L3.1 Sensory Processing Challenges

Question 1

what is sensory processing?

Answer 1

intake and integration of sensation from the environment and its use for interaction with the environment.
the ability to take in, organize and make sense of different kinds of sensations received by the brain

Question 2

what is a neurological threshold? and types?

Answer 2

amount of stimuli required for neuron to respond
- habituation- recognising familiar stimuli that do not require additional attention
- sensitisation- enhances awareness of important stimuli
balance between habituation and sensitisation required for generation of appropriate responses to stimuli in environment

Question 3

define hyper-responsive and hypo-responsive

Answer 3

hyper-responsive: when responses are larger than we would normally expect
hypo-responsive: when responses smaller than we would normally expect

Question 4

what are passive and active self regulation strategies?

Answer 4

passive: let sensory events occur
active: select and engage in behaviours to control own sensory experiences
(both can be useful or interfere with participation)

Question 5

what are the 4 basic patterns of sensory processing (Dunn’s Model) and what threshold and response does each have?

Answer 5

• bystander: passive response with high threshold
• seekers: active response with high threshold
• sensors: passive response with low threshold
• avoiders: active response with high threshold

Question 6

explain characteristics of each of the 4 basic patterns of sensory processing (Dunn’s Model)

Answer 6

• bystanders: easy going and can focus even in busy places, miss available sensory input, may seem uninterested, apathetic, self-absorbed
• seekers: always wants more, create excitement and change all around them, enjoys a sensory rich environment, may seem fidgety and excitable
• sensors: keep track of everything, notice what is going on and have precise ideas about how to handle situations, particular about task completion
• avoiders: want more of the same thing and nothing more, create routines to keep life peaceful and manageable, overwhelmed by sensory rich environments

Question 7

describe part A of the ‘supports to optimise participation of children experiencing sensory challenges’ diagram

Answer 7

a) use mutual information sharing and coaching to support families to develop solutions
- enable mutual information sharing and problem solving of issues impacting occupational success of individuals

Question 8

describe part B of the ‘supports to optimise participation of children experiencing sensory challenges’ diagram

Answer 8

b) adapt tasks or environments to enable participation
- to address specific sensory processing style and needs of individual
- aim to accommodate rather than fix atypical patterns of sensory processing

Question 9

describe part C of the ‘supports to optimise participation of children experiencing sensory challenges’ diagram

Answer 9

c) embeded sensory input with daily routines to modulate arousal
- strategies are specific to child’s pattern of sensory processing and at what point during occupational performance they are used

Question 10

what are some basic strategies to support performance of each of the sensory processing patterns

Answer 10

• seekers: incorporate additional sensory input routine so thresholds can be met within activities; select sensory alternatives that are less interfering and socially appropriate
• avoiders: honour need to limit input, broaden sensory range within selected rituals, avoid or reduce exposure
• sensitivity: provide calming sensory input within tasks to reduce chances of arousal
• bystanders: intensify sensory information so thresholds are met and child will notice respond; structure environment/activity to enhance focus on task; set clear boundaries and use salient visual supports

Question 11

how can you embed strategies into routines?

Answer 11

• priming: use sensory based activities to provide stimuli the child needs prior to the task to facilitate their engagement
• working independently: putting sensory supports in the task that will help the child complete the task independently
• home base: provide opportunity for the child to meet sensory needs away from scheduled activities
• visual supports: use visual information/cues to help organise physical and temporal space
• social stories: when designing and implementing social stories give consideration to sensory needs of child

Question 12

describe part D of the ‘supports to optimise participation of children experiencing sensory challenges’ diagram

Answer 12

d) use behavioural strategies for challenging behaviours related to sensory processing
- desensitisation or expanding tolerance to aversive sensory input in instances of extreme sensory sensitivity

Question 13

describe part E of the ‘supports to optimise participation of children experiencing sensory challenges’ diagram

Answer 13

e) support child to develop own self-regulation strategies

- cognitive based strategies: ALERT + sensory stories

Question 14

describe part F of the ‘supports to optimise participation of children experiencing sensory challenges’ diagram

Answer 14

f) use universal design principles to optimize sensory properties of shared environments