How Occupational Therapy Can Help Children With Sensory Differences

Childhood is necessarily complex. There’s a lot of learning involved in every aspect of it, much of it filled with stumbles and missteps. Needless to say, additional challenges make it that much more difficult to navigate daily life comfortably. For children with sensory differences—the kind that impact daily life—there’s even more to juggle. On top of the growing pains that every child experiences, they process certain things—touch, sound, and movement—differently from other children. Happily, there are ways to address it.

Understanding Sensory Differences and How They Affect a Child’s Ability to Engage With Their Environment

Before we dive into the therapy itself, we need to have an understanding of sensory differences. It’s a situation that disrupts the brain’s ability to interpret—and respond to—sensory information. The way this manifests varies from person to person, but a popular categorization is that of “sensory seeking” and “sensory avoidance.”

• Sensory Seeking: Children who fall into this category seek out intense sensory experiences like loud noises, jumping, and spinning.
• Sensory Avoidance: Children who fall into this category will often avoid situations that cause overstimulation, such as crowds or unfamiliar textures.

How Occupational Therapy Can Help With Children Experiencing Sensory Differences

Sensory processing is something that’s second nature for many children and adults, but we often forget we had to learn it at some point. While we don’t give a second thought to, say, processing what a sound is and where it’s coming from, a child experiencing sensory differences has more difficulty with such things. Occupational therapists aim to help these children develop adaptive responses to sensory inputs, thus helping them engage more effectively in daily activities.

So what does that involve? The occupational therapists at Basal use carefully structured activities to help children learn to manage a variety of sensory input in a controlled environment. The primary goals are:

• Improving sensory response
• Enhancing focus and attention
• Enhancing coordination and motor skills
• Encouraging participation in social activities

Typical Signs of Sensory Differences in Children:

• Overreacting or underreacting to normal levels of touch, light, or sound.
• Challenges with motor skills like climbing, handwriting, putting on shoes, etc.
• Behavioral issues, i.e., meltdowns or withdrawal in environments with an abundance of stimuli.
• Developmental delays.
  

If you notice any of these signs persisting in your child and interfering with daily life, a professional evaluation could provide the support he or she needs.

How Occupational Therapy Can Help With Sensory Challenges

Our occupational therapists employ several useful tools to address challenges with managing sensory input. These may include graded and sequential activities like swinging, weighted blankets, or various forms of sensory play in order to help modulate the sensory system to allow for successful interactions in their environment. 

Following are some of the most commonly employed activities:

• Swinging and Spinning: This helps improve balance (vestibular processing).
• Weighted Blankets/Vests: The pressure this provides can have a calming effect.
• Sensory Play: Playing with sand, water, and textured surfaces stimulates the tactile senses. (Hint: Many kids love kinetic sand!)
• Obstacle Courses: Motor planning and coordination skills receive a boost from this type of activity. 
• Proprioceptive and Heavy-Work Activities: These have a calming and organizing effect on the body.

Several studies have shown that addressing sensory differences through targeted activities and strategies can have a positive effect on attention, behavior, and daily functioning. By creating an environment in which your child can learn safely, you’re giving children the tools they need to succeed in life.

Home Strategies to Support Sensory Differences

At home, continue to encourage your child to develop their sensory processing: 

• Sensory Bins: Containers filled with dry rice, beans, or sand are a fun and effective way for kids to learn.
• Physical Play: What kid doesn’t love climbing a tree or jumping on a trampoline to stimulate their senses. As a bonus, it keeps them physically active.
• Weighted Toys or Blankets: This helps to ground and regulate children who become easily overstimulated.
• Calming Zones: Designating a room in your home with dimmed lighting and soft textures is a great way to calm your child.

Important note: all of this kind of home activity should still be carried out under the direction and guidance of an occupational therapist, since kids with true sensory challenges need to have input in a graded and systematic way to prevent regression.

When to Seek Professional Help

If you have a child who’s struggling with sensory stimulation in any of the above mentioned areas, then working with an occupational therapist may be the solution you’re looking for. We’d be happy to help your child regulate and process things effectively. If you notice some of the telltale signs, it might be time for professional assistance. Effective intervention can make all the difference.

Recognize When Your Child Is Having Challenges Managing Sensory Input and Take Action

Occupational therapy, with a focus on sensory readiness, offers a great degree of assistance for children with sensory differences, as well as their families. From improving sensory responses to helping with day-to-day activities, it can make a big difference in a child’s life. If you have additional questions or would like to schedule an appointment for your child, we’re always happy to start a conversation. Get in touch with us and let’s help your child with their sensory integration!