Sequencing: Putting movements, sounds, sights, objects, thoughts, letters, and numbers in consecutive order, according to time and space.
Sleep regulation problem: An irregular pattern of sleeping, such as difficulty falling asleep or sleeping through the night, or the need for an unusual amount of sleep.
Social skills: Effective interaction and communication with others, necessary for developing and keeping friendships.
Somatosensory: Referring to tactile-proprioceptive discrimination of touch sensations and body position; body sensing.
Special education: Individualized instruction for the child who has difficulty learning at school.
Specialization: The process whereby one part of the brain becomes most efficient at a particular function.
Speech: The physical act of communicating a verbal message.
Speech-and-language therapy: Treatment to help a person develop or improve articulation, communication skills, and oral-motor skills.
Spinal cord: The long, thick cord of nervous tissue that receives tactile and proprioceptive messages from skin, joints, and muscles, and that sends out motor messages for movement.
Splinter skill: An isolated ability that one develops with much effort, but that one cannot generalize for other purposes.
State: The degree of one’s attentiveness, mood, or motor response to sensory stimulation.
Stereotypical behavior: Nonproductive, repetitive, and habitual actions often associated with autism.
Stimulus (pl., stimuli): Something that activates a sensory receptor and produces a response.
Synapse: The junction of two neurons where an impulse is transmitted from one to another.
Syndrome: A group of unrelated characteristics varying in severity from one individual to another, such as Asperger Syndrome or dyslexia.
Tactile defensiveness: The tendency to react negatively and emotionally to unexpected, light-touch sensations; a common type of sensory modulation dysfunction.
Tactile discrimination: The awareness of touching or of being touched by something; the ability to distinguish differences in touch sensations; and the awareness of the physical attributes of an object, such as its size, shape, temperature, density, and texture.
Tactile-proprioceptive: Referring to simultaneous sensations of touch and body position.
Tactile sense (the sense of touch): The sensory system that receives sensations of pressure, vibration, movement, temperature, and pain, primarily through receptors in the skin and hair. Protective receptors respond to light or unexpected touch and help a person avoid bodily harm; discriminative receptors provide information about the tactile qualities of the object or person being touched.
Thalamus: The brain part that processes all sensations except smell.
Touch pressure: The tactile stimulus that causes receptors in the skin to respond. Deep pressure, such as a hug, activates receptors in the discriminative system. Light touch, such as a kiss, activates receptors in the protective system.
Triune brain: Paul MacLean’s theory that the brain is composed of three systems (the reptilian complex, the limbic system, and the cerebrum).
Underresponsivity: Undersensitivity to sensory stimuli, characterized by a tendency either to crave intense sensations or to withdraw and be difficult to engage; a subtype of sensory modulation disorder.
Unilateral coordination: Smooth, independent use of one side of the body, necessary for writing and handling tools.
Vestibular sense (the balance and movement sense): The sensory system that responds to the pull of gravity, providing information about the head’s position in relation to the surface of the earth, and coordinating movements of the eyes, head, and body that affect equilibrium, muscle tone, vision, hearing, and emotional security. Receptors are in the inner ear.
Vestibular-proprioceptive: Referring to simultaneous sensations of head and body position when one moves.
Vision: The process of identifying sights, understanding what the eyes see, and preparing for a response.
Vision therapy: Treatment to help a person improve visual skills and to prevent learning-related visual problems; optometric visual training.
Visualization: The act of forming mental images of objects, people, or scenarios.
Visual discrimination: The ability to perceive and interpret sensory information received through the eyes and body as one interacts with the environment and moves one’s body through space.
Attention—The use of the eyes, brain, and body together long enough to stay with an activity.
Depth perception—The ability to see objects in three dimensions and to judge relative distances between objects, or between oneself and objects.
Discrimination—Discernment of likenesses and differences in size, shape, pattern, form, position, and color.
Figure-ground—Differentiation between objects in the foreground and background.
Form constancy—Recognition of a shape regardless of its size, position, or texture.
Memory—Recognizing, associating, storing and retrieving visual details.
Peripheral vision—Awareness of images through the sides of the eyes.
Position in space—Awareness of the spatial orientation of letters, words, numbers, or drawings on a page, or of an object in the environment.
Sequential memory—Perception of words and pictures in order.
Spatial relationships—Awareness of directionality (how close objects are) and laterality (right/left, front/back, up/down), and how to move around objects.
Stable visual field—Discernment of which objects move and which stay still.
Visual-sensory integration—Combining sights with touch, movement, and other sensory messages.
Visualization—Forming and manipulating images of objects, people or scenes in one’s mind’s eye.
Visual-motor skills: One’s movements based on the discrimination of visual information.
Eye-hand coordination—The eyes’ guidance of guide fine-motor tasks.
Eye-foot coordination—The eyes’ guidance of gross-motor activities.
