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Empowering Children by Enhancing Sensory Processing Skills

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At LifeSkills, we offer specialized Sensory Integration Therapy designed to help children who experience difficulties with receiving, processing, and responding to sensory information. Sensory challenges can affect a child’s everyday life, from learning and behavior to social interactions emotional well-being and movement/coordination. Through this evidence-based therapy, we help children build the sensory processing skills needed for a more balanced and functional life.

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What is Sensory Integration?
Sensory integration is the process by which the brain organizes and interprets information from the body’s senses—touch, sight, sound, taste, smell, and movement. For most children, this process happens naturally. But for others, their brains have difficulty filtering and organizing sensory input, which can cause difficulties with movement, behavior, and emotional regulation.

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Concerns Parents May Have

If your child struggles with sensory issues, you may have noticed certain behaviors or challenges that are difficult to understand. Many parents express concerns like:

  • "My child is overly sensitive to sounds or gets easily overwhelmed in noisy environments."
    This could be a sign of auditory processing issues. Sensory Integration Therapy can help reduce sensitivities and teach the brain to better manage sensory overload.

  • "My child refuses to wear certain clothes or reacts strongly to tags, seams, or fabrics."
    Tactile defensiveness is a common sensory processing challenge. Therapy can help children become more comfortable with different textures through gradual, playful exposure.

  • "My child constantly seeks out movement, climbs everything, or is always ‘on the go."
    Some children exhibit a constant need for movement, known as sensory-seeking behavior. Sensory Integration Therapy incorporates activities like swinging, jumping, and climbing to meet these needs in a controlled, therapeutic way.

  • "My child avoids messy play or dislikes touching certain materials."
    Sensory therapy encourages children to engage with different materials like sand, water, or clay, helping them become more comfortable with tactile experiences and reducing their aversion to certain textures.

  • "My child struggles with coordination and frequently trips, bumps into things, or avoids physical play."
    Poor motor planning or body awareness may be the issue. Through structured play and activities like obstacle courses, Sensory Integration Therapy improves balance, coordination, and overall motor skills.

  • "My child has meltdowns in crowded spaces or becomes distressed by certain lights or sounds."
    Difficulty regulating sensory input can lead to emotional dysregulation. Our therapy focuses on building self-regulation strategies and helping children better manage sensory information and emotions.

  • "They often bump into things, seem clumsy, or have poor balance."

  • "My child has trouble making friends or participating in group activities."

 

These concerns are common among parents of children with sensory processing difficulties. Our therapy aims to address these specific issues and create a personalized plan for each child.

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How Sensory Integration Therapy Can Help
Sensory Integration Therapy helps children improve their brain’s ability to process sensory input. Our therapists create a safe, structured, and play-based environment that encourages children to explore and engage with different sensory experiences. The therapy is individualized, focusing on each child’s unique sensory needs.

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By working on these skills, we help children:

  • Improve coordination and motor skills through activities that stimulate the vestibular and proprioceptive systems.

  • Enhance focus and attention by improving how the brain filters sensory input.

  • Develop better emotional regulation by helping children cope with sensory overload and reduce behavioral outbursts.

  • Increase social engagement as they become more comfortable in their surroundings and interactions.

 

Who Benefits from Sensory Integration Therapy?
We usually see children without any diagnosis but parents have concerns about their children's daily responses or reactions to certain situations. They may be struggling with academics, social interactions, anxiety, or motor activities. Also, children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), ADHD, developmental delays, eating disorders, coordination disorders, and other neurological conditions often benefit from sensory integration therapy. The therapy helps children who have difficulty responding to sensory input appropriately, allowing them to engage in daily activities with more ease and less frustration.

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The Role of the Sensory Systems
Sensory processing is a complex system that impacts many aspects of a child's life. Each sensory system plays a role in how children perceive and respond to the world around them:

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Sensory System Common Signs of Dysfunction

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Vestibular (balance)

Fear of heights, difficulty sitting still, clumsiness

Proprioceptive (body awareness)

Poor coordination, difficulty with tasks like buttoning or jumping

Tactile (touch)

Discomfort with clothing, avoidance of certain textures

Auditory (hearing)

Sensitivity to loud sounds, difficulty following directions

Visual (sight)

Trouble tracking objects, avoiding eye contact

Gustatory (taste)

Picky eating, aversion to certain flavors/textures

Olfactory (smell)

Extreme sensitivity to odors, refusal to eat certain foods due to smell

 

Sensory Integration Therapy addresses these sensory systems to help children build a more solid foundation for learning and interaction.

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Integrating Sensory Integration Therapy with Other Programs
For families interested in maximizing their child’s progress, integrating Sensory Integration Therapy with other programs such as Therapeutic Listening or neurodevelopmental approaches can significantly boost outcomes. By combining auditory and movement-based therapies, we can address a wider range of sensory processing issues and promote even stronger brain-body connections. This multi-sensory approach helps children overcome the challenges they face in everyday life.

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Get Started Today!
If you suspect that your child may benefit from Sensory Integration Therapy, contact us to schedule an initial consultation. We are committed to helping your child reach their full potential and improving their daily functioning.

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For more information, please call us at 407-629-9455 or schedule an appointment today!

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