Occupational therapy Leeds - Sensory Assessment and Therapy

Sensory integration therapy is designed to help children and young people develop their sensory processing abilities and to develop strategies to help them cope. The therapy is based on the idea that some people struggle to receive, process and make sense of information provided by the senses. For example, some children and young people are hyper-sensitive (over-sensitive) to some things such as loud noises but hypo-sensitive (under-sensitive) to other things such as pain. Children and young people can also have difficulties with their play, interactions, completing everyday activities due to difficulties with their sensory processing and praxis (ideation, planning and execution of a novel motor movement).  

We assess a child and/or young person's sensory difficulties and then develop a personalised treatment programme in which we use the most appropriate techniques and tools to overcome those difficulties. Sensory integration therapy can involve a combination of different elements such as wearing a weighted vest, using sensory integration swings, riding a scooter board, sitting on a bouncy ball, experiencing 'crash and bump' and other similar activities.

We all have different sensory needs. Sensory integration is about how our brain receives and processes sensory information so that we can do the things we need to do in our everyday life. It is a neurological process that occurs within all of us. Children, adolescents and adults with sensory dysfunction may have have the following difficulties which are having a negative impact on their everyday life, such as:

• playground activities such as hopping, jumping, running, and catching or kicking a      ball. They often avoid joining in because of their lack of co-ordination and may find physical education difficult 
• walking up and down stairs 
• writing, drawing and using scissors – their handwriting and drawings may appear      scribbled and less developed compared to other children their age 
• getting dressed, doing up buttons and tying shoelaces 
• keeping still – they may swing or move their arms and legs a lot.

As well as difficulties related to movement and co-ordination, children can also have other problems such as:

• difficulty concentrating – they may have a poor attention span and find it difficult to focus on 1 thing for more than a few minutes,
• difficulty following instructions and copying information – they may do better at      school in a 1-to-1 situation than in a group, so they can be guided through work, 
• being poor at organising themselves and getting things done,
• being slow to pick up new skills  – they need encouragement and repetition to help them learn, 
• difficulty making friends – they may avoid taking part in team games and may be      bullied for being "different" or clumsy, 
• behaviour problems – often stemming from a child's frustration with their symptoms,
• low self-esteem and anxiety,
• Impulsiveness with a short attention span,
• difficulties tolerating loud, busy environments,
• difficulties getting to sleep,
• difficulties with knowing when to go to the toilet.

A high percentage of children with autism, learning disabilities, ADHD, OCD and other developmental delays will have sensory difficulties, alongside other children who do not have a formal diagnosis.

Sensory integration therapy uses play activities in ways designed to change how the brain reacts to touch, sound, sight and movement.

We are able to assess your child using Ayres Sensory Integration approach using sensory assessment and can provide intervention within our dedicated therapy space in North Leeds.