| Over the years, many studies have demonstrated a | | | | Typically, an occupational therapist or physical therapist |
| link between sensory integration therapy and improving | | | | is the professional that practices sensory integration |
| the quality of life for autistic people. | | | | therapy. Using various techniques it is possible to |
| Sensory integration therapy is a valuable tool to teach | | | | improve concentration, listening skills, physical balance, |
| autistic children how to interact with their environment. | | | | motor functioning, and impulse control in autistic children. |
| One of the main difficulties autistic children face is how | | | | While it is not successful in 100% of cases, sensory |
| they perceive the environment. Oftentimes, their | | | | integration therapy has been shown to be a valuable |
| sensory impulses are contradictory to what is | | | | tool for helping those with autism cope with their |
| expected by society. | | | | environment and lead a better, more adjusted life. |
| Autistic children often have severe difficulty managing | | | | Each autistic child has different symptoms and it is |
| their sensory perceptions and a host of seemingly | | | | necessary to devise a plan for each individual when |
| self-destructive behaviors or actions that are | | | | initiating sensory integration therapy. |
| perceived to be senseless is the result. Autistic people | | | | If you wish to find a sensory integration specialist for |
| sometimes cannot perceive their own physicality and | | | | your child, there are a number of ways you can go |
| must resort to these behaviors to "feel" something. For | | | | about it. |
| instance, some autistic children may bang their head | | | | First, you can ask the guidance department at your |
| against a wall or spin around in circles. Others have | | | | local public or private school. If you know someone |
| been known to self harm or crash into objects. These | | | | else who has an autistic child in sensory integration |
| behaviors are the direct result of sensory integration | | | | therapy, it is always recommended to get a word of |
| impairment. | | | | mouth referral. |
| The process of sensory integration therapy seeks to | | | | In addition, there is contact information for leading |
| mitigate these behaviors by teaching how to | | | | organizations that deal with sensory integration therapy |
| incorporate information gathered through the senses: | | | | and autism. |
| smell, taste, touch, hearing, and vision, and combine | | | | Sensory Integration International, located at 1602 |
| these stimuli with what is already know to produce | | | | Cabrillo Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501, is an excellent |
| proper responses. | | | | place to begin. Their phone number is (310) 533-8338. If |
| As with levels of severity of autism, there are also | | | | you are looking for an actual practitioner, try the |
| different levels in which autistic children experience | | | | American Occupational Therapy Association, located |
| sensory integration dysfunction (SID). These levels | | | | at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, |
| range from mild to severe and can either manifest in a | | | | MD, 20824. You can contact them by phone at this |
| lack of sensitivity to the environment or a constant | | | | number: (301) 652-2682. |
| state of over-sensitivity. | | | | It is important to keep a positive frame of mind when |
| Sensory integration therapy seeks to teach the | | | | dealing with autism. There is constant research and |
| nervous system how to process stimuli in a normalized | | | | valuable studies that are shedding light onto this |
| fashion. A. Jean Ayers, Ph.D., was the first to research | | | | disorder and finding new and innovative ways to treat |
| the process known as sensory integration therapy. | | | | it. |
| She built the foundation of the therapy that has been | | | | Sensory integration therapy should not be used as a |
| instrumental in helping autistic children all over the world. | | | | standalone treatment. Diet, nutrition, and fun methods |
| Using a variety of sensory and motor exercises for | | | | of learning can all help autistic children interact with the |
| the central nervous system it is actually possible to | | | | social world in a more productive fashion. |
| teach the brain how to accomplish this. | | | | |