Sensory Integration

This is a small checklist, if you see these in your child, please talk to you doctor about what you are seeing and ask if an occupational evaluation could benefit your child.

This is not meant to be inclusive, but rather an overview of the more common indicators of possible sensory dysfunction:

    * Challenging behaviors

    * Delays in motor skills (fine and/or gross)

    * Overly sensitive to touch, movement, sights or sounds

    * Under-reactive to touch, movement, sights or sounds

    * Activity level that is unusually high or unusually low

    * Difficulties with coordination

    * Delays in speech or language skills

    * Difficulties with executive functioning

    * Difficulties with academic achievement

    * Poor self-concept

There are lots of good books and resources for sensory integration disorders.

Hands down the best book to start with is "Out of Sync Child Has Fun"

"The Out of Sync Child Has Fun" is an excellent book to give you activities to do at home or school and the best part is that Carol explains why you are doing the activity and how it should help.

Her other book "The Out of Sync Child" she explains in detail what sensory integration disorder is. Both are a must for your library.

Some of the basic things that you could do at home are:

    * have an exercise ball to roll on

    * a trampoline to jump on

    * a bean bag chair to rest in

    * a box of rice, putty or beans