Every human has a particular response to sensory information. Some are hypo sensitive, meaning they find it difficult to engage with most senses, especially when the senses are assaulted by an onslaught of information. A busy mall, for example, could send a hyposensitive person into a panic attack or a melt down.  Other people may be hypersensitive and quite willing and able to handle all sorts of sensations, in fact, the more the better. And then there’s the mixed group that craves some sensations and avoids others. I’m in the later group. I crave extremes in temperature (nothing beats jumping in a freezing pool and then lying on a hot pavement), slight shocking sensations (think- licking a 9 volt battery or chewing tinfoil into a filling) and very deep tissue massages (the kind that can make a muscle man screech). I also like to walk hard, ride bouncy horses and the feeling of a ball against a racket or bat. It would seem somewhat logical to think if I could handle those rough sensations, I could surely handle lighter sensations. After all, rough things are tougher on the core than are small tiny things. Wrong. A blouse’s tag against the back of my neck, a tiny taste of slimy okra, a sniff of flowery perfume, a certain blend of polyester sliding across my arm- oh no thank you! I swear, when these sorts of sensations hit my system, I feel like my skin will crawl off my bones just to find relief. It’s easy for me to explain which senses are horrid and easier still to stay away from them, but I’m an adult and have learned a lot about myself in all my 50+ decades. I’m afraid dealing with sensory information isn’t nearly as easy for children and young adults, and even for some my own age and older.

Sensory integration refers to the central peripheral nervous system’s ability to receive and process information. It’s a complex scenario that can baffle parents and people affected by it. It is also a frustrating system because just as one discovers how to handle one sensation, another bit of sensory information can come cascading in and cause a whole different and unexpected response. Figuring out one’s every sensory need and every negative trigger really can be next to impossible. Thankfully there are lots of resources that can provide good ideas for dealing with sensory integration. Listed below are several such organizations.

If Asperger syndrome or autism is part of a diagnosis, I can almost guarantee there will be a sensory integration dysfunction component at play, as well. Learn what you can about sensory integration, but learn with caution. Before you begin your own at-home program, it is always best to have the advise of a professional in the field who can evaluate the person in need and suggest some good starting supports. This isn’t something one should experiment willy-nilly. Get advice, get an evaluation, read all you can, and go slowly when adding sensory integration supports.

The state or regional Occupational Therapy Association

Sensory Integration International (SII)/The Ayres Clinic
Mail: P.O. Box 5239, Torrance, CA 90501-5339
Phone: 1-310-320-2335
E-mail: sensoryint@earthlink.net
Web site: www.sensoryint.com

American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA)
Location: 4720 Montgomery Lane, Beheads, MD
Mail: P.O. Box 31220, Beheads, MD 20824-1220
Phone: 1-301-652-AOTA or (800) 668-8255
Web site: www.aota.org

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