Created By
www.stephengraphics.com
Terms Of Use Statement Privacy Policy Purchase Agreement
DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for educational purposes only and is
not intended to act as a substitute for medical advice provided by a qualified health
care provider, nor is any information on this site intended to diagnose, treat, cure
or prevent any disease.
FTC Disclosure: If you decide to purchase any products recommended
on this site I may possibly receive some commission.
If anyone has a specific health issue they should always
seek medical advice.
Please note this site may not display properly in the AOL browser
Sensory Integration Therapy
By Rachel Evans
Over the years, many studies have demonstrated a link between sensory integration therapy and improving the quality of life for autistic people.
Sensory integration therapy is a valuable tool to teach autistic children how to interact with their environment.
One of the main difficulties autistic children face is how they perceive the environment. Oftentimes, their sensory impulses are contradictory to what is expected by society.
Autistic children often have severe difficulty managing their sensory perceptions
and a host of seemingly self-
Autistic people sometimes cannot perceive their own physicality and must resort to
these behaviors to “feel” something. For instance, some autistic children may bang
their head against a wall or spin around in circles. Others have been known to self
harm or crash into objects. These behaviors are the direct result of sensory integration
impairment.
Get More Information on Natural Remedies for Autism and other PDDs
The process of sensory integration therapy seeks to mitigate these behaviors by
teaching how to incorporate information gathered through the senses: smell, taste,
touch, hearing, and vision, and combine these stimuli with what is already know to
produce proper responses.
As with levels of severity of autism, there are also different
levels in which autistic children experience sensory integration dysfunction (SID).
These levels range from mild to severe and can either manifest in a lack of sensitivity
to the environment or a constant state of over-
Sensory integration therapy
seeks to teach the nervous system how to process stimuli in a normalized fashion.
A. Jean Ayers, Ph.D., was the first to research the process known as sensory integration
therapy. She built the foundation of the therapy that has been instrumental in helping
autistic children all over the world.
Using a variety of sensory and motor exercises
for the central nervous system it is actually possible to teach the brain how to
accomplish this.
Typically, an occupational therapist or physical therapist is the
professional that practices sensory integration therapy.
Get More Information on Natural Remedies for Autism and other PDDs
Using various techniques it is possible to improve concentration, listening skills,
physical balance, motor functioning, and impulse control in autistic children. While
it is not successful in 100% of cases, sensory integration therapy has been shown
to be a valuable tool for helping those with autism cope with their environment and
lead a better, more adjusted life.
Each autistic child has different symptoms and
it is necessary to devise a plan for each individual when initiating sensory integration
therapy.
If you wish to find a sensory integration specialist for your child, there
are a number of ways you can go about it. First, you can ask the guidance department
at your local public or private school. If you know someone else who has an autistic
child in sensory integration therapy, it is always recommended to get a word of mouth
referral.
In addition, there is contact information for leading organizations that
deal with sensory integration therapy and autism. Sensory Integration International,
located at 1602 Cabrillo Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501, is an excellent place to begin.
Their phone number is (310) 533-
If you are looking for an actual practitioner,
try the American Occupational Therapy Association, located at 4720 Montgomery Lane,
P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD, 20824. You can contact them by phone at this number:
(301) 652-
It is important to keep a positive frame of mind when dealing with
autism. There is constant research and valuable studies that are shedding light onto
this disorder and finding new and innovative ways to treat it.
Sensory integration therapy should not be used as a standalone treatment. Diet, nutrition,
and fun methods of learning can all help autistic children interact with the social
world in a more productive fashion.
About the Author:
Rachel Evans. For information and to signup for a Free Newsletter about Autism please
visit The Essential Guide to Autism
Note from Jean
When Jodi was small we took him
for two, ten day sessions of Auditory Integration Therapy(AIT)because he was very
sensitive to certain sounds. The AIT taught his ears to work in tandem. He also had
a bit of light therapy which is a non-
I honestly believe that was the first
step on his road to improvement.
You can read more in his book