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OT/ PT Information

 
Our Licensed Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) and Licensed Physical Therapists (PT,DPT) have experience working with young children with multiple disabilities including children that are visually impaired, autistic and non ambulatory.  They are responsible for provision of evaluations for all students as necessary, proved direct service to students according to the child’s IEP. They travel to community based sites to provided services outside of school.

 

The Sensory System
 
The Senses:
 
Visual - sight
 
Auditory - hearing
 
Tactile – light touch, pain, pressure, temperature, ability to discriminate objects from each other, ability to identify localization of touch
 
Proprioceptive – joint position, position of body parts in relation to each other
 
Vestibular – movement of body in response to gravity and awareness of body in space
 
Sensory Integration: The ability to connect the relevant information taken in by our senses from the world around us and form an appropriate response to this information while filtering out irrelevant information. Sensory integration should be part of typical development of the nervous system. 
 
Sensory Integration Dysfunction: The inability to respond appropriately to sensory input. Children with sensory integration dysfunction can be either:
 
-          Hyper-reactive: overly sensitive to sensory input (afraid of movement, won’t touch/eat certain textures, avoidance of activities, limited exploration)
 
-          Hypo-reactive: poor registration of sensory input (seek out movement, low arousal, lethargic, clumsy)
 
Both types of sensory integration dysfunction can greatly impact a child’s academic skills, social skills, motor skills, communication skills, and self-help skills.
 
Symptoms of Sensory Integration Dysfunction: 
 
-          Poor postural control, slouching, difficulty sitting upright
-          Difficulty manipulating objects, poor pencil grasp
-          Trips over things, bumps into things
-          Easily distracted
-          Tantrums, easily frustrated
-          Overly sensitive to loud noises
-          Aggressive behavior
-          Flapping hands
-          Mouthing objects, grinding teeth
-          Spinning objects or self
-          Running, continuous movement
 
Treatment Strategies for Sensory Integration Dysfunction:
 
-          Sensory diet
-          Weighted or pressure vest
-          Brushing
-          Chew tubes
-          Therapy ball
-          Movement breaks
-          Heavy work activities
 
Other Considerations for working with Sensory Integration Dysfunction:
 
-          Keeping schedules, routines
-          Quiet corners
-          Giving direct, simple directions
-          Allow opportunities for needed input