Sensory Integration

Sensory integration is the brain"s ability to take in information from all of our senses and process the information to form a meaningful response. The brain can be compared to an engine which requires a certain amount of fuel to run "just right" for the task at hand. The fuel is the information we receive through our senses. Some people need more fuel to run just right and other people need much less. People who need more input can be described as sensory seekers. They touch more, move more, and talk more than others to get the right amount of input so that they can function appropriately for the task at hand.

People who need less fuel will avoid sensory input and tend to move less, are tactile defensive (touching or being touched by different textures or in different manners is uncomfortable) and are uncomfortable in noisy places. They will easily go into overdrive because of too much stimulation. They are often irritable, anxious children, easily moved into a "fight or flight" response.

Everybody has a sensory profile reflecting preferences and dislikes. Sensory processing is only a problem if it gets in the way of functioning and learning. One important outcome of sensory processing is efficient motor planning. That is being able to formulate an idea of a movement and physically execute it.

Many children with autism have difficulties processing sensory information and this can affect their ability to take part in activities. It is helpful to understand what certain behaviours may be telling us about a child"s sensory system.