Know-How of Concepts like Sensory Integration and Speech Therapy in Children with Autism

Before you are introduced to the concept of sensory integration therapy for autism, there is something else you will have to understand. This is the underlying concept behind dysfunction in sensory integration.

What do you understand by the term Sensory Integration?

Say for example, you see a van on the road, the external stimuli refers to the van and the road. Your sense organs or reflexes immediately act in accordance to the signals received by the brain. These signals relate to the fact that you must cross the road immediately before the van hits you straight. This is a simple example of how sensory stimuli are put to effective use by the body. This is a simple example of how sensory stimuli are effectively used by the body in accordance with the signals received and transmitted by the brain.

Children with face Sensory Integration issues for the simple reason that the brain fails to co-ordinate stimuli with the remaining parts of the body. These issues impact children directly as they fail to sense their ability to respond immediately from what they see in the environment.

Sensory integration therapy for autism works in three main areas being

• Tactile system- Sense of touch
• Vestibular- Movement
• Proprioceptive System- Feeling of sensing pressure

A brief explanation on each of these

Tactile system

Tactile system is referred to the sensory perception of touch. These belong to the set of nerves present beneath the surface of the skin sending information to your brain. The tactile system lets your body feel the sense of touch, pain pressure, etc. Dysfunction of the tactile system includes symptoms like

• Withdrawing one’s hands when being touched
• Refusal to eat certain textured foods
• Holding objects via the tip of the fingers and not using complete area of the palm or hands
• Showing reluctance in washing hands (even after touching mud, gravy, finger-paints, etc.)

A dysfunctional tactile system results in misinterpretation of touch, feel or pain and leads to isolation, general irritability and so on.

Vestibular System

There are nerves within the inner-ear area. The nerves traverse through the semi-circular canals of your eardrum giving away signals as to what position your head is in. Dysfunction in the vestibular system prevents kids from climbing uphill or downstairs. This particular syndrome invokes fearful reaction amongst children while crossing roads or while walking across uneven surfaces.

Proprioceptive System

The Proprioceptive system lets a person gather awareness of where he/she is and signals let him/her behave accordingly. Like, you know you are supposed to hold the pen upright while writing. You know you will have to hold the spoon to drink your soup. You also have other basic conventions as expected out of you from the society.

Dysfunction with the proprioceptive system leads to a tendency to fall, clumsiness while eating, sloppy behaviour etc.

Specialists also provide kids with intense speech therapy for autism. However more words, symbols, gestures, body language and imitation styled phrases are used while tutoring children with the nuances of communication.

We have seen the various forms of sensory integration issues in kids with autism and how it impacts them overall. A brief explanation on what is done in speech therapy for autism is also stated thereon.

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