By Robert Wright When one has SPD, their brain is unable to receive and respond to sensory input coming from various senses of the body. T...

Therapies For Sensory Processing Disorder

By Robert Wright


When one has SPD, their brain is unable to receive and respond to sensory input coming from various senses of the body. This medical condition is also known as sensory integration dysfunction. For an individual to perform properly, their brain receives information from senses from various modalities. Some of the modalities from which information comes from include taste, tactile, olfactory, audition, vision, and vestibular system.

There are certain significant problems that characterize SPD. People suffering from sensory processing disorder often have difficulties in organizing sensation emanating from the environment and the body. This is usually manifested by the patient having trouble with performance in one or multiple area of life. This could be in leisure and play, productivity, or daily activities.

Several different types of SPD exist, and the various types are further subdivided into subtypes. The different types of this condition may affect one or multiple sense in the body. That makes symptoms to vary among individuals depending on the type of subtype they have. Those with oversensitivity will usually dislike certain textures, experience motion sickness, avoid noisy and crowded places, be picky eaters, and refuse normal skin contact interactions with other people.

Oversensitivity also causes people to have sleep disorders, often being awakened by minor sounds. This is often caused by sensory overload. These individuals will also feel seriously sick, threatened, or discomforted by normal movements, tastes, smells, lights, and sounds among other stimuli. Some even get discomforted by their own heartbeats. These difficulties often make it hard to coexist with others in various environments and to function in social and other settings.

Under-responsivity, sensory discrimination problems, sensory craving, and sensory motor based problems are additional subtypes of the condition. People with sensory discrimination often have trouble dressing and eating, use inappropriate force/effort to handle objects, drop things constantly, and have poor handwritings. Those suffering from sensory craving often appear impulsive, bite fingers, pencils, or clothing, make loud noises, seek extreme sensations, and fidget excessively.

The ICD-10 and similar medical manuals do not classify SPD under medical disorders. Tests are the main basis for diagnosis. Some common diagnostic procedures and tests are free play observations, standardized questionnaires, standardized tests, and expert observational scales. Occupational therapy gym is where free play observation is done. Observation is done in different settings, including home and school.

Different kinds of practitioners can diagnose the condition depending on the country. Among the practitioners who commonly do the diagnosis are physiotherapists, learning specialists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists. In cases where symptoms are too severe, full neurological and psychological evaluation may need to be performed. Some standardized tests that are performed include SIPT, TSFI, and TSI whereas examples of standardized questionnaires include SPM, SPM-P, adolescent/adult sensory profile, and SP.

Many kinds of therapies have been formulated for treating SPD, including sensory integration therapy and sensory processing therapy. The former is motivated by four main principles. These principles include adaptive response, active engagement, child directed, and just right challenge. Each principle has specific goals that it aims to achieve.




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