How it feels when your child receives diagnosis
Navigating through diagnosis How it feels when your child receives a diagnosis can take you by surprise. It can be a very confusing and overwhelming time. During this time there is no right [...]
Our story – receiving a diagnosis of autism for our daughter
A personal story - Tina and Kelly It was not until her daughter Kelly started school, that Tina noticed there was something quite different about the way she interacted with others. Kelly had [...]
What is sensory overload? And how can I support it?
Sensory overloaded = too much information Sensory overload is a term which describes the experience an individual with sensory differences may have when they receive too much sensory information. The brain is unable [...]
Arousal, Attention and Sensory Processing What’s the Links?
Arousal is all about alertness Arousal at its simplest is how awake or alert or how tired you are. It supports attention and focus. There are a number of things which impact an [...]
How to Help Children with Dyspraxia – 8 Support Strategies
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 [...]
How do I stop my child from sensory stimming?
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 [...]
Sensory regulation strategies – what are they and how can they help your child?
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 [...]
Homeschooling During Coronavirus Tips for Parents
Supporting each other at home 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 [...]
Sensory Integration Theory vs Sensory Processing Disorder What’s the Difference?
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 [...]
ASD and Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory processing and autism 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. [...]
Help! Why is my child chewing on clothing and other things?
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, [...]
Oral Sensory Seeking – Why is my Child Still Putting Things in Their Mouth?
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 [...]
Dyspraxia symptoms – Is my child dyspraxic?
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 [...]
What is Dyspraxia? It’s much more than clumsiness!
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 [...]
Auditory Sensitivity: Signs, Causes and How to Help
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 [...]
What is Tactile Defensiveness, or touch sensitivity?
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 [...]