Sensory Integration / Sensory Processing

The large-bucket catch-all of sensory integration or sensory processing difficulties is mysterious and nebulous. Often we used to call kids who fit into these categories just “quirky kids.” Some kids just don’t want to sit down for a long time at daily circle time. Some kids don’t like people all up in their space. Some kids need a bit more time to transition from one activity to another. Just because they are showing that they are overly sensitive to stimuli or over-perceptive does not automatically mean they will always be this way, that they are autistic, or that they have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Some kids just need more practice with social and life situations than other kiddos. So the best part about labeling a child as having sensory integration or sensory processing difficulties is that we can give those kids the extra practice they need early with play-based occupational therapists. And because there is this working-diagnosis label, we can often get insurance to pay for it. So if I have a kiddo in the practice who seems that they are overstimulated by normal sounds, feelings, or stresses and just needs a bit more hand-holding practice to get more used to these stimuli and decrease their fight-or-flight response, then we have them say, ”Hi!” to a friendly play-based therapist as early as possible to get that practice going. 

The overarching guidance for this kind of kiddo is for families not to hesitate or be embarrassed about labeling their child with this label because it opens up a lot of great avenues for early intervention that are often covered by early intervention programs through the city/county or by health insurance.