Sensory Integration question......

[monica2]

Anyone any experience of treating proprioceptive sensory issues? (Hopefully without the Temple Grandin cattle squeeze approach!)

ds had sensory integration as part of his OT.

Hi lizs, dd (10 AS)has sensory issues but the main being proprioceptive problems, her paed told me today she can only refer children under 6 or with physical disabilities to an OT. Waiting for a private OT to call me but was wondering in the meantime if there were any excerises we could try ourselves.

Ds1 has sensory integration help at school (mainstream primary). The SENCO and an assistant run a sensory integration programme for a number of the children. In Reception ds1 did about 10-15mins every day. This year I think it's about 3 times a week. It's made a huge difference to him IMHO.

It is hard to separate what she did for him that was for the sensory issues and what for his other motor issues. However a few activities she included:

Physical games involving climbing, swinging , throwing, catching and carrying heavy things. Using an oversized skateboard/roller board and propelling along with hands.

Target orientated games involving aiming different weights of bean bag, for example into a bucket. Also this was complicated by having him swinging, balancing or moving whilst aiming.

Guessing and assessing different objects by touch/weight/texture without looking.

Playing with sand and water, playdough, finger paints etc and winding toys such as a yoyo. Arts and crafts type activities.

Not sure what of these, if any, would be relevant to your ds. that your paed won't refer him. ds is 7 1/2 and is in the process of being referred to OT. Perhaps it varies by area, we may yet have to wait or go private.

Good luck

Ds1's S.I. is mainly physical exercises. They do things like: using the trampoline, push-ups, throwing and catching, running in a figure-of-eight formation etc. Even though the children attend S.I. in groups they each have an individual program of exercises that suit their particular needs IYKWIM. Ds1 had an initial hour-long session so that the staff could see what he needed. Without the training I'm not sure I would have been able to work out which exercises ds1 needed tbh.

ds2 has a lot of sensory integration / dyspraxic type symptons. Some of the things we have had suggested / I have read up on for proprioceptive stimulation are:
-brisk rubbing after bath,
-"where can you bend" games - discover all body -parts that can bend
-look in mirror together and make movements
-massage or rubbing body with different textures
-provide extra proprioceptive input when learning new motor skills e.g. pressing hands, pushing down on shoulders
-child sandwich - you know when you roll them up tight in a duvet or blanket (Ds2 hates this!)
-carrying heavy loads e.g large soft drink bottles
-pushing and pulling e.g. sledge, rake, vacuum cleaner
-body squeeze and bear hugs
-pouring
-drawing round body
-playing simon says
-dressing up
-judging games e.g. can you fit into....
-body puzzles, like jigsaws of people
-face and body painting
-rough and tumble play
-playgrounds
-obstacle course
-bouncy castle and trampoline

I find it calms my Ds2 if I squeeze his hands and feet, rub his back and head.

Hope that helps. I know some of them are impossible to do depending on the level of understanding of your child. Ds2 couldn't manage lots of them.

I have just ordered the book "The out of sync child has fun" which is supposed to have lots of activities for this sort of thing. I will let you know what it's like.

saker, yes, a lot of those activities also ring a bell with us. ds was turned into a sausage roll in a duvet, kneaded and rolled out ! Also remember him doing a lifesize outline of himself which he decorated.

Thanks for all the info! Think dd will love some of those, she loves being squeezed really hard and squashes herself under bed/tight places. Have ordered the book too. Have only been attempting deep massage atm,but do lots together on the trampoline/outdoor games. Think some of those will build up her low muscle tone in joints too.

Monica, I'm interested that your dd has these issues and you are still finding the RDI stuff okay to do. One of my concerns with trying it with Ds2 is that he would have trouble with the physical and co-ordination parts of it - for example, I even feel that his non-verbal communication is limited because he can't get his arms where he wants them etc.

Our dvd came this week and we are going to start watching it today. I am quite excited .