Occupational therapy is a client-centered health profession that aims to promote health and well-being through meaningful and purposeful activities, incorporating various therapy strategies. Pediatric occupational therapists specialize in therapy processes for children and infants. They work to encourage, maintain, and develop the necessary skills for their clients to function effectively in home, school, and family environments.
Occupational therapists support both typically developing (healthy) children and children with special needs to participate in daily living activities, roles, and responsibilities with maximum independence. The occupational therapy process progresses quickly, effectively, and enjoyably, as it continues with therapeutic games that are taught to families and transferred to the home environment. The teachability of the therapy process allows it to be supported at home, making it much easier and faster for the child to transfer their acquired skills to daily life.
As occupational therapists, we assess children from sensory, motor (fine and gross motor), cognitive, and psychosocial perspectives and implement therapy programs based on scientific evidence. In this article, I will discuss Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy, an evidence-based therapy method that I actively practice.
Sensory Integration Therapy
Throughout the day, we continuously experience our surroundings and interpret sensory information received from the environment. These sensory inputs come from:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Touch
- Taste
- Smell
- Vestibular Sense
- Proprioception Sense
All these senses provide information about our body and environment. The process by which our brain organizes and interprets incoming sensory information is called Sensory Integration.
The first seven years of life constitute a rapid period of sensory integration. For most children, the sensory integration process develops through typical childhood experiences. Through these sensory experiences, children develop the steps of interpreting, adjusting, and generating appropriate responses to sensory input. For example, activities such as running, swinging, and rolling help children gain awareness of their body's position in space. This knowledge and experience facilitate the sensory processes required for their daily activities, roles, and responsibilities.
However, some children may not develop the ability to regulate sensory information as expected. If a child experiences difficulties in one or more of the steps involved in interpreting, adjusting, and generating appropriate responses to sensory input, they may have a sensory integration disorder. This condition is often referred to as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
How to Identify Sensory Integration Problems in a Child's Daily Life?
Children with sensory processing difficulties may exhibit one or more of the following challenges:
- Delayed motor skills development
- Difficulty in self-regulation (calming themselves)
- Attention and concentration problems
- Feeding difficulties
- Discomfort with clothing tags, wetness, or dirt
- Desire to touch different textures
- Establishing rigid routines and difficulty adapting to changes
- Sensitivity to certain smells
- Handwriting difficulties
- Challenges in personal care (e.g., struggling with bathing, toilet training, or daily hygiene routines)
- Inability to stay seated during activities requiring desk work
- Social difficulties (either excessive sociability or social withdrawal)
- Poor body awareness
- Clumsiness or struggles in ball games
- Difficulty with competition and group activities, inability to cope with failure
- Dependence on verbal or physical support for daily responsibilities (e.g., needing help with dressing and undressing)
- Sensitivity to loud noises or excessive noise-making
- Motion sickness
- Fear of movement (e.g., anxiety when using stairs, difficulty with transitions, and need for support)
- Frequent collisions or clumsiness
- Weakness in play skills, difficulty initiating and sustaining play
These sensory challenges can manifest in daily life, affecting a child's ability to participate in activities and responsibilities.
How We Approach Sensory Integration Therapy
Our team of occupational therapists identifies the underlying causes of sensory integration difficulties rather than just addressing symptoms. By evaluating sensory integration dysfunction and its symptoms, we develop targeted therapy programs that aim to resolve the root cause, preventing further complications.
Sensory integration therapy is based on evaluating all seven sensory systems. Our Ayres Sensory Integration Therapists conduct assessments using internationally recognized tools such as:
- Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT)
- Sensory Processing Measure (SPM)
- Dunn Sensory Profile
These tests compare a child's abilities against the expected range for their age group, identifying strengths and areas that need improvement with objective data.
To ensure therapy is enjoyable for the child, we integrate their strengths into the program while working on their areas of difficulty. The therapy process is regularly evaluated and adjusted based on the child's progress.
Our team extends therapy beyond sessions by providing home exercises, customized home programs, and video-based monitoring to ensure continuous support. This enables children to overcome sensory integration challenges that impact their daily lives with the help of their therapists and families.
By working with specialized professionals who guide children through overcoming barriers, we not only help them develop essential skills but also discover and nurture their talents—potentially paving new paths for their future careers.
All children are special, and they hold the key to our future…
Sinem Altın DEMİRBAĞ
Occupational Therapist / Physiotherapist
