Sensory Integration - Does anyone know anything about it?

[mumgoingcrazy]

Hello, I'm quite new to mumsnet so I'm not sure if I should have started a new thread on this as it's sort of carried on from another I started but, does anyone know about Sensory Integration.

Another mn has suggested the book 'Sensory Integration and the Child', but wanted to know if anyone had any other tips.

DD2 (15mo) is tactile defensive and her reluctance to touch or be touched has seriously hindered her motor skills and has a dx of GDD. Her lack of motor skills has affected her cognitive and self help. The only thing she is ok on is language (at the last assessment, however still not saying anything). I'd be really interested to hear anyones views on this. What it is, how it helps, parental tips.

DD2 currently receives weekly Physio, OT, SALT and Portage.

[mumgoingcrazy]

Hello iwearflairs, thank you for this info. What does AS/HFA mean? sorry I'm not up with all the abbreviations yet and it's not on the aconyms list.

The more I read about sensory integration the more I think this is what DD2 has. How old if your DS? I'm not entirely sure what oral motor issues are and can you give me any examples of 'out of whack' sensory processing he does? Sorry to fire all these questions at you but I feel the light has just come on and finally I might be getting to the bottom of these issues she has.

We're on holiday next week but I will definately be speaking to the It about this what I get back.

[mumgoingcrazy]

I meant OT not It in my last post!

[moondog]

There isn't really any convincing evidence to support SIT, much as i would like there to be.
I'm a salt and we reviewed it as part of my MSc in ABA course.

[BriocheDoree]

Riven, poor you. That must cause friction between DS1 and DD...how do you cope? My DD used to be really noise intolerant but appears to be growing out of some of it. The other day DS's nursery asked me why I never let him fall asleep to music. Couldn't really tell them it's cause his sister would have a meltdown - hardly what you want to relax a baby to sleep!
DD is quite sensory seeking and often needs massage to get her to sleep. She's very cuddly

[cyberseraphim]

I don't know much about AIT/SIT but the same criticism is made of ABA - that the only truly randomised trial did not provide evidence to support the view that it is more effective than other 1-1 therapies. I'm sure the approaches mentioned above can help to some extent, I find play based therapy useful.

[moondog]

Cyber, that is bollocks re ABA.
Who told you that?
Nothing comes close to it in terms of being backed up by countless rock solid research.

That and Direct Instruction are really the only way to go in my clinical opinion.

Read about 'Project Followthrough' (biggest educational experiment ever) and feel yuor heart sink as to why we still teach in the crap way we do to kids with SN.

(Easy to find basics by Googling)

[moondog]

And as for evidence backing up play based therapy.
Sorry, it doesn't cut the mustard (although on an ind. level people may find it useful)

[Saker]

I have often wondered with the ABA research whether has anyone followed the children who participated in the ABA studies into adulthood and looked at outcomes? Do they function as neurotypical adults?

[cyberseraphim]

The paper is at

autismcrisis.blogspot.com/2007/08/autism-and-aba-in-uk-controlled-trial.html

The psychiatrists running our play therapy have published their research too - don't know if it is online or not. The claims they make though are hesitant and guarded - shared attention may increase, sharing may increase. There are no claims that language or developmental normality will necessarily follow. But given the range of abilities and problems on the spectrum, it is difficult for anyone to do more than that.

[mumgoingcrazy]

I've just got a question for moondog, you said earlier that there wasn't enough evidence to support SIT, if it isn't recognised and DD2 seems to totally fit the bill, what other problem would it be? Autism? Thanks