Sensory processing

Sensory integration is the coordination, the interaction of different sensory qualities and systems.

Examples:

Sensory integration disorder

Sensory integration disorders are disorders of the interplay of sensory modalities.

Examples:

The vestibular defensiveness is a dramatic form of the fear of heights. The anxiety can be triggered by everyday activities such as swings, cycling or climbing stairs.

From a sensory integration disorder, adults can also be affected. However, there are usually people who had already as children perception problems.

Sensory integrative functions can also be affected by neurological disorders ( stroke, multiple sclerosis). In this context, however, one does not speak of an SI disorder. The term SI disorder does not refer to a neurophysiological dysfunction ( an insufficient link between nerve cells and brain structures ), but on the morphological changes that occur in these diseases (destruction of brain tissue or Nervenleitbahnen ).

People with an autism spectrum diagnosis often have special features in sensory perception, such as increased pain or lower for various sensory channels. A typical feature some see in the often inflexible change of attention from one sensory channel to another. Dinah Murray and Wendy Lawson described this with monotropism, Donna Williams with mono track and specifically with Mono Processing.

The psychosocial dimension of sensory integration

Social relations are spatial relations. This is evident already in the parlance: Someone close to stand, stand by someone who feel attracted to someone, be aloof, be about something sublime, in submission, back to my body, braces, let someone fool, be off-putting, distance themselves, arc make someone are terms that describe social relations on the basis of spatial relationships. Who can estimate distances bad, others sometimes comes too close or not close enough and therefore experienced rejection may take affection. Or he lets others too close to get close to him and thus experiences unpleasant encounters. Everyone needs a personal sphere. For most people this is a distance of just 1.5 meters. If it is possible to keep a most this distance. Only if it can not be avoided ( in the elevator, the subway, in the football stadium ), we suffer a shortfall of this distance. If they fall below unconstrained, the other may feel disturbed and react aggressively under certain circumstances. Children with sensory integrative restrictions sometimes run not only against the door frame because their body schema is underdeveloped, but jostle other people. Who insufficient senses, where he is in space, can also bring other poorly related.

Sensory integration therapy

Sensory integration therapy was largely developed by the U.S. occupational therapist and psychologist A. Jean Ayres. In addition to extensive, partially standardized diagnostic procedures to occupational therapists mainly use the free observation of behavior.

The goal of therapy is to improve the sensory integration. Resources are targeted stimulus setting or the targeted stimulus offer eg through therapeutic riding.

This allows the basic muscular tension improve, for example by linear acceleration ( riding on skateboards, trampolines, swings in the hammock ).

A somatosensory dyspraxia, which is a limitation of motor planning ability is addressed by provocation of motor adaptation services.

Tactile and vestibular defensiveness can be inhibited via proprioceptive stimuli ( low pressure, pressure, and train, work against resistance ).

In general, the therapy is nondirektiv: The therapist can be demonstrated by the child's direction. Only then, when the child learns the importance of his actions in the activity, the therapeutic work can be successful.

For use, the SI therapy is mainly used in children, but now also in adults, particularly in mental illness, which are accompanied by body perception disturbances ( schizophrenia). Similarly, the SI therapy comes in geriatric medicine at suffering from dementia for use.