Understanding Sensory Processing Issues in Children: The Role of Occupational Therapy

What are sensory processing issues?

Sensory processing issues, also known as sensory processing disorder (SPD), refer to difficulties in effectively processing and responding to sensory information from the environment. Children with sensory processing issues may experience hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sensory stimuli, which can significantly impact their daily functioning and overall well-being. Types of sensory processing disorders include proprioception (spatial awareness), vestibular (part of the inner ear of the brain associated with balance and coordination), and interoception (the "feeling" of bodily conditions, e.g., feeling hungry, cold, or ill) (Lumiere Children’s Therapy, 2021).

There are mainly three types of children with sensory processing disorder: oversensitive, undersensitive, or a mixture. Oversensitive children tend to find that lights are too bright, or that their clothing feels too itchy (Jones, 2023). It was also highlighted that undersensitive children have difficulty sitting still or have difficulty respecting the personal space of others.

Research has shown that sensory processing issues are relatively common in children, with prevalence estimates ranging from 5% to 16% (Kinnealey, 1999). Early identification and intervention are crucial in helping children with sensory processing issues. Occupational therapy is often the primary treatment approach used to address these challenges. Evidence-based interventions and strategies such as sensory diets, environmental modifications, social stories, visual supports, and sensory breaks (Miller, 2007) can be employed to support children with sensory processing issues. It is important to take a collaborative approach involving parents, teachers, and therapists to tailor interventions to each child's specific needs and preferences.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) is a form of therapy that helps people work on their fine motor, social, and daily living skills. For children with autism, OT programs focus on areas such as handwriting skills, socializing with friends, and participating in hobbies.

Occupational therapists aim to develop an appropriate sensory diet to cater to each child’s needs. A sensory diet is a specifically designed daily activity plan to ensure that the child is feeling “regulated” throughout the day. Laurie (2022) emphasized that when arousal activities fall too low, they can be stimulated by activities such as dancing. On the other hand, when arousal levels get too high, relaxing activities such as going for a walk contribute to soothing the child (Laurie, 2022).

Occupational therapists assess a child’s sensory difficulties via a screening process. The screening typically involves standardized testing and structured observations of the child's response to sensory stimulation, balance, coordination, posture, and eye movement. Along with standardized assessments, clinical observations are always conducted to assess a child's response to sensory stimulation in a variety of environments, such as their home and school. In addition to this, the therapist speaks with the child’s caregiver to further understand the child’s needs. These could include the individual’s sensitivity to noise, diet choices, or interactions with other children (Arky, 2022).

How does Occupational Therapy benefit these children?

OT has various benefits with respect to children experiencing sensory processing issues.

Firstly, OT has been proven to improve a child’s fine motor skills. Children with sensory processing issues may have difficulties with motor skills, such as the ability to use and coordinate muscles to perform tasks, e.g., writing, playing sports, and using utensils. OT exposes a child to sensory stimulation in a structured and repetitive way over a period of time, and it trains their brains to make sense of sensations more flexibly. According to Lumiere Children’s Therapy (2021), this helps their nervous system to become gradually more familiar with the stimulation, eliciting adept responses to various situations.

Secondly, OT can help children with sensory processing issues improve their sensory integration. Sensory integration refers to how the nervous system processes sensory inputs with their behavior (Guadardo, 2022). When a child has sensory processing issues, their brain may struggle to process and integrate sensory information, leading to difficulties with attention, behavior, and learning.

A study conducted by Schaaf and colleagues (2014) found that occupational therapy interventions, such as sensory integration therapy, can improve sensory integration in children with sensory processing issues. The study found that children who received occupational therapy showed significant improvements in sensory integration compared to those who did not receive therapy.

At Olive Tree, we hold our OT sessions in small groups for a more personalized experience. We carry out activities to target sensory processing issues such as dancing, bouldering, playing football, and even obstacle courses using gym mats and “river stones”. This encourages a child to have improved balance and coordination, sustained attention on tasks, and be more spatially aware of their body movement.

References

Arky, B., Ayres, A. J., PhD, Otr/L, L. B. M., & Lord, C., PhD. (2023). Treating Sensory Processing Issues. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/treating-sensory-processing-issues/

Guardado, K. E. (2022, August 1). Sensory Integration. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559155/

Occupational therapy techniques for sensory processing disorder. (2021). Lumiere Children’s Therapy. https://www.lumierechild.com/lumiere-childrens-therapy/treating-sensory-processing-disorder-with-occupational-therapy

Schaaf, R. C., Benevides, T. W., Leiby, B. E., Sendecki, J. A., Mailloux, Z., & Faller, P. (2014). An intervention for sensory difficulties in children with autism: A randomized trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(7), 1493-1506.

Sensory Processing Disorder (Jones, 2023). Familydoctor.Org. https://familydoctor.org/condition/sensory-processing-disorder-spd/

Why is occupational therapy important for autistic children? (Laurie, 2022). Retrieved 8 July 2023, from https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/occupation-therapy

Kinnealey, M., & Fuiek, M. (1999). The relationship between sensory defensiveness, anxiety, depression, and perception of pain in adults. Occupational Therapy International, 6(3), 195-206.

Miller, L. J., Anzalone, M. E., Lane, S. J., Cermak, S. A., & Osten, E. T. (2007). Concept evolution in sensory integration: A proposed nosology for diagnosis. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61(2), 135-140.