The following information was provided by The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation.

Finding and selecting an occupational therapist to help your child, yourself, and/or your family is an important decision. Like all professionals, OTs differ in training, philosophy, and personality. The best choice is an OT who is a good “fit” for your child and yourself – someone you and/or your child likes and with whom you feel connected.

You will also want to look for an OT who follows methods known to be associated with effective treatment. These include:

• Provides direct 1-to-1 treatment in a sensory-rich setting that has unique equipment that provides a wide range of sensory opportunities
• Includes a diagnostic evaluation before you begin treatment and delivers it in easily understandable, written form. (If there are sections with jargon that you don’t understand, ask for an explanation before agreeing to treatment.)
• Makes parent education an integral part of the treatment program, and we don’t mean five minutes at the end of a treatment session! Parents need and deserve much more than that! Several dedicated hours for parent feedback and education should be built into the treatment plan.
• Provides written goals for treatment before you begin treatment to assure that everyone is “on the same page” about priorities
• Documents changes with post-treatment testing so everyone knows how treatment is working. Typically, OTs who provide excellent pre-treatment testing also provide good post-treatment testing.
• Provides intensive treatment (at least twice times a week and preferably three) over a shorter time duration rather than once-a-week treatment. Weekly treatment can produce behavior changes, but research suggests that intensive treatment produces lasting neurological changes as well as changes in behavior.
• Uses play and success to produce change and foster self-esteem. In good, sensory-based OT, children think they are playing. If a child is crying during treatment sessions, the OT may not be skilled in providing challenge with success, which is a keystone to treatment effectiveness.
• Uses purposeful sensory stimulation to work on “occupations” such as eating, dressing, playing with others, social participation, self-regulation, and self-esteem.
• Asks questions that will lead to effective understanding of you, your child, and your family. Don’t be afraid to ask questions yourself either! If you don’t understand what your OT is doing, it is crucial to confirm that his or her methods and activities are grounded in sound therapeutic concepts and part of a well-defined strategy. If the therapist cannot clearly answer your questions, it may be a red flag that he or she lacks the training or understanding to provide effective intervention.
• Listens to you, believes you, and fully believes in the potential of your child to change. The outcomes of OT are functional changes – differences that you, your child’s teacher, and others can see. If you can’t tell if your child is improving, he or she is not improving enough!

For over 20 years, parents have answered a resounding “yes” about the exceptional specialized therapists at Pediatric Potentials, Inc.

The post Choosing an Occupational Therapist for Your Child appeared first on Sensory Processing Therapy Specialists.

When parents of children with learning and behavioral difficulties are asked if their kids experience problems with sensory processing, chances are many of them will answer “yes”! Many children have difficulty regulating sensory input, which can be anywhere from mild to severe in nature.

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), also called Sensory Integration Dysfunction, is a condition that affects how your brain processes sensory information. Sensory information enters your body through what you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch, and how you respond to movement and pressure sensations in your body. SPD can affect all of your senses, or just one or two. Having sensory processing disorder usually means you’re more or less sensitive to sensory responses than others. Difficulty with processing sensations correctly can result in overly hyper or shy behaviors. These children are often bright and capable, but have a hard time getting through the day.

Signs of Sensory Processing Disorder:

SPD can affect one sense or multiple senses. Children who have SPD may overreact to the feeling of clothes, touch, sounds and food textures. They may also underreact to sensory input. This causes them to crave more intense thrill-seeking stimuli. Some examples include jumping off tall things, spinning excessively, or swinging too high on the playground. Children with SPD often have a combination of oversensitive and under-sensitive responses.

Signs of sensory processing- hyper sensitive (over sensitive):

• Clothing feels too scratchy or itchy.
• Lights are too bright.
• Sounds are too loud.
• Soft touch feels adverse.
• Food textures make them gag.
• More clingy than others/overwhelmed.
• Afraid of swings.
• Intense emotional outbursts.
• Bothered by sounds others don’t hear.
• Avoids hugs and cuddling on most occasions.

Signs of sensory processing- hypo sensitive (under-sensitive or sensory-seeking):

• Can’t sit still, constantly touching or “on the go”.
• Seek thrills (jumping, rough play, heights, and spinning).
• Can spin without getting dizzy.
• Not attentive to social cues.
• Not aware or respectful of others’ personal space.
• Chews, licks or mouths things.
• Difficulty settling to fall asleep no matter how early you start.
• Messy face, hair or twisted clothes.
• Clumsy, uncoordinated, falls out of chairs.
• Very high pain tolerance.

The Impact of Sensory Processing Difficulties

Sensory processing difficulties lead to stress responses in the child. When sensory systems do not provide accurate information to the body, it can result in other responses. It can affect a child’s motor skills, attention, coordination, language skills, and independence. Your child may have trouble performing well in school and keeping up with peers. These symptoms left untreated often result in low self-esteem in school-age children. Anxiety and depression can also result. With understanding, support and the right activities, your child can mature his or her nervous system to no longer have to struggle with sensory processing disorder.

How to get help for Sensory Processing Disorder

At Pediatric Potentials, Inc., we specialize in Sensory Integration, Sensory Processing Therapy and play-based treatment interventions that are specifically designed to regulate all of the senses. Sensory Integration, developed by Dr. Jean Ayers, involves specific sensory activities (swinging, bouncing, brushing, and lots of physical activity) that are intended to help your child regulate his or her response to incoming sensory input. The outcome of these activities may be better focus and attention, improved behavior, greater coordination, and even lowered anxiety and a balanced activity level.

If you have questions regarding your child’s development or want to learn more about how sensory processing therapy and occupational therapy can help, call our office today at 407-322-3962. We provide services in Lake Mary, Longwood, Maitland, Winter Park, Winter Springs, Orlando and throughout Central Florida.

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