Evaluating sensory processing Flashcards
Ayres Sensory Integration
A theory in and of itself. interrelated elements of practice. Also provides evaluation methods and there is a specific approach to intervention.
Learning is dependent on the ability to take in and process sensation from movement and the environment and use to
plan and organize behavior
Individuals who have a decreased ability to process sensation also may have difficulty
producing appropriate actions, which, in turn, may interfere with learning and behavior.
Enhanced sensation, as a part of meaningful activity that yields an adaptive interaction, improves the ability to
process sensation, thereby enhancing learning and behavior.
Assumptions of SI Theory
Neural Plasticity- ability to change or modify the central nervous system.
Nervous System Hierarchy (no longer thought of as a hierarchical processor but there are pieces of that that are held true)
Developmental Sequence
What is Sensory Integration?
Sensory integration is the organization of sensations for use.”
A child needs to be able to use those sensations for function or use.
Inner Drive-
Linked to motivation to be an active participant. Can be seen in excitement, confidence and effort that a child brings to an activity.
Adaptive Response-
A successful, goal directed action on the environment. Occurs when a challenge presented in the environment is successfully met.
self regulation has two parts:
attain and maintain the arousal level.
then implement those strateiges independetly.
Self-regulation:
a person’s ability to attain, maintain, and change arousal or alertness appropriately for a task or a situation. (“ie: “behave normally”)
Why do we need to assess sensory processing in infants and young children –
it’s the foundation for developing other skills. Can help understand behaviors and underlying reasons why they act a certain way. Could it just be behavior or sensory or both? - yes.
What are the 8 senses
Olfactory (smell)
Tactile (touch)
Gustatory (taste)
Visual (sight)
Auditory (hearing)
Vestibular (balance)
Proprioception (body awareness)
Interoceptive (internal)
interoceptions
The ability to know how you feel (hungry, tired, sick, etc., )
what is the main sense that deals with self regulation?
proprioception
Sensory integration treatment
Typically developing individuals take in sensory information from the environment and own movement, process, then integrate the sensory input within the CNS
Deficits in sensory input result in deficits in conceptual and motor learning
By providing enhanced sensory experiences within the context of meaningful activities, a person can enhance sensory integration and improve learning
Typically developing individuals take in sensory information from the environment and own movement, process, then integrate the sensory input
within the CNS
Deficits in sensory input result in deficits in
conceptual and motor learning
By providing enhanced sensory experiences within the context of meaningful activities, a person can
enhance sensory integration and improve learning
The four components of SI treatment
- Adaptive Response
- Child’s inner drive
- Treatment technique and equipment
- Individualization and variety
true Ayers sensory integratin treatment requires a
suspended equipment
Proximal Senses:
Vestibular, Proprioceptive & Tactile
also known as power sensations or primitive sensations
Ayers claimed that more primitive CNS develop before maturation of
higher brain centers
V - P - T :
precursors to development of visual and auditory systems (distal senses).
Referred to as the “power” sensations
proximal sense - vestibular
Sense of movement- centered in inner ear
Inadequate, threatening vestibular information can lead a child to be
unaware of when he is upright or to be threatened by changes in position or support surfaces
Proximal Senses: Proprioceptive
Sensations from joints and muscles, leading to body awareness
A child, who is unable to interpret the messages sent from his proprioceptive system, cannot know accurately where
his arms and legs are in space
How would you assess it in an older child that can follow commands?
occlude vision and move one arm and ask them to copy with the other arm
How would you assess Proprioception in an infant?
ask parent, do they like to be swaddled, how are they sleeping. Also ask about developmental milestones.
Proximal Senses: Tactile
Sense of touch
A child, who is unable to understand and interpret tactile input, may be
bothered by the textures in his food and clothes
“TYPICAL” Sensory Development
Most children require no guidance to acquire basic developmental skills
Achievements happen as a result of an active nervous system organizing sensory information, searching for “just right” challenges
Key hallmarks of development in vestibular, proprioceptive & tactile- contributes to mastery in of occupations from infancy to childhood
Age
When is the moro reflex present
9 weeks gestation
reflexes continue to develop in utero and the environment can
impact development
What sensory key hallmarks are present for newborns
- tactile, smell and movement - held and comforted
- proprioception - aids in infant caregiver bonding.
fully functioning vestibular system at birth
behaviorally adapt to changing sesations
sensory integration at 6 months
Greater awareness - developing vestibular proprioceptive visual connections
Development of head control
Tactile and proprioceptive sensation used functionally
Connections with tactile and visual systems
Sensory integration development milestones at 6-12 months
More sophisticated integration of somatosensory, vestibular and visual input
Tactile and proprioceptive systems become more refined
Auditory processing
Independence with self feeding.
