Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) By Alyssa Clements

The Central Nervous System 0 Visual 0 Auditory 0 Tactile (touch) 0 Olfactory (smell) 0 Gustatory (taste) 0 Vestibular (balance) 0 Proprioception (body position)

A Typical Sensory System 0 The senses receive stimulus from the environment. 0 The sensory system sends the information to the brain. 0 The brain interprets the information and sends out a behavioral command to the body. 0 The body reacts. 0 Examples: Touching a hot burner, sunlight, loud noise

A Sensory System with SPD 0 Sensory Processing Disorder/Sensory Integration Dysfunction 0 A. Jean Ayres, PhD. – Occupational therapist and neuroscientist, SPD is a condition which prevents the brain from receiving information from the sensory system in order to process and act upon it (“traffic jam”). 0 Individuals with SPD may be unable to from perform everyday tasks and may characterized with clumsiness, behavioral issues, depression, anxiety, and academic failure.

SPD Spectrum 0 SPD may affect just 1 or more of the 7 senses in any combination. 0 Overstimulation vs. Under-stimulation 0 High intensity vs. low intensity 0

The Cause of SPD 0 An exact cause has not yet been determined but is being researched. 0 Possible hypotheses include: 0 Heredity/Genetics 0 Prenatal or birthing complications 0 Environmental causes

Symptoms of SPD 0 Infants and toddlers ____ Problems eating or sleeping ____ Refuses to go to anyone but me ____ Irritable when being dressed; uncomfortable in clothes ____ Rarely plays with toys ____ Resists cuddling, arches away when held ____ Cannot calm self ____ Floppy or stiff body, motor delays 0 Pre-school age ____ Over-sensitive to touch, noises, smells, other people ____ Difficulty making friends ____ Difficulty dressing, eating, sleeping, and/or toilet training ____ Clumsy; poor motor skills; weak ____ In constant motion; in everyone else's face and space ____ Frequent or long temper tantrums

Symptoms of SPD 0 Grade school age ___ Over-sensitive to touch, noise, smells, other people ___ Easily distracted, fidgety, craves movement; aggressive ___ Easily overwhelmed ___ Difficulty with handwriting or motor activities ___ Difficulty making friends ___ Unaware of pain and/or other people 0 Adolescents and adults ___ Over-sensitive to touch, noise, smells, and other people ___ Poor self-esteem; afraid of failing at new tasks ___ Lethargic and slow ___ Always on the go; impulsive; distractible ___ Leaves tasks uncompleted ___ Clumsy, slow, poor motor skills or handwriting ___ Difficulty staying focused ___ Difficulty staying focused at work and in meetings

Diagnosis & Intervention 0 Intervention is more effective with young children because their brains are still developing and can be changed more easily. 0 Early intervention can reduce labeling, poor academics, and stressed family life. 0 Because the symptoms of SPD and ADHD can be so similar, many children are often misdiagnosed with ADHD and do not receive the proper treatment. 0 Many children never receive treatment and live with SPD their entire lives.

Occupational Therapy 0 The most common treatment for SPD is Occupational Therapy – a controlled play environment. 0 The goal is self-regulation

Sources 0 About SPD. Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation Web. Accessed 01 April disorder.htmlhttp:// disorder.html 0 A Child’s View of Sensory Processing. Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain, Inc Web. Accessed 01 April How Occupational Therapy Helps with Sensory Integration Issues. Pathways Web. Accessed 01 April jqtlwfw5M. jqtlwfw5M 0 Kranowitz, Carol Stock. The Out-of-Sync Child. New York: The Berkley Publishing Group, Print. 0 What Is Sensory Processing Disorder? SensoryTeamHandbook.com Web. Accessed 01 April Willimason, G. Gordon & Marie E. Anzalone. Sensory Integration and Self- Regualtion in Infants and Toddlers. Washington D.C.: Zero to Three, Print.