Applying Sensory Applying Sensory Processing Techniques to Processing Techniques to Positively Impact BehaviorPositively Impact Behavior

Part 1: Sensory Processing Part 1: Sensory Processing and Dysfunction and Dysfunction

Amanda Martinage OTR/L, M.EdAmanda Martinage OTR/L, M.Edamandamartinage@yahoo.comamandamartinage@yahoo.com

11

Provide an overview of sensory processingOutline sensory processing and dysfunction related to each areaDiscuss sensory processing as an accepted diagnosisPresent assessment toolsImplications of sensory processing on behavior

Objectives

22

It has implications on behavior and learningResearch indicates that sensory based techniques positively influence behaviorThe Department of Mental Health made the use of sensory strategies mandatory for inpatient psychiatric settings in 2006

Why Is Understanding Sensory Why Is Understanding Sensory Processing Important? Processing Important?

33

How our bodies process and organize How our bodies process and organize information from our sensesinformation from our senses

We use the input to respond appropriately We use the input to respond appropriately to a particular situationto a particular situation

We use input from our senses, movement We use input from our senses, movement and gravityand gravity

What is Sensory Processing?What is Sensory Processing?

44

““Sensory modulation is the ability to take Sensory modulation is the ability to take in sensory information, decide what is in sensory information, decide what is relevant, and to make an appropriate relevant, and to make an appropriate adaptive/behavioral response.adaptive/behavioral response.””It enables us to screen out meaningless It enables us to screen out meaningless information and respond to important information and respond to important information/stimulationinformation/stimulation

What is Sensory Modulation?What is Sensory Modulation?

55

Light touchLight touch

Deep pressureDeep pressure

VibrationVibration

Hot and coldHot and cold

PainPain

Keeps us safeKeeps us safe

Allows us to bond with others and develop Allows us to bond with others and develop socially and emotionallysocially and emotionally

TactileTactile

66

77

88

99

1010

1111

Needing MORE input to feel what the Needing MORE input to feel what the “typical” individual feels“typical” individual feels

What is hyposensitivity?

Overly sensitive to sensory inputOverly sensitive to sensory input

Feels more exaggerated version of what the Feels more exaggerated version of what the “typical” individual feels “typical” individual feels

What is hypersensitivity?

1212

Problems with socializationProblems with socialization

For self protectionFor self protection

Hypersensitive (overly sensitive to touch)Hypersensitive (overly sensitive to touch)

Hyposensitivity (seeks out tactile input)Hyposensitivity (seeks out tactile input)

Oral hypersensitiveOral hypersensitive

Oral hyposensitiveOral hyposensitive

What does tactile dysfunction look like?

1313

Helps you develop a relationship with the Helps you develop a relationship with the earth earth

Tells us whether or not weTells us whether or not we’’re moving, how re moving, how quickly and in what directionquickly and in what direction

Sense of safety- knowing our feet are on the Sense of safety- knowing our feet are on the groundground

Allows you to maintain an upright body Allows you to maintain an upright body posture to support the visual systemposture to support the visual system

Receptors found in the inner earReceptors found in the inner ear

VestibularVestibular

1414

1515

1616

1717

1818

Children do not feel secure Children do not feel secure

Poor self esteemPoor self esteem

Hypersensitive (intolerance for movement)Hypersensitive (intolerance for movement)

Hyposensitive (increased tolerance for Hyposensitive (increased tolerance for movement)movement)

Gravitational insecurityGravitational insecurity

What does vestibular dysfunction look like?

1919

Tells us about our own movement or body Tells us about our own movement or body positionposition

Helps us integrate touch and movement Helps us integrate touch and movement sensationssensations

Contributes to body awareness, motor Contributes to body awareness, motor control and motor planningcontrol and motor planning

ProprioceptionProprioception

2020

Receptors found in muscles, joints, Receptors found in muscles, joints, ligament, tendons and connective tissueligament, tendons and connective tissue

Unconscious sense of body movementUnconscious sense of body movement

Without proprioception you would have to Without proprioception you would have to rely on your vision to know what your body rely on your vision to know what your body was doing was doing

Proprioception Proprioception ContinuedContinued

2121

2222

2323

2424

2525

2626

2727

ClumsyClumsy

Hypersensitive Hypersensitive

Hyposensitive Hyposensitive – Decreased graded movementDecreased graded movement– Decreased body awareness, poor motor Decreased body awareness, poor motor

planningplanning

What does proprioceptive dysfunction look like?

2828

How our bodies interpret visual inputHow our bodies interpret visual input

Includes seeing, distinguishing colors, Includes seeing, distinguishing colors, depth perception and visual perceptiondepth perception and visual perception

Visual ProcessingVisual Processing

2929

3030

3131

3232

Hypersensitive (overly sensitive to visual Hypersensitive (overly sensitive to visual input)input)

Hyposensitive (seeks out visual Hyposensitive (seeks out visual stimulation)stimulation)

What does visual dysfunction look like?

3333

How our bodies interpret auditory inputHow our bodies interpret auditory input

Includes hearing volume, tone, direction of Includes hearing volume, tone, direction of sound, distinguishing difference between sound, distinguishing difference between soundssounds

Auditory ProcessingAuditory Processing

3434

3535

3636

Hypersensitive (overly sensitive to noise)Hypersensitive (overly sensitive to noise)

Hyposensitive (appears to under-register Hyposensitive (appears to under-register noise from the environment) noise from the environment)

What does auditory dysfunction look like?

