The following are the questions raised at the October ChADD Twin Cities on Sensory Processing. Lisa Gossman and I met the following week to answer them.
I also contributed to the questions addressing AD/HD.
Q. Regarding setting limits, my children can become abusive when they don't get what they want.
Q. Are there any studies correlating left-handedness and Sensory Integration?
Q. How does music therapy help to regulate a child?
Q. Who is using the term Sensory Processing?
Q. Does everyone benefit from the brushing technique?
A. If this a sensory-based issue, then it could be a filtering issue, which may involve difficulty inhibiting incoming stimuli. While there some auditory intervention techniques being promoted (e.g. the Mais, Samonas, Berard, and Therapeutic Listening, etc.). It may also be effective to compensate by limiting your exposure to such situations and take more control of your environment. It may be that the voices, or talking in distracting media is the culprit...in this case, commercially-available white noise machines may help. Sometimes vigorous exercise preceding concentration is also helpful in targeting us. Return to the top
A. This may be more about behavior and problem solving than behavior and sensory processing difficulties; try working on a pro-active program of setting the rules and getting agreement in advance (think about using signs as visual reminders of the rules). The advance portion is essential as it implies working with the child when they are not in the emotion of the moment. You may want to consult your favorite Behavior Intervention professional! Return to the top
A. While I don't specifically recall seen anything written, I have heard antidotal information that there are correlations between Left Handedness and other disorders such as those within the Autism spectrum. Return to the top
A. There is still little written on Oral Defensiveness. Don't tell parents to ignore it and t it will get better...or that they should force al hygiene. For those with oral defensiveness, reluctance to brushing teeth is common symptom. I can recommend going slow and repetitively to re-orient the child to oral input. A bucket of oral toys (such as whistles, straws, chewys, etc.) are useful in providing oral input that seems to help develop oral sensory processing and tolerance. When you are seeing a child t you suspect has oral defensiveness...verify with parents and then avoid at all costs traumatizing a child by forcing; you can threaten any possibility of regular brushing habits if you force. Chances are there are therapists, as well as family members, involved who have worked really hard to get the child to point that they are at. Return to the top
A. Music therapy has been around for ages and I suppose it could be considered an auditory intervention in addition to its many other uses. However, you need to contact a music therapist for more specifics. In addition, Sensory Integration International published an overview of Auditory Interventions in their Spring/Summer 2000 issue of SI Quarterly www.sensoryint.com. Return to the top
A. Sensory Processing is an emerging term that has en showing up in publications more and more in the last ears. Personally, I have made a plea to other rapists since about 1992 to use this term because all of the complications that we have when we use term "Sensory Integration" as I stated in my presentation. Return to the top
A. Educators, and schools in general, have always played art, and have attempted to make a stimulating environment while often working with poor physical structures. They have learned through the years that some elements (colors, furniture placement.) promote learning better than others. Large class sizes make some of this difficult as well. This actually a very popular topic in education; however, money, and time to make the changes are limited. St. Mary's University offers a course entitled, "Brain based ways we think and learn". Also, Dr Gardners' work on multiple intelligences is one of many new conversations on brain-based learning. Return to the top
A. Book stores now carry a number of books addressing AD/HD in the workplace. Start noticing what works and what doesn't with you and others. Re-orienting your desk, wearing headphones, white noise, natural lighting etc. Sometimes it's furniture layout, color of walls etc. (real cheap to move things and/or paint.) Return to the top
A. No. Avoid the tendency to apply techniques across the board. What benefits kids with sensory difficulties is to be viewed as an individual. This includes a comprehensive evaluation by a therapist. Return to the top
A. I would actually state this the other way around. There are a number of children with learning disabilities who have sensory processing disorders. Of these, there is a small percentage whom have motor impairments. Return to the top
A. If one were to summarize all the books out on AD/HD and the workplace, the two common themes are 1) get the right job and 2) get the right spouse. Your attending meetings like this is a great sign that your seek understanding. One of the earliest books on AD/HD, "You Mean I'm not Lazy, Crazy, or Stupid" Is still one of the best. Finally, if there is not a spousal support group in your area, consider starting one. Return to the top
A. Every child would "benefit" from Occupational Therapy services; however, our school systems and insurance companies offer it only for those who "require" it. In an educational system OT is a service "related" to Special Education. A child first must require Special Education services. Generally the Special Education teacher first works with the child and then brings OT in when deemed necessary for the child to meet goals. Occupational Therapy is provided to individuals who need it. We must follow best practice as outlined by our professional state and national licensure organizations as well as Federal & State education guidelines. It's expensive, and we need to be responsible. I have not personally observed an instance where needed services were not provided Keep in mind that O.T. is available privately to anyone who is willing to pay for it out of pocket. Return to the top
A. While I can't diagnose this child, I can comment that sensory defensive children often have a higher pain threshold so such displays may not be painful to them. There are too many variables that could be involved here for me to give a good answer...are there medications involved, any neurological impairments? If this happens all the time, he may be operating at a high state of arousal (fight/flight). I'm assuming that you are working with an Occupational Therapist, otherwise you wouldn't probably use the term sensory defensive. In this case I always suggest that you talk these questions over with your current OT. Maybe you can work with him best when he is not in the emotion, or in a fight or flight state. In addition, whispering to AD/HD children is a technique to not "reward" the behavior by stimulating the frontal brain areas that can otherwise occur during confrontation. Return to the top