Sensory IntegrationLibby D. Paro, OTR/L

Speaker Introduction- Libby D. Paro, OTR/L

Graduate of UNL - 1998 - Bachelor of Science in Biology/Psychology

§ Graduate of Creighton University - 2001 - Occupational Therapy

§ Pediatric Occupational Therapist - Specializing in Sensory Integration, Autism, Visual Perceptual/Motor and Handwriting - 2001 - present

§ Professor of Occupational Therapy - 2015 - present. Teach Introduction to Occupational Therapy, Theory and Evidence, Pediatrics, Mental Health, Activity Analysis, Documentation and Professionalism

§ Co- Owner of SenseAbilities - an outreach sensory clinic - serving ages birth - 100 + for services including home sensory rooms, Occupational Therapy tutoring for all diagnoses, aging in place , sensory needs in the community, as well as parent and caregiver education.

Sensory Integration§ Life is a sensory experience. During every moment of our life we experience the world through our sensory systems. This drives behavior and contributes to the organization of our thoughts and emotions. Sensory Integration is constant.

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You tube - Introduction to Sensory§www.youtube.com§ 1.) Carly and Autism§ 2.) Carly’s café

§ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMBzJleeOno

§ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmDGvquzn2k

Sensory Integration – 4 Major Areas

§ 4 major areas:

§ 1.) Dysfunction in sensory modulation (SMD)

§ 2.) 2 types of dysfunction in praxis – poor praxis skill with tactile discrimination and bilateral coordination/sequencing deficits

§ 3.) Dysfunctions in visual perception and visual motor skills

§ 4.) Auditory language dysfunctions

Sensory Overview§ Neurons – communication systems –pass messenger molecules from one to the other

§ Chemical Flow – basis for changing SI (what does chemical flow feel like to us ex. – diabetes,hormones)

§ Synapses – developmental processes§ Ex. – broad band/super highways. The major ways stay in tact but we can add and change linking roads

§ Positive -sleep/learning/strategies/therapy

§ Negative –diet/stress/drugs/parenting/experiences

3 ways the brain can regulate:§ Goals of Sensory Integration:

§ 1.) Modulation – (or regulation )– turn on and off switches (volleyball game)

§ 2.) Inhibition – (or decrease connections) – ignore info that is not necessary – example =hallway noise, visual clutter

§ 3.) Habituation – (familiarizes) – brain gets accustomed to ex. –seatbelts

§ 4.) Facilitation - (promotes connections) – sending messages of displeasure to stop the activity – “that’s’ enough” - motion sickness/swinging, pain/shock

§ *Example of a well modulated child on the day of their birthday vs. a child with autism.

What happens with SI Dysfunction?§ 1.) Fight or Flight

§ 2.) Under or Over stimulated - crossing the street and you hear a horn (you freeze – under) over = example of the teenagers in the car

§ 3.) Scrambled messages – information coming in does not make sense

§ 4.) Afferent/Efferent dysfunction

§ 5.) Pyramid of Learning § A.) at the base is the CNS – …...System§ B.) sensory – ………………………….System§ C.) Sensory-motor – ………………Development§ D.) Perceptual Motor – ……………Development§ E.) Cognitive - ………………………….Intellect

Sensory Simulations§ 1.) Over stimulation Imagery§ 2.) Under Stimulation – fill in gaps

§ A. and….up….to……pail…..crown…..jack…..came………§ B. come…..by….early…….so………twilight…….and…….night§ C. I……to ….United……of……and…..which……..liberty……

§ .) Write the word beautiful in normal cursive

§ 2.) write the word beautiful while shuffling feet back and forth in a linear movement

§ 3.) write the word beautiful while doing wind shield wiper feet ( also linear - different plane)

§ 4.) write the word beautiful while making circles with your feet like double dutch (circular movement)

§ ***linear movement is organizing, circular is not for classroom movement

Reasons for Increased Dysfunction with SI§ 1.) Premature births/Pitocin

§ 2.) C- section scheduled/ and traumatic births

§ 3.) Containerized infant – “bucket babies”

§ 4.) Aspartame and Neuro effects

§ 5.) Drug Exposure/Increased stress environments

§ 6.) not genetic – environmental

§ 7) Baby equipment – decrease protective responses – bumbo, swing –etc

§ 8.) Torticollis and the occipital lobe

Sensory Processing – 7 Areas Slide 1

§ Sensory Processing: - the way that the CNS processes and manages information coming in through sensory

§ 1.) Tactile – hand skills, motor, light, touch, pain, temperature. Receptors in the skin.

