Sensory integration - does it really work??

[sleepyhorse]

So ds1 is almost 6 and been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder (mainly probs with vestibular and proprioception) and a few other stuff going on language disorder and social comm probs. As the NHS aren't offering this therapy anymore I am about to start some private sessions which isn't cheap. So I want to know am I wasting my money or does it really work? Does it really help to develop nervous system like they say? And more importantly have you noticed significant improvements in your child who has received SI? Would really appreciate your thoughts ASAP. Thanks!

you will find it difficult to evaluate id SI worked unless SI is the only therapy you are doing.

DS doesnt have problem with public places ie noise, light, crowd etc and we function like the usual family when going out, eat out, swimming, cinema, flights, everything...Even the demand avoidance (which often OT says is a result of SI issues) is better when we are out.

I did retained reflexes therapy before SI which made my DS life so much easier, following RR he could ride a bike, swim, run more coordinated and behave more NT.

I have done a number of therapies privately and even though its painful on the pocket I can say every little helps and would suggest you give it a go if you can afford the time firth then money.

Ah..this is an excellent question

The evidence is slim on this intervention.

Ensure that the person you are seeing for private therapy is qualified in this intervention i.e. they are qualified to administer the SIPT. They would probably be also a member of the SINetwork (UK and Ireland).

I am qualified at entry level in this approach, so I brought my child for intervention with a person trained (has done a Masters degree).

I have found it's made a massive difference. We also paid privately for OT. However, as polter says, the actual day to day therapy is carried out by us and DS.

We paid for OT to do a full assessment (home and school) and report, draw up a sensory diet (therapy schedule), and go into school to meet with senco and explain his difficulties and explain the therapy. This was a couple of hundred £.

We also spent some money buying equipment recommended by the OT (eg bear hug jacket, wobble cushion, fiddle/chewy accessories).

On an ongoing basis, we meet with OT and school every few months to review progress and revise therapy as necessary. OT is also available if ever we have any queries or problems. This means the ongoing costs are very low.

Really, really highly recommend it.

We are just about to try it via a local university and small business enterprise.

We are particularly hoping to work on Dd3's proprioception issues as the OT feels that they are contributing to her anxiety.

Will let you know how it goes!

Thanks. He has been getting bits at school and an OT comes into school to monitor his progress every few weeks but think they have been focusing more on his fine motor recently. And so school have suggested he would benefit from an intense course of SI. I was just a bit sceptical as to how effective it really is since the NHS have recently published statement saying they no longer offering this as not enough evidence to back up that it's a successful therapy. I will give it a go as whilst I might be skint I'm obviously going to try and help my little boy as much as I can especially whilst he is still young to give him best start.

Hi poltergoose it's a fairy recent thing. Ds used to have an OT coming into school once a week to do sensory integration but apparently you have to go private now. Let me try and dig out the statement.

Oh I do apologise it's just Bucks county council NHS - I had understood it was the NHS nationwide! I guess I'm one of the unlucky ones then :-(

We were not offered anything on the NHS beyond one sensory workshop, either . I asked about the Alert programme and apparently it hasn't been run for several years in my area due to funding.

Sleepyhorse if you are in South bucks, near High Wycombe leap children's therapy are great, we have use them privately on and off for 2 yrs.

My son gets OT in his statement (bucks) so his OT comes in twice a term to review his sensory diet and fine motor skills, TBH she spends most of the time doing SI but words it differently, We are also still under the CDC team so get to attend toy library and get home visits where they use SI Therapy.

I would say SI therapy is good but it only has a short lived effect for my son anything from 10 mins - 2 hr's so his issues don't go away but are calmed for a while, However as he has got older some have lessoned others have increased but he will need SI therapy for at least all of his education as without it he is all over the place.