Sensory Integration

Sensory integration focuses primarily on four basic senses–tactile, vestibular, interoception and proprioceptive.

• The tactile system includes nerves under the skin’s surface that send information to the brain. This information includes light touch, pain, temperature, and pressure. These play an important role in perceiving the environment as well as protective reactions for survival.
• The proprioceptive system refers to components of muscles, joints, and tendons that provide a person with a subconscious awareness of body position. When proprioception is functioning efficiently, an individual’s body position is automatically adjusted in different situations; for example, the proprioceptive system is responsible for providing the body with the necessary signals to allow us to sit properly in a chair and to step off a curb smoothly. It also allows us to manipulate objects using fine motor movements, such as writing with a pencil, using a spoon to drink soup, and buttoning one’s shirt.
• The vestibular system refers to structures within the inner ear (the semi-circular canals) that detect movement and changes in the position of the head. For example, the vestibular system tells you when your head is upright or tilted (even with your eyes closed).
• The interoceptive system is our internal sensory system that tells us what is happening inside our body, for example, hunger, needing the toilet, fatigue, emotions, etc

 Sensory Integration theory and treatment were developed by developmental psychologist and occupational therapist Dr. A. Jean Ayres in the 1950’s. Dr. Ayres believed that a normal functioning sensory system was essential to motor development, learning, and behavior. She developed the Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT), which is still used today, and continued to conduct further studies to understand patterns of sensory integration problems into the 1980’s. 

Currently, Sensory Integration Therapy is widely recommended to help promote normal growth and development. Therapists work together with other professionals to develop a customized treatment plan of sensory-based activities that target motor development, and the successful integration of sensory systems throughout the nervous system. Sensory Integration is the organization of sensation for use in everyday life. Our senses give us information about the physical condition of our body and the environment for use.

The brain must organize all of these sensations if a person is to move, learn and behave normally. The brain locates, sorts, and orders sensations in an integrated manner allowing the formation of perceptions with appropriate behavior and the ability to learn. When the flow of the sensations from the senses to the brain is disorganized, or the information received from our senses is incorrect or perceived incorrectly, then the output of behavior and learning is not typical.