Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) experience problems with communication, social skills, and have limited or repetitive interests that restrict their ability to function. This mainly happens because of neurological problems that work as a barrier for how they feel, where the brain and body connect. This in turn results in display of behaviors that are not normal and hence are often connected to problems with sensory processing by both medical providers and researchers.
Let’s take a look at what is a sensory processing issue in children and why it is often defined as one of the primary causes behind autism spectrum disorder.
Sensory processing is the neurology of how we feel, where the brain and body connect. The sensory messages we receive from our bodies and the world around us are responded to in everything we do in life. Our ability to process sensory data relies on eight senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste, proprioception, interception and vestibular). The process of registering information, modifying, organizing and responding appropriately is a complex process and any disruption can have significant functional challenges. It is because of these gaps in the informational journey from brain to body, researchers and providers often relate it as a primary cause behind children suffering from ASD.
Now, let’s take a look at how sensory processing impacts children.A child with sensory processing difficulties can be over responsive or under responsive to a particular sensory input. For over responsive sensory processing children easily get affected by loud noise or light etc, that might normal for others. On the other hand children with under responsive sensory processing children exactly the opposite is the reaction to noise and other factors, where even on calling the names the children does not reciprocate. These children even reflect symptoms of high pain tolerance. But irrespective of whether a child is suffering from over or under responsive sensory input, it directly interferes with their daily functioning and their ability to learn. It is because of this reason they face problems with both social and communication skills and hence sensory processing difficulties are often correlated to autism spectrum disorders by providers and researchers.
But despite these complexities of sensory processing issues, the conditions are treatable to a large extent. It is because of this reason at Kick Start we bring you occupational therapy, a small step that can help your child overcome their difficulties with communication, social skills, while helping them improve their neurological sensory processing overtime.
At Kick Start our occupational therapist conducts 1:1 sessions with your children to help them develop skills that they lack through evidence based intervention designed to help them participate in everyday tasks and promote independence. Our occupational therapy activities are designed to be engaging, fun and playful to ensure a child can achieve maximum success without any help. Further our occupational therapist will also conduct workshops for parents to help them understand how to manage their children at home and also activities they should carry out in order help them overcome their deficiencies with sensory processing issues.
So if you are an individual staying near Brampton, Maple, Mississauga, Oakville, and Ontario and looking for an occupational therapist for yourself or your child for improving their daily self care activities then you can get in touch with us. We would be happy to help you.
At Kick Start Therapy our Occupational Therapist offers daily self care activities, through 1:1 session, workshop and consultative services in a setting that is convenient for you, and your child. Our Occupational Therapist will take thorough review of your child, and evaluate them to create a strategic fun fill routine that will help your child improve their sensory processing inputs overtime. To provide your child with maximum independence in handling their communication, social skills and activities, we would be happy to help you.
