Exam 13: Sensory Integration (part 1)

Question 1

what is sensory integration?

Answer 1

the neurological process that organizes sensations from one’s body and from the environment and makes it possible to use the body effectively in the environment

Question 2

assumptions from SI Theory

Answer 2

• sensory systems influence development and occupational performance
• importance in the development of the CNS
• developmental process
• the importance of the environment and the context of intervention

Question 3

basic principles (5)

Answer 3

• sensation leads to experience and experience leads to sensation
• adapting challenges leads to success
• motivation is key to active participation
• play makes learning fun
• the just-right-challenge

Question 4

what is sensory processing

Answer 4

• our sense provide us with information about our bodies and the environment
• external senses: sight, touch, hearing, smell, and taste
• internal senses: interoceptive, vestibular, proprioception

Question 5

what is sensory processing disorder?

Answer 5

• occurs when one or more of our senses is not being interpreted properly; when this occurs, a number of problems in learning, motor development, and behavior can be observed

Question 6

5 systems

Answer 6

• tactile
• vestibular
• proprioception
• auditory
• visual

Question 7

vestibular system

Answer 7

• inner ear (semicircular canals)
• tells us where our head & body is in relation to earth
• register movement of the head, trunk, neck, and eyes and respond to the pull of gravity
• can be over or under responsive

Question 8

vestibular system dysfunction

Answer 8

• difficulty sitting still
• clumsy
• poor balance
• weak/ low tone
• head “wag”
• spin
• withdrawal from physical activities
• anxious
• poor balance
• lean on others
• slouch
• tires easily

Question 9

vestibular system “treatment”

Answer 9

• rolling on ball
• scooter
• spinning (chairs & swings)
• rolling on mat/wedge
• ride bike

Question 10

proprioceptive processing

Answer 10

• joint/ muscles (position of body in space)
• tells us how much force and speed to use when moving
• receptors in muscle bellies, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, connective tissue, skin

Question 11

proprioceptive processing dysfunction

Answer 11

• clumsy
• falls frequently
• runs/ bumps into things
• too much or too little pressure on things
• plays too rough
• climbs, hangs, chews

Question 12

proprioceptive processing “treatment”

Answer 12

• pushing/ pulling heavy objects
• crawling
• chew tube
• carrying heavy objects
• weighted vest/ backpack
• jumping

Question 13

auditory system/ dysfunction

Answer 13

• covers ears, talks loud, constantly makes noises, can be overstimulated/ disorganized when loud
• can be over or under stimulated

Question 14

auditory system “treatment”

Answer 14

• headphones
• quiet break/ area
• calming music
• warning prior to noxious/ loud music/ flushing toilet
• exciting music to alert

Question 15

tactile system/ dysfunction

Answer 15

• under responsive
  
  • puts things on face/ mouth, touchy-feely, grabby
• over responsive
  
  • resistive to touch, startles to touch, resistive to messy/wet/mushy play, pulls away from touch

Question 16

tactile system “treatment”

Answer 16

• deep pressure input
• expose to input but, follow their lead - don’t pressure/push
• verbally or visually warn before unexpected touch

Question 17

visual system/ dysfunction

Answer 17

• under responsive
  
  • seeks light or visual input (videos/ computer)
  • waves objects in front of eyes or tracks objects out of side of eyes
• over responsive
  
  • resistant to light/ covers eyes
  • squints or looks away from light
  • distracted/ disorganized by visual clutter

Question 18

visual system “treatment”

Answer 18

• dim lights/ reduce fluorescent lighting
• reduce visual clutter

Question 19

sensory hypersensitivity

Answer 19

• characterized by avoidance behaviors to sensory activities or situations
• produces a fight or flight response due to misinterpreting normal sensory input as threatening
• child may rely heavily on predictable routines due to anxiety

Question 20

sensory hyposensitivity

Answer 20

• children register sensory input less intensely than others
• the children may present as sensory-seeking or demonstrate poor registration

Question 21

sensory seeking

Answer 21

actively seek our sensory input; demonstrate difficulty staying in their seat frequently moving to get more sensory information; often referred to as thrill seekers

Question 22

poor registration

Answer 22

appear floppy, lethargic; they may have poor coordination, hypo-responsive auditory system, as well as poor visual perception skills

Question 23

sensory diet

Answer 23

• a prescribed routine carefully picked for a specific student based on their sensory system (hyper or hypo)
• student must be closely supervised and done as prescribed
• diet is implemented by OT or an adult trained by the OT

Question 24

break

Answer 24

• a time away from the classroom or structured routine that is basic and could be used for the