3737

Considered the dominant sense in Considered the dominant sense in humanshumans

Important for survival, can warn us of Important for survival, can warn us of hazardous substances in the environmenthazardous substances in the environment

Smell and taste are closely linkedSmell and taste are closely linked

SmellSmell

3838

““Response to certain harmless sensations Response to certain harmless sensations as if they were dangerous or painful.as if they were dangerous or painful.””

Over activation of our protective systemOver activation of our protective system

Sensory DefensivenessSensory Defensiveness

3939

Developed by Patricia WillbargerDeveloped by Patricia Willbarger

Bombards the tactile system in an attempt Bombards the tactile system in an attempt to normalize receptorsto normalize receptors

According to the protocol brushing should According to the protocol brushing should be completed every two hoursbe completed every two hours

What is brushing?What is brushing?

4040

4141

Using sensory input to complete functional Using sensory input to complete functional activitiesactivities

It allows us to understand things about It allows us to understand things about ourselves and the world around us without ourselves and the world around us without having to test them every timehaving to test them every time

What is Sensory What is Sensory Discrimination?Discrimination?

4242

Qualities of sensations: how fast, how Qualities of sensations: how fast, how hard, how brighthard, how bright

Similarities of sensations: rhyming, this Similarities of sensations: rhyming, this looks similar to thatlooks similar to that

Differences between sensations: the Differences between sensations: the difference between similar sounding difference between similar sounding words, the difference between shapeswords, the difference between shapes

Sensory Discrimination Allows Sensory Discrimination Allows Us to PerceiveUs to Perceive

4343

Develops with neurological maturationDevelops with neurological maturation

Always takes precedence over sensory Always takes precedence over sensory defensiveness in day to day situationsdefensiveness in day to day situations

Sensory DiscriminationSensory Discrimination

4444

Allows for upright posture against gravityAllows for upright posture against gravity

Balance and bilateral coordination allow Balance and bilateral coordination allow you to experiment with new movements you to experiment with new movements and positionsand positions

What are Postural Responses?What are Postural Responses?

4545

Using both sides of your body to complete tasksUsing both sides of your body to complete tasks

It can involve using both sides of your body to It can involve using both sides of your body to complete the same action (clapping your hands)complete the same action (clapping your hands)

It can involve using both sides of your body It can involve using both sides of your body using alternating movements (climbing stairs)using alternating movements (climbing stairs)

It can involve separate actions to achieve the It can involve separate actions to achieve the same goal (stabilizing your paper while writing)same goal (stabilizing your paper while writing)

Bilateral CoordinationBilateral Coordination

4646

Also known as motor planningAlso known as motor planning

The ability to plan, sequence and The ability to plan, sequence and execute motor movementsexecute motor movements

Does not occur at birth, develops over Does not occur at birth, develops over time with practicetime with practice

What is Praxis?What is Praxis?

4747

VIDEOVIDEO

4848

4949

5050

5151

5252

First recognized by Dr. A. Jean Ayres First recognized by Dr. A. Jean Ayres

Originally called sensory integration Originally called sensory integration dysfunctiondysfunction

When there is sensory processing When there is sensory processing dysfunction dysfunction ““social, emotional, motor social, emotional, motor and/or functional problems can resultand/or functional problems can result””

Sensory Processing DisordersSensory Processing Disorders

5353

Not accepted as a diagnosis in the ICD-10 Not accepted as a diagnosis in the ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems)Diseases and Related Health Problems)

Was a proposed diagnoses for the DSM-5 but Was a proposed diagnoses for the DSM-5 but not acceptednot accepted

SPD is an accepted diagnosis in Stanley SPD is an accepted diagnosis in Stanley GreenspanGreenspan’’s s Diagnostic Manual for Infancy and Diagnostic Manual for Infancy and Early ChildhoodEarly Childhood as Regulation Disorders of as Regulation Disorders of Sensory ProcessingSensory Processing

Accepted Diagnosis?Accepted Diagnosis?

5454

Sensory Modulation DisorderSensory Modulation Disorder

Sensory Based Motor DisorderSensory Based Motor Disorder

Sensory Discrimination DisorderSensory Discrimination Disorder

Proposed Diagnosis for DSM VProposed Diagnosis for DSM V

5555

Image taken from http://stepstherapyinc.com/sensory.htmImage taken from http://stepstherapyinc.com/sensory.htm

5656

Clinical observation and caregiver reportClinical observation and caregiver report

Sensory Profile and Sensory Processing Sensory Profile and Sensory Processing MeasureMeasure

Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT)Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT)

AssessmentAssessment

5757

Ability to attend and focusAbility to attend and focus

Ability to achieve and maintain an optimal Ability to achieve and maintain an optimal state of alertness for learningstate of alertness for learning

Social skillsSocial skills

BehaviorBehavior

Sensory Processing Dysfunction Sensory Processing Dysfunction Impacts…Impacts…

5858

Look for Part 2 of this webinar:Look for Part 2 of this webinar:

Applying Sensory Processing Applying Sensory Processing Techniques to Positively Impact Techniques to Positively Impact BehaviorBehavior

Part 2: Techniques to Address Sensory Part 2: Techniques to Address Sensory Processing DifficultiesProcessing Difficulties

How to Address Sensory How to Address Sensory Processing Difficulties?Processing Difficulties?

5959