Eye-ear coordination—The ability to see a letter or word, and say or use it.
RESOURCES
PUBLICATIONS, PRODUCTS, AND CONFERENCES
Achievement Products for Children
(800) 373-4699 www.achievement-products.com
Products making life more comfortable for children with SPD.
Children’s Group Inc.
(800) 757-8372 www.childrensgroup.com
Classical music entertainment, including Don Campbell’s The Mozart Effect recordings and the Classical Kids series.
Dye-Namic Movement Products Inc.
(425) 776-7045 www.dyenamicmovement.com
Equipment for movement, physical therapy, and exercise made from the highest quality stretch band fabrics.
Future Horizons Inc.
(817) 277-0727, (800) 489-0727 www.fhautism.com
Books, DVDs, and conferences about autism, Asperger’s, and sensory issues for parents, teachers, and therapists.
Howda Designz
(978) 462-6260, (800) 348-3884 www.howdahug.com
The slatted, wooden HowdaHug seat that cradles and rocks, especially beneficial for children with SPD.
In Your Pocket Designs
(888) 388-3224 www.weightedvest.com
Weighted vests to provide relaxing deep pressure.
Mozart Effect Resource Center
(303) 938-1188, (800) 427-7680 www.mozarteffect.com
Articles, websites, interviews, recordings, and more about the powers of music in health, education, and well-being.
Pearson Assessments
(800) 627-7271 www.pearsonassessments.com
Complete line of resources for OTs and other professionals, including Dr. L. J. Miller’s Miller Function and Participation Scales (M-FUN-PS), Toddler and Infant Motor Evaluation (T.I.M.E.), and Miller Assessment for Preschoolers (MAP).
Pocket Full of Therapy
Fun toys to motivate kids with developmental disabilities.
School Specialty/Abilitations
(888) 388-3224 www.abilitations.com
User-friendly product line for kids with learning and sensory differences in various settings, with tips written in an educator’s language. Find the annual Abilitations Integrations Resource Book here for sensory solutions.
Sensory Critters
(260) 749-2730, (866) 749-2737 www.sensorycritters.com
Weighted products that parents, working with their children’s therapists, can choose to help calm their children.
Sensory World (an imprint of Future Horizons—see above)
(682) 558-8941, (877) 775-8968 www.sensoryworld.com
Helping people understand SPD and support those affected through conferences and publications, such as In-Sync Activity Cards, The Goodenoughs Get in Sync, Sensory Issues in Learning & Behavior, A Teacher’s Guide to SPD, Answers to Questions Teachers Ask About SI, and Preschool SENSE.
S.I. FOCUS e-magazine
www.SIfocus.com
International, quarterly e-magazine focusing on sensory integration/sensory processing, filled with success stories, clinical breakthroughs, therapy techniques, and in-depth interviews. An online store offers new products, books, clothing, and other special items.
Special Needs Project
www.specialneeds.com
Resource for disability-related information, including books on SPD, autism, Asperger syndrome, and learning disabilities, with many translated into Spanish.
Theragifts Sensory Diet Toys and Products
(603) 845-8585 www.kidzplay.org/theragiftscatalog.html
Sensory-motor products, toys, and gifts for children with SPD, autism, and other delays.
Therapro
(508) 872-9494, (800) 257-5376 www.therapro.com
Speech and occupational therapy supplies and toys for therapists, teachers, parents, and others to use for preventive, developmental, and rehabilitative care, including unique kits for sensory-motor awareness and skills.
Therapy Shoppe Inc.
(800) 261-5590 www.therapyshoppe.com
A specialty “shoppe” for sensory-motor equipment, including pressure vests, weighted items, therapeutic toys and games, and hard-to-find favorites such as activity hoops and T-stools.
ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING SUPPORT AND INFORMATION RELATED TO SPD
American Occupational Therapy Association Inc. (AOTA)
(301) 652-AOTA www.aota.org
Materials, workshops, and other resources for OTs.
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
www.apta.org/apta/findapt/index.aspx?navID=10737422525
Information for the public for finding a physical therapist.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
(301) 296-5700, (800) 638-TALK (8255) www.asha.org
Referrals to audiologists and speech/language therapists.
Autism Awareness Centre Inc.
(888) 724-2224 www.autismawarenesscentre.com
Conferences in Canada and abroad; newest books and articles.
Autism Network for Dietary Intervention (ANDI)
www.autismNDI.com
Support for families using a gluten- and casein-free diet.
Autism Speaks
(212) 252-8584 www.autismspeaks.org
Research and information about issues such as SPD.
College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD)
(330) 995-0718, (888) 268-3770 www.covd.org
Resources for locating certified optometrists and vision therapists who provide behavioral and developmental vision care, vision therapy, and visual rehabilitation.
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
(703) 620-3660; (888) CEC-SPED www.cec.sped.org
Federally funded clearinghouse of publications on disabilities and/or gifted education.
