Sensory Integration – how we take in sensory information

Accommodations for sensory needs Sensory differences are different for every

person Why is this important?

Tactile (touch) Visual (sight) Auditory (hearing) Olfactory (smell) Gustatory (taste / digestion) Proprioception (body movement and

relationship) Vestibular (balance and movement)

Hypersensitivity› Categorized by avoidance behaviors to sensory

activities or situations› TOO INTENSE› Emotionally charged reactions (aka behavior)› Defensive and hyper-vigilant

Hyposensitivity› Sensory seeking› Requires more stimulation to elicit similar response› Sensory seeking OR passive with poor registration

Hypersensitivity Hyposensitivity Avoid or react to

crowded/noisy rooms

Noises that don’t bother others might bother them

Likes things loud – the louder the better

Loud voice No “inside” voice

Hypersensitivity Hyposensitivity Avoids textures –

clothing, food, haircuts

Avoids being touched

Exaggerate injuries

High pain threshold Poor safety

awareness Hands on

› Difficulty with fine motor

› Awkward gross motor

Hypersensitivity Hyposensitivity Avoids lights, sun Headaches Prefers Neutral

colors

Difficulty discriminating a piece from the "whole picture”

Difficulty tracking

Hypersensitivity Hyposensitivity Picky eaters Avoids unfamiliar

textures/flavors

Difficult interpreting taste, needs strong flavors

Mouthing non-foods Poor discrimination

Hypersensitivity Hyposensitivity Avoid strong smells Headaches

May crave strong (or offensive) smells

Inability to discern by smell

Hypersensitivity Hyposensitivity Avoids movement –

bikes, swings Refuse different

positions (on stomach/back)

Easily carsick

Movement seeking Difficulty sitting still,

upright “Thrill-seeker” Presents as having

lots of energy

Hypersensitivity Hyposensitivity Uncoordinated or

clumsy Poor spatial

awareness Avoids gross-motor

activities

Needs to create input into muscles/joints

Poor body awareness and motor planning

May avoid activities

Observe the behavior Determine which sensory system is in need Provide a quick sensory tool to meet that need

A group of participants are sitting at a lunch table working on homework independently. Suzett is distracted and not able to concentrate. She’s looking at other participants, attempting to engage others by making faces, or asking them questions. She is talking loudly and is unable to complete the activity. When a staff addresses this, Suzett responds by saying everyone else is making too much noise, no one else is doing their homework, etc.

Greta chews on her shirt collar. This happens across all environments, except maybe when she is very active.

On the way in from outdoor free choice, Zariyah continues to move, she spins, wiggles in her seat, flops across the table and has a very difficult time sitting still for the next activity. During this she bumps into others or the walls frequently and doesn’t seem to “watch where she’s going” and she has a hard time settling down for seated work.

Clara seems to enjoy most activities; she is well behaved during academics, transitions, is helpful and follows the rules. However, she throws a major tantrum as soon as she finds out the group is going to do an art activity. She runs away from the group, cries, and is inconsolable.