Sensory Integration Course

We perceive our environment and ourselves through the information received by our sensory organs. A wide array of information is transmitted to the central nervous system through stimuli gathered from senses such as touch, taste, smell, vision, hearing, proprioception (position sense from muscles, joints, and connective tissue), and vestibular perception (messages about movement, balance, and gravity from the inner ear).

Our central nervous system, consisting of the brain and spinal cord, forms the connection between our brain and body. Its function is to organize and integrate incoming information, connecting and combining various sensory inputs into a cohesive whole. The messages received from a single sense are often insufficient for learning; instead, multiple sensory messages must work together. For example, touch-based sensory information supports visual processing, while visual information aids balance and body awareness, all of which contribute to learning.

Our brain enables us to acquire and learn various skills through the process of sensory integration, where connections are made between messages received from different senses. For instance, when learning to tie shoes, a child must see the shoelaces, touch them, coordinate finger movements, hear verbal instructions, and perform the action while balancing. This requires the coordination of multiple senses, demonstrating sensory integration.

Sensory Integration Disorder

Children with sensory integration disorder struggle to integrate sensory information and cannot form a cohesive understanding from individual parts. Many children on the autism spectrum experience sensory integration disorders.

Sensory Integration Therapy

Sensory Integration Therapy is not a standalone educational method. Instead, it creates the necessary learning environment for children with sensory perception differences, helping them respond appropriately, recognize themselves, perceive their spatial surroundings, and control their movements.

Sensory Integration Therapy is carried out by occupational therapists with a four-year degree and postgraduate training, including specialized seminars and certificate programs. The therapy aims to stimulate a child’s senses in line with their needs and assist the brain in organizing sensory messages.

Therapists use tools such as therapy balls, cylinder-shaped pillows, free-swinging swings, and wheeled platforms in large therapy rooms to achieve this. The therapy involves fun, age-appropriate physical activities, where the occupational therapist manages the environment, and the child is encouraged to control their own actions. Techniques include adjusting the child’s body position, engaging in activities like shaking, rolling, and throwing, riding swings, and providing direct tactile stimuli through cotton touch, rubbing, or brushing.