Have you wondered, what makes you stop your car at the sight of red light or what makes your child answer appropriately to a listening test?
Senses are our path of exploring the environment around us. Our senses are constantly receiving inputs from the environment. But it is the processing of these inputs that makes us respond in a particular way in the ongoing situation. Now imagine seeing the red light of the signal but being unable to process its importance and thus failing to stop your car. The inability to process the received sensory inputs explains the above situation.
Sensory Integration Dysfunction/ Sensory Processing Disorder(SPD) is described as a neurophysiological condition wherein the sensory input from one’s body as well as from the environment are poorly processed, modulated thereby giving atypical responses.

It is thought that along with the achievement of neuro-motor developmental milestones in a child, the development, integration as well as modulation of the sensory system is also significant and must go hand-in-hand.

What Signs Should I look for?

It is important to understand that a child with sensory issues will show definite signs and behavior patterns such as:

• portraying irritable behavior when stimulated with certain bright lights or sounds
• withdrawing themselves from hugs,
• showing unusual behavior upon touch of different textures are few of them.
• A child wanting to be on a swing constantly or making frequent head movements can also be picked up as signs.
• The child may exhibit hypersensitive or hyposensitive reactions to the stimulus received from the surroundings.

It becomes of utmost importance for the parents/care-givers as well as child therapist to constantly look for such signs at early stages.

Causes and Types

Considering the causes, definite causes for a child’s SPD are not known. However, researchers trace it to preterm birth, prenatal as well as delivery complications. One in every twenty individual has a sensory integration issue.

SPD is divided into three categories for the ease of having an insight of the dysfunction:

1. Sensory Modulation Disorder
2. Sensory Discrimination Disorder,
3. Sensory Based Motor Disorder.

SPDs has co-occurrence with the autistic spectrum. Although, a child with sensory issues is not always on the spectrum. According to studies the occurrence of sensory issues in the spectrum is 42% to 88%.

Treatment of SPD

The traditional approach for the management of children with SPDs is sensory integration therapy. This therapy comprises of playful activities for the child which in turn challenges the child.

With the betterment of health systems, a holistic approach has been accepted and has proven beneficial. Pediatrician, child therapist, radiologist, occupational therapist, speech language therapist work together as an interdisciplinary team.

As Children’s Physiotherapists we play a major role in shaping the motor outcomes as well as behavioral outcomes of a child. Making a child attentive and adequately aroused so as to have active participation in the therapy is significant.

Evidence from studies has shown that SPDs exists in children with cerebral palsy. This in itself should make handling of sensory issues of the child during treatment session more needful. Many studies have proved the effectiveness of sensory integration programs in children with spastic diplegia.

Assessing a child stands extremely important so as to prioritize the areas upon which the therapist should address. Few children may demand more of a Neurodevelopmental approach (NDT) while incorporating sensory therapy. Whereas, others may show needs of working upon sensory imbalance and processing and concurrently moving onto the motor aspects.

Owing to the skillful and theoretical knowledge that we as Children’s physiotherapists possess, it has become the need of the hour to expand our wings for each little life, whose future is in our hands.

Every child is special and hence every child has special needs!

Written by: Dr Esha R Surve (Physiotherapist)