§ 2.) Proprioception – modulate arousal level, postural control, body awareness, force discrimination and praxis skills. It’s the joints and muscle sense. – can also be referred to as kinesthesia. Receptors are in muscle and tendons

§ 3.) Vestibular system – most primal – developed before birth. Secures us with gravity and receptors are located in the inner ear. Perceptions of linear and angular movement affect our balance, muscle tone, posture and motor coordination in space and time

Sensory Processing – 7 Areas (2)§ 4.) Auditory – plays a role in communication, orientation to environment, arousal, emotion, perception of one’s environment. Receptors in the ear.

§ 5.) Visual – plays a role in perception of motion, depth, form, posture, balance, visual perception and spatial awareness. Located in the eye.

§ 6.) Gustatory – taste – in mouth

§ 7.) Olfactory – smell – in nose

Sensory Diets

§Sensory Diet Overview:§ Always done as part of a total therapeutic program

§ Personalized and individualized§ Involve regularly scheduled activities§ Involve environmental supports and accommodations

§ Support movement and breaks§ May need to change frequently§ Generally 1-5 activities that involve 5-20 minutes of time.

Teaching a Child to Self-Regulate§ Involves:§ 1.) Recognizing they have a need§ 2.) Give opportunities to make good choices§ 3.) Teach kids to determine when they are calm§ 4.) Teach kids to determine what could be done differently

§ 5.) Visual and auditory supports – reinforce rules of behavior and communication

Tools for Self Modulation and SI

§ 1.) Alert program – designed for kids 8-12 to understand sensory needs. Uses the “engine” analogy

§ 2.) Ready bodies – Ready Minds – uses more of a motor approach

§ 3.) Brain works – Uses color and visual images to teach high, low and just right – all while providing a plan and sensory diet – MY FAVORITE

§ 4.) www.sensationalbrain.com

§ 5.) Use First______________________, Then_______________________

§ 6.) Visual schedules/Timers

§ 7.) GO NOODLE - www.gonoodle.com

Classroom Ideas§ 1.) Pool noodle with the thera -band around the chairs and you don’t get the snapping sound

§ 2.) Ankle weights for toe walkers

§ 3.) Sandpaper/foam board under your paper to decrease hard pressure. Pencil weights for those that have light pressure

§ 4.) XL Men’s sweatshirt on the back of the chair – always stays there – wrap arms around them while seated for pressure and to decrease slouching – can add rice/beans for a lap pad with arms.

§ 5.) SuperShape changers – lycra compression suits – under $20

Classroom Ideas/Sensory Room§ 1.) deep pressure through hands and feet – crawling and obstacle courses

§ 2.) rice and bean sensory tables§ 3.) Goopy play – tons of recipes on my pinterest page§ 4.) fidgets/putty - Boinks§ 5.) hands on cooking§ 6.) contact sports§ 7.) www.therapro.com

§ 8.) www.fiddlefocus.com

Break Times - Keep in Mind

§3years – 9/10 years = need a break every 15 minutes

§11 years – Jr. high = break every 45 minutes

§Adults = break every 50-60 minutes

ORAL IDEAS - Do NOT Overlook!!!§ 1.) biting/chewing inedible objects

§ - heavy duty oral input every 1-2 hours to meet needs and re-direct

§ - NUK brushes, jigglers, vibrating teethers, chewlery – motherhood maternity makes a lot

2.) Feeding issues- make small gradual changes to food lists- snack groups- calming activities before feeding

Big Impact - Little Time§ .1.) Swinging§2.) Tunnels§3.) Disc/sit cushions on chairs§4.) Trampolines§5.) Me-moves.com§6.) Ready bodies ready minds

Sensory Skills and Projects! - Multi-Dimensional

§ -Volunteer project - PreK§ - Measuring/fractions§ -Direction following§ - Strategy§ -Problem solving§ -Tactile

Sensory Skills and Projects! - Multi-Dimensional

§ 1.) Sensory§ 2.) Following a recipe§ 3.) Budgeting§ 4.) Couponing§ 5.) Following directions§ 6.) Cleanliness

Sensory Room - KEY Components -

How you Play Counts!!!!

VocationalAnd Sensory

Life skills and Mentoring with Sensory Play

1.) Sensory2.) Budgeting3.) GroceryLists4.) $$ skills5.) Planning6.) Mentoring -PreK

BOINKS

Your Sensory

Questions????

Thank-You