A Resource Guide for Children and Adults With Developmental Disabilities Living in King County

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Overview

Sensory Integration disorder or dysfunction (SID/DSI) results from inability of the brain to correctly process information brought in by the senses.  When an individual has sensory integration dysfunction, he or she may have difficulty responding to certain sensory information. 

Children with sensory processing problems can be either under or over sensitive to outside stimuli. For example a child who is hyposensitive to touch will constantly be crashing into things seeking extra stimulation while the hypersensitive child will avoid being touched or touching things when at all possible. SID can also include children who have processing
deficits in one or more areas.  When a child has a visual processing deficit, it does not mean that they cannot see. It means that they have a hard time finding the words for objects they are viewing or, if asked to go get an object, they might look right at it and then say they can't find it. This is because they are seeing it but their brains are not processing that they are seeing it. Auditory processing deficits are the same, the child hears what you say but the brain does not process it so the child understands or it takes several minutes for what you have said to "click" with the child. 

Causes

For most children, sensory integration develops in the course of ordinary childhood activities. Motor planning ability is a natural outcome of the process, as is the ability to respond to incoming sensation in a adaptive manner. But for some children, sensory integration does not develop as efficiently as it should. When the process of sensory integration is disordered through a lack of stimulation or movement over a long period of time, a number of problems in learning, development, or behavior may become evident.

Factors that contribute to SID include: premature birth; autism and other developmental disorders; learning disabilities; delinquency and substance abuse due to learning disabilities; stress-related disorders; and brain injury. Two of the biggest contributing conditions are autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Characteristics

Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID/DSI) or sensory processing deficits can come in many different forms. No two children will be affected in the same ways. Some of the most common characteristics include:

Diagnosis

If you or someone else thinks your child may be delayed, it is important to seek an assessment at as young an age as possible.  Children with SID and other developmental delays may benefit from early intervention services, therapies, educational interventions and other support services that may require a diagnosis in order to be eligible for those services.

If a child is suspected of having a sensory integrative disorder, an evaluation can be conducted by a qualified occupational or physical therapist. Evaluation usually consists of both testing and observations of responses to sensory stimulation, posture, balance, coordination and eye movements. After analyzing test results and other data along with information from other professionals and parents, the therapist will make recommendations regarding appropriate treatment.

Numerous psychological, psychiatric and neurological disorders appear the same as sensory integration dysfunction. These can include schizophrenia, conduct disorder, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), autism (or disorders on the autism spectrum), pervasive development disorder (PDD), and Tourette syndrome.

Many symptoms of sensory integration dysfunction look like symptoms of other common disabilities making it difficult to differentiate one difficulty from another. Unfortunately, symptoms of SI Dysfunction are often misinterpreted
as psychological problems. 

Treatment

Occupational therapists play a key role in the conventional treatment of SID. By providing sensory integration therapy, occupational therapists are able to supply the sensory input and experiences that children with SID need to grow and learn. Also referred to as a "sensory diet," this type of therapy involves a planned and scheduled activity program implemented by an occupational therapist, with each "diet" being designed and developed to meet the needs of the child's nervous system. A sensory diet stimulates the senses with a combination of alerting, organizing, and calming techniques.

Motor skills training methods that normally consist of adaptive physical education, movement education, and gymnastics are often used by occupational and physical therapists. While these are important skills to work on, the sensory integrative approach is vital to treating SID.

Long-Term Outcomes

By combining conventional and alternative (therapeutic body brushing, cerebral electrical stimulation, music therapy) treatments and providing these therapies at an early age, sensory integration disorder may be managed successfully. The ultimate goal of all therapeutic treatment is for the individual to be better able to interact with his or her environment in a
more successful and adaptive way.

Other Information Resources

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This page last updated:  Sunday, November 25, 2007