Sensory Integration Dysfunction
Mazyad Alotaibi
Sensory Integration: The Theory
• Ayres (1972) hypothesized that…
– “learning is a function of the brain [and] learning disorders
reflect some deviation in neural functions”
– Since some individuals with learning disorders have motor
or sensory problems, they have difficulty processing and
integrating sensory information
– This inability to integrate sensory information causes
behavior and learning problems
– This is referred to as Sensory Integrative Dysfunction
Sensory Integration: The Theory
• The focus is on 3 sensory systems: Tactile, Vestibular,
and Proprioceptive
• The interrelationship among these sensory systems is
critical to one’s basic survival (most people can
integrate and interpret sensory information
automatically)
• These systems interact with each other, allowing us
to experience, interpret, and respond to different
stimuli in our environment
Sensory Integration: The Therapy
• SI therapy provides opportunities for engagement in
sensory motor activities that are rich in tactile,
vestibular, and proprioceptive sensations
• The child is guided through challenging and fun
activities designed to stimulate and integrate sensory
systems, challenge his or her motor systems, and
facilitate integration of sensory, motor, cognitive, and
perceptual skills
Sensory Integration: Outcomes
• According to Ayres, some outcomes from SI therapy
include:
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Ability to concentrate
Ability to organize
Increase in self-esteem
Increase in self-control
Increase in self-confidence
Improvement in academic learning ability
Capacity for abstract thought and reasoning
Specialization of each side of the body and the brain
DSI Taxonomy
Sensory Integrative
Dysfunctions
Sensory Registration and
Modulating Dysfunction
Sensory
Avoiding
Sensory
Seeking
Sensory Discrimination
Dysfunction
Functional Effects of
Sensory Dysfuntion
Sensory Integrative Dysfunction
Subtypes
• Severity of symptoms highly individual and variable
• Sensory Registration and Modulating Dysfunction
– information not registered correctly
– Sensory-Avoiding
– Sensory-Seeking
• Sensory Discrimination Dysfunction
– decreased ability to distinguish different types of touch, movement
and/or body position
• Functional Effects of Sensory Dysfunction
– delays in speech, language, or motor skills
Treatment
Treatment Goals
• Primary Goal: Improve the way the brain processes, organizes sensation
to be used for perception, adaptation, and learning (NOT teaching
specific skills such as handwriting)
• Secondary Goals and Expected Outcomes of SI Intervention:
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Regulation of arousal states and attention
Development of body scheme;
Postural-motor and bilateral integration of function;
Fine and Gross motor skills (handwriting);
Visual-auditory aspects of learning ;
Receptive and expressive language;
Psychosocial functions (ex: self-concept, self-efficacy);
Independence in ADLs
Sensory Integration (SI) terms:
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Sensory registration
Sensory awareness
Adaptive responses
Body center interactions
Body space relationships
Body environment interactions
Sensory registration
• Internal process to orient or attend to sensory
stimulation upon input
Sensory awareness
• Results from the registration of, orientation to
and perception of sensory stimuli; provides
foundation for sensations of:
• Touch
• Body sense (proprioception)
• Motion and gravity
• Taste, smell, seeing, and hearing
Adaptive responses
• Behaviors that reflect the growth and
maturation of the nervous system in response
to environmental demands.
• Process of organizing the response as well as
feedback from the response facilitates optimal
development of the nervous system
Body-center interactions
• Internal awareness of self and automatic control of
one’s body which allows for comfortable interaction
with people and the environment.
Body space relationships
• Multidirectional purposeful actions that contribute
to lateralization of motor functions and generalized
sequencing abilities.
Body environment interactions
• Intentional behaviors leading to specialization of
abilities for skilled performance. Provides
foundation for social, and intellectual maturity.