Therapies For Sensory Processing Disorder

By Robert Wright


When one is suffering from SPD, their brains experience inability to receive and respond appropriately to sensory feed emanating from body senses. Sensory integration dysfunction is the other name for this condition. Properly functioning individual has their brain receiving information from senses from different modalities. Taste, tactile, audition, vision, vestibular system, and olfactory are some of the modalities from where the information is coming.

There are certain significant problems that characterize SPD. People suffering from sensory processing disorder often have difficulties in organizing sensation emanating from the environment and the body. This is usually manifested by the patient having trouble with performance in one or multiple area of life. This could be in leisure and play, productivity, or daily activities.

Several different types of SPD exist, and the various types are further subdivided into subtypes. The different types of this condition may affect one or multiple sense in the body. That makes symptoms to vary among individuals depending on the type of subtype they have. Those with oversensitivity will usually dislike certain textures, experience motion sickness, avoid noisy and crowded places, be picky eaters, and refuse normal skin contact interactions with other people.

Oversensitivity also causes patients to experience sleep disorders. They wake up at minor sounds as a result of sensory overload. The individuals also feel seriously sickened, discomforted, or threatened by normal stimuli such as lights, smells, sounds, and tastes. Some even feel discomforted because of their own heartbeats. These experiences make coexistence and functioning difficult in social and other environments.

Other subtypes of this condition include under-responsivity, sensory craving, sensory motor based problems, and sensory discrimination problems. People suffering from sensory discrimination will often have poor handwriting, drop things constantly, have hardship eating and dressing, and use inappropriate force when handling objects. Those suffering from sensory craving will often fidget a lot, appear impulsive, seek extreme sensations, bite pencils, clothing, or fingers, and make loud noises.

In medical manuals such as ICD-10, SPD is not classified under medical disorders. The condition is diagnosed by performing tests. Some major diagnostic tests and procedures are standardized questionnaires, standardized tests, expert observational scales, and free play observations. Occupational therapy gyms are the places where free play observations are conducted. Observation is performed in various settings such as homes and schools.

Different kinds of practitioners can diagnose the condition depending on the country. Among the practitioners who commonly do the diagnosis are physiotherapists, learning specialists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists. In cases where symptoms are too severe, full neurological and psychological evaluation may need to be performed. Some standardized tests that are performed include SIPT, TSFI, and TSI whereas examples of standardized questionnaires include SPM, SPM-P, adolescent/adult sensory profile, and SP.

Various therapies for the treatment of SPD have been formulated by researchers. Some common therapies are sensory processing therapy and the sensory integration therapy. Four key principles are based upon in the latter therapy. These principles are child directed, active engagement, just right challenge, and adaptive response. Objectives differ among the principles and they are usually met during a therapy session.




About the Author: