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Your Guide to Sensory Integration
Sensory integration is the ability to take in information from our senses and
effectively utilize the information to respond to the demands of our environment.
All day, every day, we receive information from our senses--touch, hearing, sight,
taste, smell, body position, and movement and balance. Our brains must organize this
information so that we can successfully function in all aspects of daily life-at home,
at school, at play, at work, and during social interactions. Sensory integration is
an important part of our nervous system functioning.
The Senses
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The tactile (touch) system provides information about the shape, size, and texture of
objects. This information helps us to understand our surroundings, manipulate objects,
and use tools proficiently. When you put your hand in your pocket and select a quarter
from an assortment of change, you are using tactile discrimination.
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We use our auditory (hearing) system to identify the quality and directionality of
sound. Our auditory sense tells us to turn our heads and look when we hear cars
approaching. It also helps us to understand speech.
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Our visual (sight) system interprets what we see. It is critical to
recognizing shapes,
colors, letters, words, and numbers. It is also important in reading body language and
other non-verbal cues during social interactions. Vision guides our movements, and we
continually monitor our actions with our eyes in order to move safely and effectively.
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The gustatory (taste) and olfactory (smell) systems are closely linked.
They allow us to enjoy tastes and smells of foods and cause us to react negatively to
unpleasant or dangerous sensations.
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Proprioception (Body Awareness) provides information from the muscles and joints,
contributing to the understanding of body position. It also tells us how much force
is needed for a particular task, such as picking up a heavy object, throwing a ball,
or using a tool correctly.
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Located in the inner ear, the vestibular (movement and balance) system is the
foundation for the development of balance reactions. It provides information about
the position and movement of the head in relation to gravity and, therefore, about
the speed and direction of movement. The vestibular system is also closely related
to postural control. For example, when the brain receives a signal that the body is
falling to the side, it, in turn, sends signals that activate muscle groups to
maintain balance. |
Components of Sensory Processing
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Sensory modulation is the ability to take in sensory information,
decide what is relevant, and make an appropriate behavioral response. Difficulties
in this area can result in avoidance or fear of normal sensations or unusual
sensory-seeking behaviors. Sensory modulation problems can impact behavior and
emotional development.
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Sensory discrimination allows us to learn bout the specific qualities
of sensory information such as size, shape and texture, direction of a noise, and body
position and movement in space. Sensory discrimination difficulties most always result
in motor related difficulties such as lack of coordination or delayed motor skill
development.
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Praxis or motor planning is the ability to plan and sequence the
steps of a new or non-habitual task and is dependent on effective sensory
discrimination. Children with dispraxia have difficulty executing motor tasks,
developing organizational skills, and interacting with objects in a playful and
imaginative way. |
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