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Does your child have a sensory processing or sensory integration disorder?
Sensory processing disorders cover a wide range of behaviors and the impact on a child can range from very mild to severe. No child will demonstrate all of these behaviors. A child may need to be referred for an occupational therapy evaluation if difficulties are seen in several of these areas or if one area is creating significant problems.
If your child:
Was unusually fussy, difficult to console, or easily startled as an infant. Is over-sensitive to stimulation--over-reacts to touch, movement, tastes,
sounds, or odors.
Has difficulty regulating sleep/wake cycle--settling for sleep, staying asleep, and waking without irritability.
Has difficulty with everyday activities like eating, sleeping, brushing their teeth or getting dressed.
Is easily overwhelmed in group situations, which may result in overexcitement, meltdowns or shutting down.
Can’t get “enough” sensory input: touching, squeezing, moving, bouncing or mouthing.
Has poor muscle tone, fatigues easily, leans on people, or slumps in a chair. Uses an inappropriate amount of force when handling objects, coloring, writing, or interacting with siblings or pets.
Was slow to roll over, creep, sit, stand, or walk, or to achieve other motor milestones.
Is clumsy, falls frequently, bumps into furniture or people, and has trouble judging position of body in relation to surrounding space.
Has difficulty learning new motor tasks; experiences frustration when attempting to follow instructions or sequence steps for an activity.
Avoids playground activities, physical education class, and/or sports.
Does not enjoy age-appropriate motor activities such as jumping, swinging, climbing, drawing, cutting, assembling puzzles, or writing.
Difficulty learning how to play or get along with other children. Difficulty with or avoids drawing, cutting, writing activities.
Challenges in school, including attention, organizational perception and listening skills. |
