Websites

The following websites offer information about occupational therapy, sensory integration, sensory processing, and other resources for parents with sensory challenged children. American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)—The American Occupational Therapy Association is a national professional society established in 1917 to represent the interests and concerns of occupational therapy practitioners, and to improve the quality of occupational […]

Books

Note: Most books are available from various online retailers. For the convenience of our parents, some books are available for purchase at ITS.  Please feel free to ask! General Resource Books Sensory integration and the child, 25th anniversary edition: Understanding hidden sensory challenges by A. Jean Ayres (2005) Sensational kids: Hope and help for children with sensory […]

What is tactile defensiveness?

(From Sensory Integration and the Child, 25th Anniversary Edition, Ayres, 2005) Tactile defensiveness is one type of sensory modulation disorder. It is the tendency to react negatively and emotionally to touch sensations. The reaction only occurs under certain conditions. Tactile sensations are constantly entering everyone’s nervous system; however, most individuals are able to inhibit their […]

What is sensory modulation disorder?

(From Sensational Kids, Miller, 2006) Sensory Modulation Disorder is a chronic and severe problem involving the ability to turn sensory information into behaviors that match the nature and intensity of the sensation. Children with difficulties modulating sensory input may under-respond to sensation, over-respond to sensation, seek intense sensation, or display a mixture of the three. […]

What is Occupational Therapy?

Children occupational therapy

From the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA): In its simplest terms, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and […]

Sensory Processing Disorder And Autism Spectrum Disorder

You notice that your child hates loud noises, is sensitive to certain food textures, likes to eat only certain foods and does not handle transitions well.  You may be concerned that your child has Autism.  Instead, the occupational therapist diagnoses your child with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)!  What is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and how […]

What to Do When My Child Has Sensory Processing Issues?

You know when your child has a problem. It is a parent’s instinct. For instance, when you see that your child is overwhelmed by certain smells, tastes, feelings or sights and reacts in an “exaggerated way”, or quite the opposite – isn’t reacting in any particularly visible way – then maybe your child has sensory processing issues. Read more…