Issues of Sensory Integration
and Tactile Defensiveness
(Material is taken in part from Hatch-Rasmussen, Cindy.
"Sensory Integration")
Children and adults with autism, as well as those with other developmental
disabilities, may have a dysfunctional sensory system. Sometimes one or
more senses are either over- or under-reactive to stimulation. Such sensory
problems may be the underlying reason for such behaviors as rocking, spinning,
and hand-flapping. Although the receptors for the senses are located in
the peripheral nervous system, it is believed that the problem stems from
neurological dysfunction in the central nervous system, i.e., the brain.
Dysfunctional sensory integration in individuals with autism may manifest
itself in various ways. These are typically related to alterations within
the tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular sensory processing systems.
Of particular importance to healthcare providers are disturbances within
the tactile system. Light touch may be experienced as painful for certain
individuals with autism and thus result in tactile defensiveness. Other
issues of concern include potentially increased gag reflex and/or photosensitivity.
Practitioners should be aware of these possibilities in order to appropriately
accommodate such individuals in the clinic setting.
Children and adults with autism frequently experience marked alterations
in the experience of pain. An individual experiencing dysfunctional tactile
processing may additionally display aversion to wearing certain types
of fabric, brushing teeth, getting their hands dirty or sticky; or may
refuse to eat certain types of food. Problems in the vestibular system
may result in either hyperactive levels of activities such as flapping,
jumping, or spinning; or avoidance of motor activity with poor coordination
and clumsiness. Dysfunction within the proprioceptive system may result
in poor fine motor skills, odd posturing or gait, and resistance to new
motor activities.
Sensory Integration Therapy is a relatively new concept involving an
intensive one-on-one approach for persons with autistic sensory dysfunction.
Evaluation and treatment of basic sensory integrative processes is performed
by occupational therapists and/or physical therapists. The goal of therapy
is to help the individual process, inhibit, and/or correctly interpret
sensory input so that an organized, appropriate response can be made.
Source:
Hatch-Rasmussen, Cindy. "Sensory Integration" http://www.autism.org/si.html