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Sensory Integration Problems
by Diane
(Iowa)
I have a seven month old boy. How do I know that he is not dealing with sensory integration issues (as my 2 1/2 year old is, which was just diagnosed two months ago)?
I found a couple of books which seem easy to understand and follow. These should help you a lot with possible sensory integration problems. You can order most of them online. I hope they help.
Let's first start with a simplified definition to define what exactly we're talking about. All babies learn by getting inputs and then converting those inputs into some learning experience. These inputs can be things like touching different textures, sounds they hear, movements they make and even food they eat.
Most babies correctly translate these inputs into a learning experience. Babies with sensory integration problems see these inputs as irritations. They do not get the same or even a correct learning experience.
In the long run these children often end up with learning, social and other behavior problems.
At best it is difficult to spot sensory integration problems at 7 months, but there are a few common things you can look for.
My best description is that a baby with sensory integration problems will just be an unhappy, irratable child
Although the signs that you should look for may also be present in babies without problems, these kids often show strange and unexpected behaviors.
Typical things to look for are: - disturbed sleeping patterns
- they prefer certain types of bottles or dummies/pacifiers
- sensitive to different food textures
- sometimes also irritated by sounds
- very difficult to sooth with normal methods like picking up, etc.
- have very definite toy preferences - do not like toys with buttons, hairy ones, different textures, etc.
- often irritated by movements like rocking and rough-and-tumble play
My best rule of thumb is often to ask the parents. I found that if you (as parent) think about the past, you will have noticed many of these signs before.
If you suspect that your child may be troubled by sensory integration problems, my only advice is to get professional help from an Occupational Therapist.
