Dyspraxia - Let's explore how to help A common question that arises within sensory OT is how to help children with dyspraxia. Dyspraxia is a term used to describe the difficulty children and [...]
Ask Kim - Question 1 Vestibular Stimming Ask Kim is a monthly post where occupational therapist Kim Griffin answers a question from our community. This month’s question explores sensory stimming. “How can I [...]
Let's explore sensory regulation Sensory regulation, self-regulation and emotional regulation are terms often used by therapists. They relate to the child's ability to increase and decrease their alertness, or arousal, to match the [...]
Weighted blankets and other products come in all different shapes and sizes. Vests, lap pads, shoulder pads, blankets and animal shapes are all readily available for purchase. Weighted blankets are commonly recommended for [...]
Sensory chew toys - which one to choose? Choosing sensory chew toys for children can be a daunting task. There are so many different ones available! They come in different shapes, different textures, [...]
I write this post on the second day of official school closures in the UK following the Coronavirus outbreak. There are a lot of supports already popping up for parents which is fantastic. Common [...]
For children who have an immature pencil grasp, there are many pencil grips available to help. In this post we will use the term ‘grip’ to refer to a moulded grip that has been [...]
People often use the terms 'Sensory Integration' (SI) and 'Sensory Processing' to refer to the same theory. Dr A. Jean Ayres first published her first book on sensory integration theory in 1972. She was [...]
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) describes the challenges children (and adults) have when their brains are not interpreting the sensory messages they receive from their body and the environment effectively. Their brains might find some [...]
Scissor skills are a typical activity taught in every classroom. Using scissors successfully is almost a rite of passage for any child. Especially those who have ‘accidently’ cut off a chunk of their hair, [...]
The holiday period, including Christmas, is loaded with additional sensory information. There are new lights, sounds and smells. You go on extra visits to family and friends. If you're lucky, there are presents! While [...]
When I first graduated, quite some time ago now, I was frustrated at what I interpreted as a lack of support from educators in following through with the long lists of recommendations I made. [...]
Let's explore why kids chew on clothing When a parent or teacher sees their child chewing on clothing or other items it can cause alarm. Some children chew on other items like toys, [...]
Let's explore oral sensory seeking Oral sensory seeking, where a child continues to put things in their mouth after the age of two, is commonly reported alongside sensory issues, autism, developmental delays and [...]
Recently I was at a training day considering sensory processing and autism. The presenter asked the audience, ‘Have you heard of heavy work?’ Of the 200 people sitting in the room, most of them [...]
Dyspraxia - Let's explore the signs and symptoms The term 'dyspraxic' originates from the latin ‘dus’ ‘praxis’ meaning difficulty with action. It is used to describe the sensory processing difficulty children and adults [...]
Dyspraxia Explained - Let's explore some common myths Dyspraxia is a term that describes the sensory processing difficulty children and adults have when they struggle to plan and organise their movements. The term [...]
Let's explore auditory sensitivity People with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) may report auditory sensitivity, auditory hypersensitivity or hypersensitivity to sound. The medical term for sound sensitivity is 'hyperacusis'. Occupational therapists sometimes also use the [...]
Our hearing sense, or auditory sense, is a sense everyone has typically heard of. It responds to noises in the environment. These noises, or sound waves, travel through our ear to the brain. The [...]
Tactile defensiveness or touch sensory sensitivity A commonly reported sensory issue for children or adults with sensory processing disorder is touch sensitivity. Sensory integration trained occupational therapists would usually call this tactile sensory [...]
Our touch sense, or tactile sense, is a sense that most people are familiar with. It is one of the five senses you would have been taught about in school. The touch sense responds [...]
This page defines and describes some common signs of sensory issues. You might see the behaviours if your child has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). We explore common SPD symptoms, including those experienced by children [...]
Occupational therapists sometimes suggest sensory seating for children who are constantly fidgeting in their seat. There is a wide variety of different types of alternate seating on the market these days. Wobble cushions, also [...]
So, what is proprioception? Proprioception is often called our hidden sixth sense. The cells of our body that sense proprioception are called proprioceptors. These are located in our muscles and joints and they process [...]
The vestibular system is often called our balance sense. The system itself is located in the part of our inner ear called the vestibule, this is how it gets its name. The vestibule [...]
You will often see wobble cushions or sensory cushions in classrooms at school. One example is the sensory wedge-shaped cushion called a Move and Sit cushion (Move n Sit). Another is the circular version [...]
Sensory fidget toys (also known as sensory fiddle toys) are commonly recommended by occupational therapists or tried out by teachers for children who are constantly fiddling at their desk. For some children, a fiddle [...]
GriffinOT is pleased to announce the release of an updated version of our course ‘Sensory Processing & Modulation – What’s the Fuss? This course provides an introduction to Sensory Processing Disorder, specifically sensory modulation, [...]
We are pleased to announce the beta launch of our online training course Sensory Processing - What's the Fuss? As this is the first online version of the course we are launching for free [...]
The Beginning July 2017 This venture marks a new stage for my learning. I wanted to start to document the steps so far in part for my own memory but also to show a [...]