Sam opens the front door and walks into the house. He immediately smells something sweet baking in the kitchen. Yum! Smells like chocolate chip cookies! Sam's mouth waters as he hears the oven timer ringing. He runs to the kitchen to see his mom pull out the first batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Our senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) tell us about our environment. Our senses receive information from both inside and outside of our bodies. In the above story, Sam's senses worked together to tell him something was baking in the oven. Sensory Integration (SI for short) refers to how our senses work together to organize and process incoming sensory information from the world around us. SI is controlled by the central nervous system, made up of the brain and spinal cord. When our sensory system works together, it allows us to interact with the environment in purposeful and meaningful ways.

Sensory integration dysfunction refers to the body's inability to properly take in and use sensory information. A child with an SI dysfunction has difficulty organizing sensory information to carry out everyday tasks, such as dressing, eating, or even playing. Some activities and social situations may be difficult for children with SI dysfunction. For instance, they may dislike finger painting because they don't like to get their hands wet or sticky. Large crowds may overwhelm the child with SI dysfunction due to the noise level and number of people around. SI dysfunction can appear in any combination of the following senses: hearing, taste, smell, sight, touch, or movement. At some point in our lives, most of us have difficulty processing sensory information; however, when it interferes with our ability to function in our daily lives, it can become a problem!

* Note that if your child demonstrates some of the above characteristics, it does not necessarily mean he/she has an SI dysfunction!

Good Question!! Researchers suggest the following as possible causes of sensory integration dysfunction:

If you suspect your child has an SI dysfunction talk to your pediatrician about your concerns. He/she may refer you to an occupational therapist for a sensory integration evaluation to determine if a problem exists.

A pediatric occumpational therapist (OT) with specialized training in sensory integration can provide treatment for SI dysfunctions. An *occupational therapist is a health professional who helps individuals perform ageappropriate activities of daily living. For children, these activities can include jumping, skipping, buttoning, using utensils, drawing, and writing. The purpose is to engage the child in typical childhood activities such as swinging, playing, and drawing. The child's individual needs determine treatment. It usually occurs in a sensory enriched environment such as a gym that provides the child with opportunities to swing, jump, and most importantly...... play! In some instances, the OT will develop a sensory diet: a home program that enables the child to participate in activities to strengthen skills learned in treatment. Parent involvement encourages a carryover of skills learned into the home environment. It is important to encourage your child to participate in activities that interest them and to use their strengths to boost their self-esteem.

* Contact the American Occupational Therapist Association (AOTA) to locate a pediatric occupational therapist with specialized training in sensory integration.

Access information through their website at www.aota.org or contact them directly at 301-652-2682.

Speech and language problems often coexist in children with SI dysfunction.The speech-language pathologist plays an important role in treatment. Speech pathologists often integrate sensory activities into treatment to stimulate language production.Activities such as blowing whistles, swinging, and bouncing on a therapeutic ball promote spontaneous language production. Speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists should work together to decide on the best treatment approach for children with SI dysfunction.