sensory awareness workshop

Sensory AwarenessPresented by

Cynthia Miller-LautmanOccupational Therapist

http://cynthiamillerlautman.com

Cynthia Miller-Lautman, OT

Overview

• Basic Introduction to Sensory Regulation• Some ideas of how we can help

This presentation does NOT in any way replace a proper evaluation for those students who

need a detailed intervention plan and therapy.


Ice Breaker: Scattegories1. Sandwiches

2. Items in a Catalogue

3. World Leader/Politicians

4. School Subjects5. Excuses for Being

Late6. Ice Cream Flavors

7. Things that Jump/Bounce

8. Television Stars9. Things in a Park10.Foreign Cities11.Stones/Gems12.Musical

Instruments


Icebreaker

Reading


Theory

What is Sensory Processing Difficulty?


Adult Sensorimotor Strategies

Cynthia Miller-Lautman, OTHow Does Your Engine Run, p. 1-8

Students with Self Regulation Difficulties

Cynthia Miller-Lautman, OTHow Does Your Engine Run, p. 1-8

What is Involved in Sensory Regulation?


Case ExamplesFrom “The Out of Sync Child” by Carol Stock Kranowitz

Tactile


Case Examples

Vestibular


Case Examples

Proprioception



Academic Lear

ning

Daily Living , Behaviours

Language Skills, Visual Perception,

AttentionEye-Hand Coordination, Ocular-Motor Control,

Postural AdjustmentBody Scheme,

Reflex Maturity, Ability to Screen Input

Postural Security, Awareness of Two Sides of Body,

Motor Planning

Taste, Touch, Smell, Hearing, Sight

Proprioception, Touch, VestibularAdapted from Taylor/Trott, 1991

Movement Break


What can Parents Do • SLOW DOWN• Free Play • Let them get dirty• Good communication• Walk/Run/Ride more • Park Play• Rough and tumble play


What Can Schools/Parents Do?

• Frequent Movement Breaks at school and during Homework

• Play outside for recess and lunch Albert Nerenberg documentary Boredom (2012).


What are Chair Moves?


Functional Fidget Tools• No Thinking!• Test It! • Examples: rubber bands, pen tops, smooth

rocks and pendants


Have we picked the right fidget tool?

• Do they attend better when manipulating the functional fidget tool?

• Does the child bring the tool with them to different settings?

• Can the fidget tool be used in most settings?• Does the tool have a low distraction level to

the child and to those around them?


Use Visuals as Needed

Adapted from STICKIDSCynthia Miller-Lautman, OT

Visual Schedules

• Include Movement Breaks!Exercises

½ page Math

Chair Moves

½ page Math

Listening to teacher’s science lesson while using functional fidget tool.


How to Determine When Movement Breaks are Needed

• Tired Children (head on desk, yawning, looking off into space)

• Over excited children (can’t sit still, getting out of chair)


Materials to Set Up OT Room Essentials

Materials to start an OT room in a school or home:- A ball with handles (not too big)- A bean bag (larger the better- available at http://www.solutionsensee.com). I also recommend the waterproof cover as it is easy to keep clean.- Foam mats (at least 8 of 2 by 2 feet) -A spinning egg chair (available at IKEA)- A pop up tent- A pop up tunnel-noise cancelling headphones- A Ghost (available from www.fdmt.ca) -Big washable heavy blankets

-Weighted socks (fill large size socks with rice or beans as they make great weights)-Tug of war rope-Broom handles for pulling games.-Scooter board -Balance Board -The room should have the option of turning off Neon lighting and be able to use the natural window light at all times.-I would also encourage a parent to take pictures of all the equipment, laminate them and post them on a velcro strip so the kids can arrange their preferences.


http://www.solutionsensee.com/

When to See an Occupational Therapist

• If sensory regulation difficulties are affecting school performance.

• If home life is being affected.


What Will an OT Do?

• Medical History• Evaluate • Score and analyze• Treatment Plan• Train and guide parents and teachers


Sensory Processing CategoriesWhat OTs diagnose

• Sensory Overresponding• Sensory Underresponding• Sensory Craving

Sensory Modulation

Disorder

• Postural Disorder• Dyspraxia

Sensory-Based Motor

Disorder

• Visual, Auditory, Olfactory, Gustatory, Vestibular, Proprioceptive, Tactile, Interoceptive

Sensory Discrimination

Disorder


(Definitions based on Lucy Jane Miller’s Categories)

Sample Sensory ProfileSPD Subtype Visual

SystemAuditory System

Gustatory System

OlfactorySystem

Tactile System

Vestibular System

Proprioceptive System

Interoceptive System

Sensory Overresponsivity

X (dental hygiene)

X (light touch)

Sensory Underresponsivity

x x X (deep touch)

x x X (urinary accidents)

Sensory Craving

Postural Difficulties

Dyspraxia X (poor tracking)

x x

Sensory Discrimination Difficulties


No Longer a Secret, p. 36

Hands On- What Happens in OT Therapy

• An Occupational Therapist will help your child to regulate their senses, particularly their vestibular, touch and proprioceptive systems.

• Some common techniques used:BrushingJoint CompressionsSwing MorphamOral Motor


Properly integrated senses are critical to a proper development. We may not be able to change schools curriculum overnight but we can start changing the quality and quantity of sensory experiences we offer our children.


Slow Down! Play more! Go Outside!

Other Resources

• For a list of recommended books related to Sensory Awareness please visit:

http://bit.ly/16p3X4s• Download a PDF copy of this presentation at:

http://bit.ly/10Bzhss


http://bit.ly/16p3X4s



http://bit.ly/10Bzhss

CreditsThis presentation contains material from:• Summit School’s Occupational Therapy Department,

Montreal,QC.• “The Out-of-Sync Child” by Carol Stock Kranowitz, Skylight

Press, 1998.• “Sensational Kids” by Lucy Jane Miller, Perigee, 2006• “How Does your Engine Run?”, by Willams and Shellenberger,

Therapy Works, 1996.• “No Longer A Secret” by Bialer and Miller, Future Horizons,

2011• STICKIDS (CD-ROM) Community Therapy Associates, Inc.


sensory awareness workshop

Health & Medicine