Sensory Integration is the brains capacity to gather information from our vital internal and external sensory systems; filtering information that is not important, and paying attention to pertinent information in order to participate in our daily lives. Higher level skills that are achieved through efficient sensory processing may include things such as attention and nervous system regulation, sleep and respiration (regulated breathing), gross and fine motor skill development, academics and learning, social participation and emotional regulation; to name a few!

Questions that may come up could be: “Why does my child always complain that it’s too loud?” Or, “Why do they have such a hard time with being messy?” Sometimes we ask things like: “Why do they get carsick so easily?” Or: “Why do they struggle to stay emotionally regulated?”

All of these areas and more can be supported through sensory integration therapy; helping your child to develop both physical and emotional homeostasis for confidence and joy.

Did you know that our oral-motor development begins in the womb. Why do kids need oral-motor intervention?

Oral-motor intervention can look like the following:

-Increasing sensory awareness in the mouth: decreased spontaneous drooling, improved mouth posture (preventing mouth breathing), decreased “overstuffing” food in the mouth etc.

-Increasing strength to the cheeks, tongue, lips, jaw: supports closed mouth posture, improves regulated breathing, ability to chew and digest a variety of foods etc.

-Decreasing sensory sensitivities in the mouth: integrating the gag reflex, decreasing sensitivities to things such as teeth-brushing or new food textures etc.

The mouth mirrors the body. If there is poor awareness of the muscles in the mouth; or, poor strength and coordination, these things may be occurring in the body. The anatomy of the mouth tells us more about the anatomy of the child. As we correct the mouth, it can assist in sensory-motor challenges in the body and vice-versa.

Motor Skill development can be a building block on top of sensory integration. Motor skills included things like, postural strength development, bilateral integration, hand-eye coordination, fine-motor strength and coordination etc.

Support with motor skills may include:

-Building postural muscles for more strength and endurance while sitting in school.

-Developing fine motor skills like hand strength and dexterity for handwriting.

-Developing bilateral integration, crossing mid-line, or hand-eye coordination for academics, sports, and exploratory learning and play.

As motor skills are supported, so is body awareness and the ability to explore the world!

Kids exist in ever changing bodies and environments. Often, it can be tricky to know how to identify ever changing emotions and regulate a variety of thoughts and feelings.

Often there can be difficulty with:

-Frustration tolerance

-Trouble being flexible

-Getting stuck on ideas

-Have a challenging time re-setting after big emotions

With social-emotional support, kids can be provided with tools to identify their feelings. Parents can be provided with support on how to co-regulate with their children and support them as they learn how to regulate big and small feelings.