| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp. All rights reserved. |
| about the book |
| The Homeschool Diner's Guide to Special Needs Homeschooling Dysfunctional Sensory Integration (DSI) aka Sensory Integration Disorder (SID) aka Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) aka Dabrowski's Overexcitabilities (OE's) by Julie Shepherd Knapp, copyright 2006 Sensory processing refers to how we experience our surroundings. How we take in information through our senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing), organize and interpret that information, and make a meaningful and appropriate response. Most people process information about their surroundings without even thinking about it. Lights may be glaringly bright, but we squint and ignore them. A room full of noisy people may make conversation difficult, but we talk louder and listen harder. Most of us never notice if our sock has a wrinkle in it, or care if our food is lumpy. But for people with sensory processing disorders, these situations bombard their senses, feeling more like an attack than a nuisance. Sensory processing issues can make it difficult for children to concentrate, and may be misinterpreted as signs of ADD. Their seeming "over-reaction" to sensory input can also be misinterpreted as behavioral issues. When a child is unable to cope with typical daily doses of noise, fluorescent lights, scratchy tags, food textures, and jostling crowds - parents may seek help from Occupational Therapists (OT's) that are trained in sensory processing issues. Therapy can reduce the child's anxiety and help them cope with and minimize their sensitivities. At the opposite end of sensory processing issues, there are also children who seem oblivious to their senses. They seem to feel no pain and fear nothing. They may love rough-housing, and try to get other children to wrestle with them, not realizing that others don't enjoy it. They may be spinners or rockers, and often love spicy or sour foods. Therapy can help these children to be more aware of their senses, help them moderate their behavior, and help their families provide a daily "sensory diet" rich in sensory experiences. Resources for DSI: (specific to gifted children) What is Sensory Processing Disorder? -- info from The Kid's Foundation SPD Network The Out of Sync Child -- excerpts from the book, gives examples of several children with DSI What are Dabrowski's OE's? -- a brief summary by Stephanie Tolan Retained Primitive Reflexes by by KEITH KEEN of Sydney, Australia -- describes how unresolved infantile reflexes can impact children's sensory processing and coping mechanisms, problems include anxiety, panic attacks, poor coordination, and selective mutism Sensory Homeschool -- for thos homeschooling a child who has Sensory Processing Dysfunction or Sensory Integration Disorder What is a Sensory Diet? Does your child need one? -- good info by Lindsey Biel, M.A., OTR/L and Nancy Peske from the "Raising a Sensory Smart Child" website A sample sensory diet for one particular child -- this is just an example -- your particular child will probably need/respond to different activities than listed here Sensory Diet Considerations -- what you need to know and to consider if you're trying to do this in your home, for your own child Abilitations Catalog -- loads of sensory products for sale (just click the arrows to browse the catalog). Many of these items could be handmade by an industrious grandma ;-) SID therapeutic options from Sensory Nation Related Issues: Getting Beyond "Yuck" with Your Picky Eater an interesting approach from CleverParents.com Sensory Processing Disorder vs. Attention Deficit Disorder -- info from The Kid's Foundation SPD Network Attentional Disorders Does your child have a disorder... or is he or she "gifted"? -- an excerpt from a book by James T. Webb, "Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnosis of Gifted Children" Learn more about being gifted |
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