Sensory integration
Sensory integration - what it is and why is it important for children:
See this article for a great, clear description of this difficult-to-understand concept.
Link and also Link 2. Also look at this video for an introduction
Sensory processing:
Did you know that there are more than 5 senses of touch, smell, taste, hearing and sight? Read here for a brief introduction:
Link
Sensory overload:
This is when one of more of the sensory systems can be too much for a child. This means their tolerance for that sense is lower than the average person so they can become overwhelmed more easily. See this video for an example of auditory (sound) overload:
Link
Vestibular system, and what it is
Proprioception and what it is:
Please refer to my document for an introduction to this sensory system:
Link
Neuroplasticity and how does this help improve learning and change in a child:
Nerouoplasticity continues throughout our whole life.
- Experienced independence - genetics (what we are born with)
- Experienced expectant - critical periods and access to multisensory input in general
- Experience dependence - experiences, eg family influences and preferences. Perhaps a family is keen on sports or music or creativity. This is where OT’s help make the change
Enriched environment promotes brain growth and impoverished environment suppresses brain development.
See this short video for a brief introduction into neuroplasticity:
Link