Initially the charity ‘SENSORY PEOPLE’ will focus on giving children and young people access to therapists who are trained to use a specialist approach called Sensory Integration, to both identify and treat the effects of poor sensory processing.
We say that those with this condition have a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or Sensory Integrative Dysfunction – this condition exists when sensory signals don’t get organized into appropriate responses. It has been likened to a neurological “traffic jam” that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly.
SPD can effect the auditory, visual, tactile, taste, smell, vestibular and proprioceptive senses. This creates challenges for the individual when they are trying to perform countless everyday tasks. Long term motor clumsiness, behavioural problems, anxiety, depression, school failure, and other impacts may result if the disorder is not treated effectively. To learn more watch the YouTube clip below:
Therapy will help children in organising their nervous systems. Charges will apply unless parents need financial support to enable their children to access therapy. Sensory Integration Therapy does not involve medical treatment or drugs, special diets or repetitive exercise. The therapy is child (or adult) -centred and programmes are specific to the individual’s (developmental) needs.
Children for example may be helped to play on suspended equipment such as a platform swing or a hammock to help develop their balance
Learn to develop their strength and a sense of direction by using a scooter board on a ramp
Or helped to play in a ball pool or make sticky biscuits to help develop their tolerance of touch!
Therapy is fun and helps those children who may for example be experiencing anxiety to develop their self-esteem, concentrate more in school, mix with friends more freely and improve their academic ability and performance.
Children (and adults) who have problems processing their sensory information may also have a diagnostic label such as Dyspraxia, Autism or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). They may come to SENSORY PEOPLE for help because they are finding it difficult to:
• Do reading, writing and mathematics
• Concentrate, listen, look and remember what they have seen or heard
• Organize themselves for their school day
• Tell the time or understand the concept of time
• Play the piano or achieve other ambitions they have for themselves e.g. playing a good game of football with without falling down
• Control their emotions and/or stop presenting with challenging behaviour
Helping these children will also help their parents to live less stressful lives – like all parents who want the best for their child, finding help like that offered by our charity, “SENSORY PEOPLE,” will offer them hope and confidence that their child will develop and become more confident in life.