We often think of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste as our only senses. However, there are actually eight senses. The other three are proprioceptive, vestibular, and interoception. The proprioceptive sense is the body’s awareness of itself and its position in space. The vestibular sense helps us regulate movements in relation to gravity. Interoception has to do with the individual’s awareness of body functions and feelings, such as the awareness of pain, hunger, thirst, and temperature. Our senses work together to organize and process information from the body and the environment. This is called sensory integration.

“According to the sensory integration theory, when the information from these systems is not integrated, the outcome will be poor body awareness, attention, and motor planning, as well as other developmental problems” (Cohen, 2002, p. 143). Many autistic children have difficulty responding appropriately to different stimuli in their environments and are often classified as hypersensitive (appearing over-sensitive to input or sensation) or hyposensitive (lacking or having a low response to sensations). For example, these children may gag at the sight of scrambled eggs, stick their fingers in their ears when the ceiling fan is on, or need to flap their arms and jump to be fully aware of their bodies. They respond as such in an attempt to regulate or adjust their sensory systems. Sensory integration therapy is one way to help children with autism deal with different sensations.

Sensory integration therapy is a specialized form of occupational therapy. The occupational therapist creates a space that often combines sensory input with movement. These areas may include swings, therapy balls, slides, stairs, ramps, ball pits, and other sensory materials that therapists use to create activities to help regulate sensory responses. Examples of these activities include:

An occupational therapist’s goal when working with autistic children is to combine functional activities (going up the stairs, washing your hands) with the information they get from their senses. For example, an autistic child who may need additional gravitational (vestibular) input may benefit from walking and balancing on the edge of a curb prior to an activity to help regulate his/her system and complete the activity.

When treating autistic children, it is important to remember that every child is unique and has different needs. Although there is emerging but limited data supporting the benefits of sensory integration to autistic children, many parents, therapists, and other professionals claim improvements in behavior and focus. Sensory integration therapy is a way to enhance therapy and should not replace traditional occupational therapy.

The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., has a list of all registered, licensed occupational therapists. To learn more about Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and find a therapist who is specially-trained, consult the STAR Institute’s website at www.sensoryhealth.org . In addition, the Western Psychological Services (www.wpspublish.com ) previously had a certified sensory integration program and keeps a list of all therapists who completed this program.