Library Thursdays: Sensory Integration Resources

Many people with Down syndrome also have sensory integration difficulties. This may result in adverse behaviour that is just put down to the person having Down syndrome. It is not always easy to determine that a child has sensory processing issues because the behaviour may be caused by something else - communication difficulties, executive functioning problems, medical issues, etc. Even if it is sensory, there are a wide range of sensory issues. The library has a couple of books describing what the various sensory issues are and how it affects behaviour. The Sensory Sensitive Child by Karen A. Smith and Karen R. Gouze and The Out-of-Sync Child by by Carol Stock Kranowitz both discuss these issues. New to the library is The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun:Activities for Kids with Sensory Integration Dysfunction (by Carol Stock Kranowitz and T.J. Wylie). It is filled with activities to do with your child that will help them overcome the sensory factors so that they can participate more easily at school and at home. After a description of Sensory Processing Disorder, the book is split into sections for each of the sensory systems and related skills: touch, vestibular (balance and movement), proprioceptive (body position), visual, auditory, olfactory and gustatory, oral-motor skills, motor planning, fine motor skills and bilateral coordination and crossing the midline. Many of the activities have been contributed by parents or have variations that others have suggested.

Looking at the activities, I recognise many that educators (pre-school and others)and Occupational Therapists do with all children. The book tells what purpose the activities serve and also allows you to choose the most beneficial activities and avoid ones which will be counter-productive (e.g. stimulating when you want relaxing). It is also just a nice compilation of fun things you can do with your child.

Related resources:

Sensory Processing Disorder Resource Center - comprehensive site of all you'd want to know about SPD.

Article on Down's Syndrome Association UK's website - DS & Sensory Processing Disorder

Fine Motor Skills for children with Down Syndrome by Maryanne Bruni contains a chapter on Sensory Processing.

If you'd like to borrow any of the resources mentioned, just email us.