior issue” due to intolerance of certain activities?

If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, your child may benefit from sensory integration therapy.

How does Sensory Integration Therapy help my child?

SI treatment can be a fun and rewarding therapy to provide training to the child and their family for improving participation in daily activities. The pediatric room is fully furnished with sensory based equipment including suspension swings and fine motor games.

First:  The child is evaluated by a trained occupational therapist to explore the challenges faced due to sensory seeking or avoiding behaviors.

Next:   The child participates in clinic based sessions to facilitate the use of sensory input in a purposeful manner. Recommendations are made for home use and possibly school.

Finally:  A “sensory diet” will be customized for home use to facilitate carry over and coping during daily activities.

Doctor’s Referral and Insurance Information:

A doctor’s referral for an occupational therapy evaluation will be necessary to set up an initial appointment. The referral should indicate an appropriate diagnosis which may include: lack of coordination, hypotonicity and/or unspecified disorder of muscle, ligament, and fascia.

Most insurance providers cover the initial evaluation. In some cases, follow up services require pre-authorization. If your insurance does not cover sensory integration services, private pay can be arranged.

Our Sensory Integration Specialist:

Lauren Briere, OT