Sensory and Behavior Strategies

Sensory Processing, Sensory Integration and Behavior Strategies

Sensory processing and sensory integration are how our brains organize internal and external sensations and make sense of the world around us. We learn and move with our senses. Did you know we have (at least) seven senses? Vision, hearing, touch, smell, taste, as well as proprioception (our sense of movement) and our vestibular sense (our sense of balance).

A child, youth or adult with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) finds it difficult to process and act appropriately on information received from their seven senses. That processing problem then creates challenges in a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks, everything from waking up in the morning and brushing his/her teeth to riding the bus to sitting at work to eating supper and going to sleep. If a Sensory Processing Disorder is not diagnosed and treated effectively symptoms like clumsiness, behavioural problems, acting out, being severely withdrawn, anxiety, depression, difficulties in the classroom, at work or home, and other daily challenges may result.

Sensory Processing Disorder, also known as “sensory integration dysfunction” occurs when sensory messages from the seven senses do not get organized into the right responses from the brain and body. Famous, pioneering occupational therapist and neuroscientist A. Jean Ayres, PhD, called Sensory Processing Disorder a neurological “traffic jam”. SPD prevents the brain from receiving and acting on sensory information in the right or best way. It is like the brain gets stuck in sensory traffic and can’t find the best or appropriate way out of that jam.

Symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder, like most disorders, can occur within a broad spectrum from little impact to severe difficulty. Some individuals have a few sensory processing problems while others have sensory processing problems in all areas.

Most of the population may have the rare difficulty processing sensory information, maybe during a stressful period in their lives, but given sufficient time, will overcome the challenge. For children and adults with Sensory Processing Disorder, these difficulties are chronic, and they disrupt everyday life.

Oversensitivity to the senses, under sensitivity to the senses, and motor clumsiness are hallmarks of sensory processing disorder.

Sensory preferences are not Sensory Processing Disorder. Disliking the smell or taste of mint is a preference, that the smell or taste of mint makes you vomit may be an indication that you have a Sensory Processing Disorder.

How prevalent are Sensory Processing Disorders? There is some information that indicates that 1 in every 20 children experience symptoms of SPD that are significant enough to affect their ability to participate fully in everyday life at home, school and work.

Sensory Processing Disorders are often experienced by individuals who are gifted, have a learning disability or an autism spectrum disorder. SPD is not linked to, nor is it a measure of intelligence.

Occupational Therapy Strategies to Manage Sensory Processing Disorders

During the past 20 years, my team of Occupational Therapists and I have worked with thousands of clients and their families, introducing them to Occupational Therapy strategies to either overcome or manage their Sensory Processing Disorders. Occupational therapy assessment and treatment makes a positive difference in the daily life of individuals and their families who struggle with the challenges of SPD.

For parents and siblings who have a family member with SPD or teachers who have a student with SPD, the e-Book, Sensory and Behavior Strategies provides numerous strategies, insights and solutions to better understand and deal with SPD. In writing this eBook, I’ve drawn on my 20 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist.

In every SPD case I’ve been involved in, the first step was (and still is) to always to be a problem-solving “detective”. I recommend that you be a sensory-behavior detective first. Seek to understand the problem, the triggers and then apply the right sensory-behavior approach for success.

This is where Sensory and Behavior Strategies provides the guidance, strategies and solutions you may have been searching for. Whether you or your child faces the challenges of oversensitivity, under sensitivity and/or motor clumsiness you’ll find dozens of strategies throughout the book. Each of the 11 Chapters zeros in on a specific topic and offers solutions for numerous situations you and your child may find yourself in. From learning, to holiday stress relievers and behaviour strategies and more, you’ll have a front row seat to the best solutions gleaned from my 20 years of Occupational Therapy experience.

• Chapter 1: WAKE up! settle down, or ATTEND using 7 Senses

  PART 1: WAKE up! Activities

• Chapter 2: WAKE up! settle down, or ATTEND using 7 Senses

  PART 2: settle down Activities

• Chapter 3: WAKE up! settle down, or ATTEND using 7 Senses

  PART 3: activities to ATTEND

• Chapter 4: Optimize learning for children at home, in the classroom and in life

  Part 1: 10 Sensory Steps to Take

• Chapter 5: Optimize learning for children at home, in the classroom and in life

  Part 2: 10 Behavior Steps to Take

• Chapter 6: 12 Amazing ways for children to relax and de-stress
• Chapter 7: Your family’s new best friend: Heavy Muscle Work in 27 ways
• Chapter 8: Beyond 20/20 vision: use the visual system to help your child develop motor skills
• Chapter 9: Winter gross motor fun for children and adults too
• Chapter 10: Holiday-time Stress-less Sensory Solutions for your family
• Chapter 11: 30 BEST Sensory-Motor-Behavior Strategies for children to love travelling

As you are well aware, a child with sensory processing challenges can interrupt a classroom or family’s day a little or a lot. Whether you are looking for strategies to just get your family on an even keel, tips to help manage your classroom as a whole or help for someone who actually has a sensory processing disorder, Sensory and Behavior Strategies will help.

Sensory and Behavior Strategies is only $9.97 and can be paid for by clicking the button below. As a digital product, you’ll have immediate access to the eBook when your order is completed online. Your online transaction is secure and processed by Paypal, the largest and most respected online payment processor.

If you order today, you also receive a FREE additional eBook, 49 Ways to Say “I Love You” to a Child at no charge.

This colorful eBook is our most popular publication. Children thrive on receiving positive reinforcement, and this eBook offers 49 extremely simple, yet powerful ways to build your child’s self-esteem, confidence and ability to receive and share.

With 49 Ways to Say “I Love You” to a Child, you’ll have 49 novel and extremely effective ways to communicate your love and appreciation to your child. Go beyond the simple “I love you” and “you’re a good boy/girl” messages. You’ll always be ready to amaze and delight your child with an encouraging comment regardless of the activity they are engaged in.
Each of the 49 Ways is demonstrated with a photo to give you ideas on how and when to use the phrases.
49 Ways to Say “I Love You” to a Child regularly sells for $9.97 but is yours FREE when you order the Sensory and Behavior Strategies eBook today.

Parents who have a child with SPD, are often at their “wits end”, trying to cope with the challenges and disruptions that can instantly change a good day into a grind. You owe it to yourself and your child to become a sensory-behavior detective, and to learn that there are strategies and solutions to make each and every day easier. Order Sensory and Behavior Strategies now, and you’ll have instant access to the best OT strategies and solutions for SPD.

Sincerely,

Christel Seeberger
BSc.O.T., OT(c), OTR, OTReg.(NB)

P.S. Parents and teachers are always asking my advice for the best type of sensory toys to help a child with SPD. My suggestions can be found at the bottom of this webpage.

Here’s what you’ll receive for only $9.97

Sensory Behavior products that Christel uses daily in her Occupational Therapy Practice are available online through Amazon.