Tag Archives: DSI

Where Is My Body in Space? Proprioceptive Dysfunction

“Proprioception” is a word we probably don’t hear very often. But it refers to body placement, and the ability to sense where our bodies are in space. For most of us, through the many receptors in our muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints, we are able to sense what our body is doing, and whether we are crouched, standing, turning, sitting, or moving. We can tell how close we are to something else, and can sense our bodies, through the pull of gravity, even when sitting still. But for some children with special needs, this “body position sense” is weak. Children … Continue reading →

“Stop Touching Me!” Symptoms of Tactile Dysfunction

Our skin is covered with microscopic receptors that send information to our brains. This is our sense of touch, or tactile sense. We use our sense of touch to experience all kinds of things from itching, to tickling, pressure, hot and cold, pain, vibration, and movement. The “tactile sense” is necessary for all kinds of activities such as walking up steps, writing on a chalkboard, hugging someone, getting dressed, or testing water temperature. From infancy we require tactile stimulation to meet nearly all of our physical and emotional needs. We even need our tactile sense to develop good social skills. … Continue reading →

FUN with FOODS for Sensory Integration Dysfunction

Is your child a picky eater? Creative food play might help. In San Antonio, Texas, a group of families who have children with Sensory Integration Dysfunction (DSI)–and other eating disorders– get their kids together for a special kind of play group once a month. They appropriately named their program “FED UP.” Each “Fed Up” meeting not only provides a social opportunity for the preschoolers and toddlers involved, but it’s based around a theme. On one gathering, the theme was “balls and circles.” The children began their socializing in a ball pit in a tent to warm them up to the … Continue reading →

Autism? Aspergers? ADHD? How Auditory Training Can Help

Several years ago, I read an astonishing book about a girl with autism, Georgie, who was only attached to inanimate objects and had no interest in human beings. She was completely withdrawn into her own world seemed unreachable. She had strange reactions to ordinary sounds and events. Eventually she shut out everything as though she were deaf. Well, her mother, Annabel Stehli, was determined to get answers. She took her daughter to numerous specialists and was either told to “just love her,” or was given several more-than-subtle hints that she was a bad mother. The book is fascinating, detailing Annabel’s … Continue reading →

What is Your Child’s Sensitivity Profile?

When we have a better understanding of our child’s sensory reactivity levels, we can decode some of his or her puzzling behaviors. Many children with disabilities of all types struggle with sensory integration disorder (DSI), and have oversensitivity or undersensitivity to normal stimuli. By getting in tune with how your child manages the sensory input from his environment, you can improve your interactions. This knowledge can give teachers, therapists, and doctors a head start in relating to your son or daughter, and break down barriers to learning. By making careful observations while your child goes about her day, you can … Continue reading →

Sensory Integration Dysfunction: Just What Exactly Is It?

Imagine you’re a child, and the sweater your mother dressed you in feels like sandpaper chafing your skin. The sensation of the threads rubbing across your arms is so irritating, you can barely concentrate on anything else. You grunt and whine in frustration, trying to convey your feelings, but you can’t put them into words that make sense. You throw a tantrum, and finally your mother removes your sweater. Then she casually turns on the dishwasher. The buzzing of the motor rings terribly loud in your ears. You run into the corner of the room, covering your head and moaning. … Continue reading →

Activities That Teach – #6 Crash Pad!

Do you have a kid who likes to smash into things? Does he bump, jump, and flop? Does she twirl and plop? Then this crash pad will be a blast! The crash pad is a large over-stuffed pillow for jumping, falling, and landing on. The purpose of it (yes there is one—outside of just plain fun) is to provide therapy for kids with sensory integration dysfunction. The jolt of landing on the pad provides deep pressure to muscles and joints. Rolling and leaping on the pad gives vestibular input. Rubbing against fabric provides tactile input. What is sensory integration dysfunction … Continue reading →