Sensory Processing Integration

• Sensory processing integration is the neurophysiological process of receiving and responding to environmental input through various senses.
• It involves the body's ability to organize and use sensory input received from the environment through the central nervous system (CNS).

Sensory Integration

• Sensory integration is an individual’s ability to discriminate, modulate, and integrate sensory information received from the environment.
• This integration allows for participation in daily functional tasks.
• These tasks include dressing, eating, playing, social participation, and learning.

Sensory Systems

• Tactile: Skin, light and deep
• Auditory: Ear
• Gustatory: Tongue
• Olfactory: Nose
• Vision: Eyes
• Vestibular: Inner ear, impacting balance and position in space
• Proprioceptive: Muscles and joints
• Interoception: Inner organs

A. Jean Ayres

• A. Jean Ayres is the founder of sensory integration.
• Sensory integration combines concepts from human development, neuroscience, psychology, and occupational therapy.
• It provides a framework for looking at behavior and learning.
• Sensory Integration is the neurological process that organizes sensations from one’s body and from the environment.
• Dysfunction in the brain’s ability to interpret and/or organize sensory information interferes with functional performance.
• This impacts behavior, motor skill development, learning, and participation in activities.

Assumptions of Sensory Integration

• Sensory integration uses neurobiological and developmental science to facilitate changes for improved adaptive responses through neuroplasticity.
• Errors in processing sensory information can occur in input, encoding for memory, and output.
• Difficulties processing sensory information impacts behavior and learning.
• An inability to organize sensory input effectively contributes to difficulties organizing behavior for developmental tasks (motor).
• Children are motivated to explore their sensory environment and have an innate drive to succeed.

Core Concepts of Ayres Sensory Integration

• Sensory information provides a foundation for learning and behavior.
• Sensory integration promotes neuroplasticity.
• Sensory integration is a developmental process.
• The brain works as an integrated whole.
• Integration of sensory information results in and is further developed by adaptive responses.
• Adaptive responses are appropriate actions when an individual responds successfully to an environmental demand.
• Individuals have an inner drive to seek meaningful experiences in their environment.

Winnie Dunn’s Threshold

• Neurological threshold is the amount of stimulation required for a neuron to respond.
• Thresholds are different for every individual.
• Neural excitation is the neurological reaction to sensation.
• Neural inhibition is the neurological ability to decrease or block a response.
• Sensory modulation involves the neurological balancing of excitation and inhibition.

Winnie Dunn Threshold Patterns

• Sensory Seeking: High threshold, Active behavioral response
• Low Registration: High threshold, Passive behavioral response
• Sensory Avoiding: Low threshold, Active behavioral response
• Sensory Sensitivity: Low threshold, Passive behavioral response

Sensory Under Responsivity

• Specific sensory system has a high threshold, thus requiring MORE input.
• This may present as a child who doesn't move much, requiring input for their body.
• This may appear as child with poor motor skills because they has not engaged much in physical activity

Sensory Over Responsivity

• A child has a low threshold, requiring LESS input in any system.
• This may present as child that doesn’t like sounds.
• This may appear as a child that doesn’t like touching things with hands/feet.
• This may appear as a child that doesn’t like food textures.
• The child controls their environment and may not explore.

Sensory Seeking/Sensory Craving

• Child has a HIGH threshold but ACTIVELY seeks the input, needing MORE.
• This presents as someone who jumps, runs, and climbs a lot.
• They can’t sit still.
• They touches everything.
• They like intense flavors of foods, and may chew clothing or objects.
• These individuals are huge explorers and may gets in trouble.