Attention
&
Self-Regulation
Sensory processing is a term used to describe how our brains take in sensory information coming from both outside of our bodies
and everywhere within our bodies, even different parts of our brains, and coordinating it so that we can make a response, such as:
Learning something new is always easier when we use as many senses as possible. However, all of us can have difficulty with sensory processing at times which, in turn, can impact our ability to respond effectively. Most of us can improve our responses by thinking about how we want to change them, getting help from others, and by practice. However, there are also children and adults who have significant problems with sensory processing that they cannot easily control. While we don't always know why, difficulty with sensory processing seems to be associated with certain disabilities, such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There are also individuals who have difficulty with sensory processing that cannot be attributed to a specific disorder. Currently, occupational therapists are working towards establishing "Sensory Processing Disorder" as a medical diagnosis so that children and adults who have significant difficulty with sensory processing can more easily receive help.
So, Can We Have Some Control Over Sensory Processing?
There has been a great deal of research directed towards this question during the past twenty years and more. At first, it was thought that the best and only way to control unwanted responses (e.g., behavior) was through cognitive methods, such as those pioneered by B.F. Skinner and other behavioral scientists. These include approaches such as Applied Behavior Analysis, social skills training, and "Mindfulness".
Physicians, occupational therapists, and behavioral scientists have also directed significant research into methods that analyze sensory reactions and use an activities approach to providing sensory input in order to help individuals who have significant difficulty with their responses. For example, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, a Boston pediatrician, led research into how the sensory environment impacts survival and growth of very early premature infants. Because of his research, treatment of premature infants now includes sensory strategies such as reduced lighting, carefully administered physical handling when treating the baby, gentle movement of the incubator, and cuddling by parents and nurses. Occupational therapists also have been conducting extensive research into identifying behaviors that signal dysfunctions in sensory processing and methods to help both children and adults. For information on this research, follow this link: http://www.spdfoundation.net/
When OT's talk about "top down" approaches for helping children with self-regulation, they are referring to cognitive strategies that children and adults who help them can use to control sensory processing. The "bottom up" approach, called the "Sensory Diet" uses proven sensory strategies that also impact how the brain processes information, so that the individual can produce a more adaptive response (e.g., self-regulation).
The Sensory Diet
The sensory diet is based on research findings that demonstrated what kinds of sensory input help individuals regulate their responses--in other words, "self regulate". Occupational therapy uses an "activities approach". The activities the OT recommends when working with an individual will provide the type of sensory input that is helpful for that person, usually at regular intervals. When recommending classroom group activities to benefit the children in that classroom that especially need them, there are some "Rules of Thumb" that help us decide what activities will be helpful for all the children, but will be most important to help children who have difficulty with sensory processing. The "Rules of Thumb" include:
and everywhere within our bodies, even different parts of our brains, and coordinating it so that we can make a response, such as:
- An emotional response to watching a movie (visual and auditory sensory input)
- A child's feeling of calmness or warmth when hugged by his mother (touch and pressure sensory input)
- After hearing the question, the child spelling a word out loud (auditory sensory input)
- Sensing danger and instantly running away (multisensory input: visual, auditory, possibly smell/olfactory)
- Smelling food cooking and remembering a wonderful family celebration (olfactory sensory input)
- Watching the teacher, listening to directions, and following through on a task (visual and auditory sensory input)
Learning something new is always easier when we use as many senses as possible. However, all of us can have difficulty with sensory processing at times which, in turn, can impact our ability to respond effectively. Most of us can improve our responses by thinking about how we want to change them, getting help from others, and by practice. However, there are also children and adults who have significant problems with sensory processing that they cannot easily control. While we don't always know why, difficulty with sensory processing seems to be associated with certain disabilities, such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There are also individuals who have difficulty with sensory processing that cannot be attributed to a specific disorder. Currently, occupational therapists are working towards establishing "Sensory Processing Disorder" as a medical diagnosis so that children and adults who have significant difficulty with sensory processing can more easily receive help.
So, Can We Have Some Control Over Sensory Processing?
There has been a great deal of research directed towards this question during the past twenty years and more. At first, it was thought that the best and only way to control unwanted responses (e.g., behavior) was through cognitive methods, such as those pioneered by B.F. Skinner and other behavioral scientists. These include approaches such as Applied Behavior Analysis, social skills training, and "Mindfulness".
Physicians, occupational therapists, and behavioral scientists have also directed significant research into methods that analyze sensory reactions and use an activities approach to providing sensory input in order to help individuals who have significant difficulty with their responses. For example, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, a Boston pediatrician, led research into how the sensory environment impacts survival and growth of very early premature infants. Because of his research, treatment of premature infants now includes sensory strategies such as reduced lighting, carefully administered physical handling when treating the baby, gentle movement of the incubator, and cuddling by parents and nurses. Occupational therapists also have been conducting extensive research into identifying behaviors that signal dysfunctions in sensory processing and methods to help both children and adults. For information on this research, follow this link: http://www.spdfoundation.net/
When OT's talk about "top down" approaches for helping children with self-regulation, they are referring to cognitive strategies that children and adults who help them can use to control sensory processing. The "bottom up" approach, called the "Sensory Diet" uses proven sensory strategies that also impact how the brain processes information, so that the individual can produce a more adaptive response (e.g., self-regulation).
The Sensory Diet
The sensory diet is based on research findings that demonstrated what kinds of sensory input help individuals regulate their responses--in other words, "self regulate". Occupational therapy uses an "activities approach". The activities the OT recommends when working with an individual will provide the type of sensory input that is helpful for that person, usually at regular intervals. When recommending classroom group activities to benefit the children in that classroom that especially need them, there are some "Rules of Thumb" that help us decide what activities will be helpful for all the children, but will be most important to help children who have difficulty with sensory processing. The "Rules of Thumb" include:
- Deep Pressure/"Heavy Work" activities help children calm down and organize their sensory systems so that they can focus their attention. These types of activities are the ones recommended most often.
- Some types of movements can help improve attention and self-regulation but some types are almost always disorganizing for most children. Usually, movements that are slow, rhythmical (think about a metronome), and go in the anterior/posterior direction (e.g., swinging) are calming. Movements that are quick and either not rhythmical or include spinning can be alerting or even disorganizing.
- Activities that provide touch, auditory, and visual input can be calming and/or alerting and either helpful or disorganizing to some children
- Most activities are "multi-sensory" as we would be using all our senses, but beneficial activities would provide the strongest sensory input directed towards one or two types.