Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing Treatment
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Santa Monica, Venice, South Bay, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Pasadena and all of Greater Los Angeles
Contents
- 1 What is Sensory Processing Intervention
- 2 Who Should Do Treatment for Sensory Integration Disorders
- 3 Signs and Symptoms of Sensory Integration/Processing Deficits
- 4 Programs for Sensory Integration and Processing Deficits
- 5 How Our Treatment For Sensory Integration/Sensory Processing Disorders is Different
What is Sensory Processing Intervention
The ability to process the incoming information from all the senses (touch, sight, smell, sound and taste) and coordinating that information with the system that controls body in space (proprioception) and finally the balance system (vestibular system) can be extremely overwhelming for some individuals. It requires a great deal of coordinated processing from various brain structures. If any of these systems are not functioning at optimal levels, there can be significant repercussions for behavior, emotional regulation, and learning. Individuals who’s brains cannot process all this information in a coordinated manner, often experience either overstimulation of a neurological system or understimulation of a neurological system. When overstimulated, an individual becomes disorganized in their behaviors, they may become anxious, stressed and difficult to control because the sensory information is not being received and processed correctly. This leads to an uncomfortable state for the individual. When understimulated, an individual can appear to be lethargic, lack motivation, and don’t seem present in the moment because of poor attention. This also leads to an uncomfortable state for the individual.
Sensory integration intervention was developed to help children and adults who present with deficits or challenges in these areas.
The development of early sensory systems such as muscle tone, reflexes, equilibrium and protective reactions are the foundations for later development of hand-eye coordination, motor planning, perception, attention and finally learning, ideation, and organized behavior. Inadequate processing at any level of this developmental sequence will negatively impact motor, cognitive, and socio-emotional areas of development.
Who Should Do Treatment for Sensory Integration Disorders
Individuals who experience difficulties processing sensory information in any of the primary sensory domains would be appropriate for treatment. Some of the most common diagnoses treated for sensory processing disorders are:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Learning Disabilities
- Attention Deficit Disorders
- Visual-Motor Integration Disorders
- Auditory Processing Disorders
- Visual Processing Disorders
- Neurodevelopmental Delays/Disorders
- Behavioral Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Other Neurological Disorders
Signs and Symptoms of Sensory Integration/Processing Deficits
Individuals who struggle with sensory integration and/or sensory processing may demonstrate the following behaviors:
- Clumsiness
- Sensitive to touch and fabrics against their skin
- Sensitive to loud sounds
- Difficulties with different food textures
- Poor Coordination for Sports and other Physical Activities
- Poor Visual Tracking
- Poor Visual Motor Integration
- Tires Easily
- Difficulties Discriminating Left and Right
- Difficulties with Hand Dominance
- Extreme Emotional Reactions
Programs for Sensory Integration and Processing Deficits
The iLs Program
The iLs program is an exercise program for the brain and the body that combines the elements of music, balance, movement and language to support the sensory processing mechanisms.
The program targets the foundations of learning and behavior through multisensory input to the motor, visual, vestibular, and auditory systems. It does this in a hierarchical manner with the early phases of intervention supporting sensory processing and later levels gradually increasing to higher order cognititve functions. Together, the body and brain become better organized and primed for improved processing of environmental information, improved attention, and overall improved learning.
Three Main Components
- Auditory – The listening component which provides a variety of music selections that are organized in a specific sequence to stimulate auditory and vestibular systems through bone conduction.
- Movement – These are sets of exercises that target core strength, visual tracking, and awareness of body in space. Activities “wake up” the brain. The movement program and auditory programs are done together.
- Language – The language component makes use of pre-recorded activities which the client repeats into a microphone with direct auditory feedback through headphones. This method of training is designed to improve specific auditory and language skills by focusing on speech, and voicing aspects of pitch, tone and rate.
Who Can Use The iLs Program
Client who demonstrate delays or challenges in any of the following areas:
- Balance and Vestibular system
- Concentration/Attention
- Memory
- Speech and Language
- Writing
- Reading
- Social Skills
- Motor Skills
- Processing Speed
How Our Treatment For Sensory Integration/Sensory Processing Disorders is Different
Neurofeedback Training
The Brain Map/QEEG test provides extensive information about subcortical and cortical functions. The primary and secondary sensory cortexes of the each of the senses have been mapped and described in the Brodmann system. This system describes brain locations that are responsible for processing all sensory information which corresponds to the Brain Map sensor locations analyzed during the QEEG assessment. This assessment provides information about the functionning of the sensory cortexes and can diagnose any problems that occur in these sensory systems. This information is what guides the neurofeedback treatment used to improve sensory integration and overall sensory processing of information.