Developmental Delay Resources (DDR)
(412) 450-0373 www.devdelay.org
Information and conferences about healthy options for treating children by integrating conventional and holistic approaches.
Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)
(952) 838-9000 www.fape.org
U.S. Department of Education project to improve education for children with disabilities by implementing IDEA ’04.
Federation for Children with Special Needs
(617) 236-7210, (800) 331-0688 (in MA) www.fcsn.org
Workshops, training, advocacy, and resources for professionals and parents of children with special needs.
Henry Occupational Therapy Services Inc.
(623) 882-8812 www.ateachabout.com
Diana Henry’s workshops, DVDs, “Tool Kit” handbooks, and training on using the Sensory Processing Measures.
Integrated Listening Systems (iLs)
(303) 741-4544 www.integratedlistening.com
Multisensory therapy combining psychoacoustics with visual and balance activities to improve auditory skills.
Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL)
(301) 656-2667 www.icdl.com
DIRFloortime training, research, and information.
National Fragile X Foundation
(800) 688-8765 http://fragilex.org
Supporting families and research toward improved treatments and cure for this syndrome.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
(800) 695-0285 www.nichcy.org
Clearinghouse for families, professionals, educators, and others working with disability-related issues, including fact sheets on IDEA and legal aspects of education.
Optometric Extension Program Foundation
(949) 250-8070 www.oepf.org
Information on the visual process, vision development, vision therapy, and research.
Parents Active for Vision Education (P.A.V.E.)
(619) 287-0081, (800)-PAVE-988 www.pavevision.org
Information and support for parents, educators, and others about the relationship between vision and academic achievement.
PDP Products and Professional Development Programs
(651) 439-8865, (877) 439-8865 www.pdppro.com
Materials, workshops, and continuing education seminars for therapists and educators.
Profectum
www.profectum.org
DIR (Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship) training for advancing those with autism and special needs.
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Foundation
(303) 794-1182 www.SPDfoundation.net
Serving children with SPD and their families by leading research to advance the diagnosis and treatment of SPD and by providing resources and education for families, therapists, educators, and physicians to expand knowledge, foster awareness, and promote recognition of SPD. The foundation is the world’s most comprehensive, accurate (research-based) source of information about SPD through:
• Research—full-time program of SPD scientific study, directed by Dr. Lucy Jane Miller
• SPD University—e-learning with numerous online classes and resources (CEUs available)
• SPD Parent Connections—community-based, national, and international family education organizations
• SPD Treatment Directory—listing for treatment providers in 10 categories, such as OTs, SLPs, and MDs
• Intensive Mentorships—small-group training opportunities for professionals
• Semiannual international symposiums and institutes
• Library—clinical articles and other SPD information, free and accessible online
• e-Store—publications about SPD and sensory products
• Diagnostic Advocacy—spearheading the movement for acceptance of SPD as a valid diagnosis, with over a decade of advocacy for inclusion in the revised Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)
SPD Su
pport
www.spdsupport.org
Online network offering free, interactive forum, articles, and information about SPD symptoms, links, and more.
St. Columba’s Nursery School, Washington, DC
(202) 742-1982 www.columba.org/index.php/2011/nursery school
Model preschool for integrating sensory-motor activities and “over-the-counter” OT techniques into the school day. The school welcomes visitors.
STAR (Sensory Treatment And Research) Center
(303) 221-STAR (221-7827) www.STARcenter.us
Premier treatment facility for children diagnosed with SPD and/or other developmental and behavioral conditions that include significant sensory issues. Services include:
• Multidisciplined team offering research-based OT with an engagement and relationship-based sensory integration framework
• Unique STAR “Intensive-Burst” Treatment Model developed by Dr. L. J. Miller that offers five-day-a-week, short-term therapy for out-of-town families
• Extensive parent education, family support, and coaching, offered individually and in groups, integrated into child’s holistic treatment program
• Family training in problem solving so parents can integrate therapeutic ideas into daily life to reinforce the benefits of direct intensive therapy
• Collaboration with a full suite of professionals, including speech/language therapy, pediatrics, psychology, and family counseling
• Therapies including SOS Feeding Solutions, iLs, and DIR/Floortime
Therapy Works Inc.
(877) 897-3478 www.alertprogram.com
Training, publications, and products related to How Does Your Engine Run? The Alert Program for Self-Regulation.
Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
(202) 638-1144 www.zerotothree.org
Information, training, and support to help professionals and parents improve the lives of infants and toddlers.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
For more titles on SPD, see www.SensoryWorld.com; for scholarly references, see www.out-of-sync-child.com and www.SPDfoundation.net.
SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER
Ayres, A. Jean, PhD (1972). Sensory Integration and Learning Disorders. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
——— (2005). Sensory Integration and the Child: Understanding Hidden Sensory Challenges, 25th anniversary ed. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
The Out-of-Sync Child Page 31