Unlocking the World: The Role of Sensory Integration Therapy in Supporting
Children with Autism
Introduction
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder condition that affects how people perceive and
socialize with others. Other areas affected by the disorder include learning and communication.
Persons with the disorder demonstrate atypical processing sensory challenges. This includes
intense interests in or aversion to certain types of sensory input. For instance, autistic children
are known to experience difficulties tolerating bright lights, some food textures, noise or some
levels of sounds, or even some colors. The intolerance types or levels may vary between
individual persons.
Sensory integration therapy (SIT) is one of the interventions deployed in the management of
sensory processing challenges among persons with autism. The intervention uses play-based
sensory motor activities to discover, measure and address a child’s sensory–motor factors, with
the aim of reducing sensitivity to these factors, and therefore, improve their ability to process and
integrate sensations that the child struggles to tolerate.
For those experiencing difficulties processing sensory information, sensory integration therapy
(SIT) is aimed at delivering interventions designed to help them improve their processing of
sensory stimuli. Such children exhibit poor regulation of sensory input, which increases their
, susceptibility to anxiety, especially for those with communication difficulties and cannot express
their difficulties. In such situations, therapy is key.
Section 1: What Is Sensory Integration Therapy?
Sensory integration therapy is a type of occupational therapy designed to help children better
process and respond to sensory stimuli. Some children, especially those with developmental
challenges fail to acquire sensory processing (or integration) capabilities through natural
development. Consequently, these children exhibit impairments on how their brains process and
interpret information received through sensory inputs senses (sight, hearing, touch, movements,
taste, and smell), a state which impacts reception of stimuli, and ability to function normally in
their daily lives. The aim of SIT is to facilitate these children's ability to regulate and internalize
their sensory responses to the surrounding environment by reinforcing connectivity between
different areas of the body's sensory system (the nerves, skin, and hairs) and the brain.
Section 2: Why Sensory Processing Challenges Are Common in Autism
Persons with autism are prone to sensory processing difficulties; a problem most manifest
through hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity. Hypersensitivity refers to overreaction to stimuli,
which include light (e.g. fluorescent or LED flights), certain sounds types (high-pitched sounds,
noises etc.), tastes, smells and textures which could be overwhelming to them. Due to
discomfort, a majority of them engage in sensory avoidance.
Hyposensitivity refers to undereaction to stimuli due to difficulties detecting the stimuli. Rather
than seeking to avoid the stimuli, hyposensitivity may cause people to draw near the stimuli to
get more of it, a phenomenon called in sensory seeking behavior.
These sensory sensitivities adversely affect the daily functioning of victims. Hypersensitivity, for
instance, may cause sensory overload, a situation characterized by the inability to cope due to
being overwhelmed by some sensory stimuli. Hyposensitivity on the other hand, causes
stimmingin attempts to strike a balance in the sensory system. These sensitivities may, therefore,
impact daily functioning of victims by affecting their ability to focus, learn, interact and regulate
emotions.
Children with Autism
Introduction
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder condition that affects how people perceive and
socialize with others. Other areas affected by the disorder include learning and communication.
Persons with the disorder demonstrate atypical processing sensory challenges. This includes
intense interests in or aversion to certain types of sensory input. For instance, autistic children
are known to experience difficulties tolerating bright lights, some food textures, noise or some
levels of sounds, or even some colors. The intolerance types or levels may vary between
individual persons.
Sensory integration therapy (SIT) is one of the interventions deployed in the management of
sensory processing challenges among persons with autism. The intervention uses play-based
sensory motor activities to discover, measure and address a child’s sensory–motor factors, with
the aim of reducing sensitivity to these factors, and therefore, improve their ability to process and
integrate sensations that the child struggles to tolerate.
For those experiencing difficulties processing sensory information, sensory integration therapy
(SIT) is aimed at delivering interventions designed to help them improve their processing of
sensory stimuli. Such children exhibit poor regulation of sensory input, which increases their
, susceptibility to anxiety, especially for those with communication difficulties and cannot express
their difficulties. In such situations, therapy is key.
Section 1: What Is Sensory Integration Therapy?
Sensory integration therapy is a type of occupational therapy designed to help children better
process and respond to sensory stimuli. Some children, especially those with developmental
challenges fail to acquire sensory processing (or integration) capabilities through natural
development. Consequently, these children exhibit impairments on how their brains process and
interpret information received through sensory inputs senses (sight, hearing, touch, movements,
taste, and smell), a state which impacts reception of stimuli, and ability to function normally in
their daily lives. The aim of SIT is to facilitate these children's ability to regulate and internalize
their sensory responses to the surrounding environment by reinforcing connectivity between
different areas of the body's sensory system (the nerves, skin, and hairs) and the brain.
Section 2: Why Sensory Processing Challenges Are Common in Autism
Persons with autism are prone to sensory processing difficulties; a problem most manifest
through hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity. Hypersensitivity refers to overreaction to stimuli,
which include light (e.g. fluorescent or LED flights), certain sounds types (high-pitched sounds,
noises etc.), tastes, smells and textures which could be overwhelming to them. Due to
discomfort, a majority of them engage in sensory avoidance.
Hyposensitivity refers to undereaction to stimuli due to difficulties detecting the stimuli. Rather
than seeking to avoid the stimuli, hyposensitivity may cause people to draw near the stimuli to
get more of it, a phenomenon called in sensory seeking behavior.
These sensory sensitivities adversely affect the daily functioning of victims. Hypersensitivity, for
instance, may cause sensory overload, a situation characterized by the inability to cope due to
being overwhelmed by some sensory stimuli. Hyposensitivity on the other hand, causes
stimmingin attempts to strike a balance in the sensory system. These sensitivities may, therefore,
impact daily functioning of victims by affecting their ability to focus, learn, interact and regulate
emotions.
