Sensory Environment

Question 1

Describe the environment as a stressor

Answer 1

In trying to maintain balance, survive and thrive the human is occupied with the environment.

Question 2

What are the different types of sensation?

Answer 2

• Visual
• Auditory
• Olfactory
• Taste
• Tactile

Question 3

What other factors can influence people’s responses to sensation?

Answer 3

• Sensations (habits)
• Warmth, dark, deep pressure, deep breathing, heavy work, food
• Movement
• Chronic SNS response (hyper)
• Temperament

Question 4

The environment is described as a stress. Explain the brains role and response to these stressors.

Answer 4

1) Pick up stimuli from the environment
2) Sends information to senses
3) Brain makes meaning/sense of this, determines whether this is important or not
4) Interacts to change environment, what we do and how we understand
5) Ignore or make response

Question 5

Describe the ascending and descending pathways that describe how sensory information is managed

Answer 5

-Ascending Pathway: carries peripheral sensations to brain
-Descending Pathway: motor signals sent from the brain to lower motor neurons (motor response)
Sensory Organ –> Pathway –> Brain

Question 6

What is sensory processing?

Answer 6

Generic term referring to the process of how sensations are detected, transduced and transmitted through the nervous system

Question 7

Describe Jean Ayers theory for Sensory Integration

Answer 7

• Specific, specialised intervention
• Applied clinical setting
• Focused on integration between the senses

Question 8

What are key principles of the SI approach?

Answer 8

• Just right challenge
• The adaptive response
• Active engagement
• Child directed

Question 9

What is the “Just Right Challenge”?

Answer 9

The therapist creates playful activities with achievable challenges

Question 10

What is the “Adaptive Response” Approach?

Answer 10

Child changes their behaviour with new and useful strategies

Question 11

What is “Active Engagement” Approach?

Answer 11

Therapist creates an environment that encourages child to play

Question 12

What is “Child Directed” Approach?

Answer 12

Observe child and follow their cues, use the cues to create enticing sensory rich activities

Question 13

Describe the window of tolerance for sensory stressor

Answer 13

Window of Tolerance= certain actions happen if unbalanced (upper & lower limit)

• Sympathetic is fight or flight
• Parasympathetic is rest or digest
• SNS signals to act quickly in response to danger
• PNS keeps body in calm and resting state

Question 14

What is emotional regulation and why it’s important?

Answer 14

• Describe an individual’s ability to effectively manage and respond to an emotional experience.
• It helps us become conscious of emotions and understand who we are as a person

Question 15

What other factors can influence someone’s ability to regulate emotions?

Answer 15

• Relationship and interaction with adults
• Personal biological factors, environmental factors (ie. violent household, damaged relationship)
• Developmental milestones
• Temperament
• Mental health/medical conditions
• Arousal/sensory processing issues