Processing internal sensations Interoception refers to the sensory information that the brain receives internally from the body. These sensory messages come from our organs and internal receptors. They let our brain know about [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 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. [...]
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 [...]
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 and overload People with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or autism may report auditory sensitivity, auditory hypersensitivity or hypersensitivity to sound. This sensitivity can lead to auditory overload. The medical term [...]
Tactile defensiveness or touch sensory sensitivity Touch sensitivity is commonly reported by children or adults who experience sensory processing differences . Sensory integration trained occupational therapists would usually call this tactile sensory issue [...]