Sensory and Self-Regulation Flashcards
Interoception
This refers to the person’s ability to discern their own feelings; relates to what the person is feeling inside. Examples are stress, exhaustion, or even physical symptoms like stomach upset.
Exteroception
Processing things from outside the body: tactile, vision, auditory, gustatory/olfactory stimuli.
Kinesthesia
Feelings of movement/balance, including proprioception and vestibular stimuli.
What % of nervous system is dedicated to processing/organizing sensory input?
Over 80%!
Tactile System
Largest sensory system, constantly activated.
• Main channel of sensory input prenatal/infancy
• Provides info about texture, size, shape, function of objects.
• Light touch, deep pressure, vibration, temperature, pain, skin stretch, and movement
Proprioceptive System
Provides info about: • Where body parts are in space • How body parts relate to one another • How fast body is moving • Timing • How much force muscles should exert
Input is almost always calming. “Heavy work always works.”
Vestibular System
Primary organizer of all other sensory inputs. Integrates movement, gravity and vibrations
• Receptors in inner ear (semicircular canals)
• Makes it possible to move against gravity gracefully
• Influences muscle tone and posture
• Tells us our direction and speed
• Essential to developing left-right or top-down eye movement for reading
• Stimuli can be alerting/aversive (ie: dizziness). Use proprioceptive input to counter.
Auditory System
Intimately connected to vestibular system; uses middle ear. First system that becomes functional in utero. • Involves 4 aspects of sound: 1. Intensity (loudness, decibels) 2. Frequency (pitch, wavelengths) 3. Duration 4. Localization
Visual System
Not the same as sight, which is mechanical and not learnable.
• Communication relies on vision.
• 75-90% of classroom learning depends on vision!
• Vestibular and proprioceptive systems profoundly influence vision
• Closely allied with motor skill until mastery of that skill
• Ocular motor and eye learning skills are crucial.
Statistics about the Visual System
- 90% of visual problems never diagnosed
- 25% of school aged children have undiagnosed visual problems
- 70% of juvenile delinquents have undiagnosed visual problems
- Often impaired in people with autism
Gustatory/Olfactory Systems
- Intimately connected to each other (most taste is actually smell)
- Texture and temperature (touch) and olfactory are aspects of food enjoyment/repulsion
- Most food aversions are touch issue
- Smell travels to limbic system (emotions, memory, pleasure, learning)
Interoception System
Sensing internal status.
• Rest of the alimentary canal beyond the mouth: hunger, digestive tract issues, bowel/bladder, etc.
• Awareness of overall body states such as tension and tiredness
• Awareness of emotional states such as anger, frustration, etc.
• Connected with “Mindfulness”
Sensory Processing “Rule”
We need to be able to DETECT and RECEIVE sensory info from environment, DISCRIMINATE what is important, INHIBIT and HABITUATE what is not, and then ORGANIZE, INTEGRATE, and MODULATE it in order to UTILIZE the information to complete a functional task.
• What is a threat? How to respond?
SID and SPD
SID = Sensory Integration Disorder SPD = Sensory Processing Disorder
• These are used interchangeably
• Disruption or dysfunction of one or more senses
• Considered to affect 10% of American children
• 3 primary groups of this disorder:
1) Sensory modulation
2) Sensory discrimination
3) Sensory based motor problems
Sensory Discrimination Disorder
Difficulty distinguishing one sense from another. Difficulty interpreting a particular sensation. Misgauging importance of objects and experiences.
• Common to see over aware of tactile, under aware of interoception
Sensory Modulation Disorder
Problem with inhibition (excitation balance). Can by hypo (less) or hyper (more) reactive. • Sensitivity • Responsiveness • Reactivity • Arousal • Alertness • Registration
Tolerance level or capacity of senses.
Continuum of sensory avoidance to sensory seeking.
• Identified through Sensory History Questionnaire.
Signs of Sensory Based Motor Problems
Postural disorder (Dyspraxia) • Low muscle tone • Bilateral coord. impairment • Equilibrium problems • “W” sitting • Shifting weight • Clumsiness • Inefficient motor movements for functional tasks • Overshooting when reaching for things • Difficulty with intricate manual tasks
Neurological process of learning:
Steps:
- Sensory Processing (presentation of novel info from environment)
- Social Emotional Regulation (interpretation and exploration of new approaches)
- Learning (This leads to development of behavior.)
ABCs of Behavior
A=Antecedent (what is causing the behavior?)
B=Behavior (what is it/what is it telling us?)
C=Consequence (what do they get out of the behavior?)
Causes of behavior
- Need for attention
- Sensory
- Desire for tangible
Tips for Regulating Behavior
Movement, Muscles and Messes!
Movement: body has to move to maintain attention.
Muscles: Heavy work always works!
Messes: Textures, fidgets, pressure, etc.
What is Sensory Processing?
- Means by which brain receives, detects, integrates sensory input
- Produces adaptive response; effective response to interpretation of input
- Allows individual to attend/focus, develop motor skills, and participate in social interactions
Sensory Integrative Dysfunction (SID)
Cluster of symptoms that reflect CNS dysfunction.
• Not a primary sensory deficit (ie: hearing)
• Not secondary results of CNS injury or chromosomal abnormality (Down Syndrome)
• Leads to disorganized/maladaptive interactions with people/objects
• Produces distorted internal sensory feedback that reinforces problem.
• Jean Ayres developed early intervention treatment/assessment strategies in early 70s
Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD)
Often a secondary diagnosis (to ASD, learning disability, ADD, anxiety, etc.), and has a range of severity including poor social adaptation. Categories: • Sensory Modulation Disorders (SMD) • Sensory Discrimination Disorders • Sensory-based Motor Disorders
Early Signs of Sensory Processing Dysfunction
- Lack of cuddling
- Failure to make eye contact
- Oversensitivity to sounds/touch
- Oral motor difficulties
- Poor self-regulation
- Irritability/Colic
- Lack of curiosity
- Disorganized/destructive exploration of environment
Signs of Sensory Processing Dysfunction in Toddlers
- Unable to organize body postures/gestures for nonverbal communication
- Avoids dressing/hygiene
- Handles toys and objects ineptly
Signs of Sensory Processing Dysfunction in School-Aged Children
- Difficulty sitting and listening
- Difficulty attending
- Difficulty using writing/art tools
- Avoidance of motor activities
Screening and Assessment of Sensory Processing
Top-down approach (focus on occupation and role performance). Clinical observations and standardized screening test. 5 major areas: • Sensory Modulation • Sensory Discrimination • Postural-Ocular Function • Bilateral Motor Coordination • Praxis
OTR and COTA in Screening for SPD
- COTA may be trained to administer structured assessment and may participate in interviews with caregiver or questionnaires of teacher
- Interpretation of findings is responsibility of OTR
- SPD may be problem causing occupational performance such as poor handwriting and trouble with self-care
Observation Checklists used in Assessment of SPD
- Sensorimotor History Questionnaire
- Teacher Questionnaire of Sensory Behavior
*Observation in natural environment, and interview of teachers/primary caregivers
