This text-based course is a transcript of the live seminar, “Implementing Sensory Strategies in the Home,” presented by Britt Collins, M.S., OTR/L.
The purpose and objectives of this seminar are:
- Reviewing the Sensory Processing Disorder’s (SPD) six subtypes, which is Dr. Lucy Jane Miller’s model (2007).
- Knowing the importance of building a relationship and engagement.
- Creating a sensory lifestyle.
- Using therapy tools and strategies.
- Learning how to coach the parents.
Some of these objectives are going to be a review for some of you. Most therapists are familiar with sensory integration, but we are going to get more into the subtypes, the newer research with the sensory systems and the subtypes of SPD.
Eight Sensory Systems
There are eight sensory systems: Taste, touch, sight, sound, smell, vestibular system, proprioception, and interoception. If the term interoception is new to you, I will expand a little more on that. Interoception is the sense of our internal organs. It tells us whether we are hungry, whether we are full, if we are hot or cold, or if we have to use the bathroom. If you work with children with any sort of special needs, many of them struggle with the sensation of their internal organs. Even some older children that we work with may have trouble recognizing the need to actually go to the bathroom, when their bladder is full or if they are hungry. I tend to see a lot of children with these problems.
