October is Sensory Health Awareness Month!

Did you know October is Sensory Health Awareness Month? Research about sensory processing, sensory processing disorders, and the influence of sensory health on human performance continues to evolve.

As a healthcare consumer, it is important to know about sensory health and what is available to promote good sensory health, while also being able to seek qualified treatment for sensory processing disorder (SPD). It is evident that people who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and other neurologically-based conditions frequently have co-morbid sensory processing disorders that impact their ability to comfortably engage in the world around them.

In schools, children may struggle with over-responsive or under-responsive sensory systems that make it harder for them to engage in occupations such as learning, play, social interaction, and self-care skills.

School-based OT can help support the sensory health of children in schools through skilled observations of children in natural school routines, education of school staff and families about sensory health, and application of evidence-based accommodations to support sensory-friendly classroom design and improved health-management of sensory needs for students.

Sensory integration and sensory processing are deeply intriguing and complicated areas of human health science and it is important that consumers are directed to resources that are accurate, safe, ethical, and evidence-based.

Sensory processing challenges can have an extensive impact on human behavior and a person's ability to engage in their daily routines. In schools, it is important that children with sensory processing challenges are accommodated to support their needs in healthy ways that allow them to feel safe and cared for. A child's specific needs for sensory processing support should never be used as punishment for observed behaviors, nor should their needs be utilized a tool to control their behavior. If you are seeing this happen with your child, it is important to raise your concerns and to be referred to professionals who can help.

Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) is a specific form of therapeutic treatment that is aimed at making neurological changes in a child to help them develop specific adaptive responses to environmental sensory stimuli. It is given by sensory-certified therapists in specific therapeutic environments with specific dosage parameters for each child, and is most often performed in a clinical setting. This type of therapy cannot be delivered in the manner it needs to be (with fidelity) in the school setting. Therefore, it is important for parents and caregivers of children with sensory processing challenges, as well as school practitioners, to know that, the approach in schools is to accommodate the needs of the child to improve participation in their school day.

If you are a parent or caregiver of a child with sensory processing challenges, you will want to seek out OT practitioners in a clinical setting who can help. School-based OTs can help to provide you with information and possible referrals to sensory-integrative certified practitioners, but also with skilled observations of your child in the school setting. OTs in schools may recommend therapeutic equipment, environmental accommodations (such as dimmed lighting or areas with decreased visual stimuli), and specific sensory breaks that can support your child's nervous system as they engage in school-based tasks. Education of school staff and families about sensory health is also within the scope of practice for OTs.

Lastly, it is important for parents, therapists, and educators to know that no sensory interventions should be provided to a person without first having documentation of assessment and evaluation of their sensory needs and patterns. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) warns consumers against the provision of sensory interventions without documented assessment by a qualified professional to ensure client health safety as well as the proper, evidence-based use of such interventions. The collaboration between AOTA and the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Choosing Wisely campaign about sensory integration interventions serves to establish trust, knowledge-sharing between practitioners and healthcare consumers, and safe, evidence-based healthcare approaches for clients.

If you are a parent, caregiver, therapist, educator, or other healthcare practitioner, be sure that you direct yourself to the right sources for information. For current and evolving information check out the STAR Institute and its international leadership in research about sensory health, sensory processing disorders, therapeutic programming, professional development, and evidence-based treatments.