Sensory Integration | Study Prep for passing the NBCOT® Exam | Pass the OT

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Sensory Integration theory was developed by A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR® during the 1960s and 1970s. The basic premise of this theory is that adequate sensory processing in the nervous system plus the integration of sensory information in the brain will lead to adaptive behavior and functional abilities. The theory is based in neuroscience, developmental psychology, occupational therapy, and education.

The main points of sensory integration theory are as follows:

● An individual’s interaction with the environment influences the development of the brain.

● The nervous system is plastic, i.e. able to change.

● Sensorimotor experiences affect the brain’s plasticity.

● Sensorimotor development is a part of learning.

Occupational Therapy Treatment for Sensory Processing Disorders
The goal of sensory integration intervention is to improve the processing and integration of sensory information to allow participation in childhood occupations, including activities of daily living, school work, extracurricular activities, and play.

General Principles
1. The focus of treatment is primarily on tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive processing. These three systems form the base for other sensory processing.

2. Treatment should provide a “just right challenge” – an activity that is challenging but at the same time realistic for the child to achieve.

3. The treatment environment should be enticing, encouraging the child to actively engage in play.

4. Treatment is child directed. The child directs treatment by giving behavioral cues that the therapist observes and reads. The therapist adjusts treatment based on these cues that indicate what the child wants and will find enticing.