Sensory Integration

Understanding, educating and advocating for children with sensory issues, their families, and all others who share in their lives.

Polly Godwin Emmons and Liz McKendry Anderson

What is Sensory Integration?

Sensory Integration is a person's ability to feel, understand and organize sensory information from their body and environment. In essence, sensory integration is the process of sorting, ordering, and eventually assembling all individual sensory inputs into a whole brain function. When the functions are whole and balanced, body movements are highly adaptive, learning is easy and 'good' behavior is a natural outcome.

Sensory Integration is also reflected in a child's development, learning and feelings about himself. The connection between sensory integration and social and emotional development should not be underestimated. How a children integrate through the sensory systems provides a basis for their reality —not your reality, not my reality; their reality— and their unique perspective on the world around them.

 

What is Sensory Dysfunction?

Sensory Dysfunction occurs when a portion of the process of sensory integration is not functioning efficiently or effectively. It may show up in learning, attention, coordination, activity level, developmental difficulties, poor self esteem and behavior, but it will show up.

The following is a checklist of possible signs an individual may be experiencing difficulties with sensory integration. This is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather an overview of the more common indicators of possible sensory integration dysfunction.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Overly sensitive to touch, movement, sights or sounds
• Under reactive to touch, movement, sights or sounds
• Activity level that is unusually high or unusually low
• Difficulties with coordination
• Delays in speech or language skills
• Delays in motor skills (fine and/or gross)
• Difficulties with academic achievement
• Poor self-concept
• Difficulties with executive functioning
• Challenging behaviors