Sensory Integration or sensory processing can be defined as the ability to take in information from the environment and one’s body through the senses (tactile (touch), vestibular (movement/balance), proprioceptive (movement/body awareness), interoception (internal awareness and state), vision, hearing, taste and smell, organize the information, put it together with prior information, memories or knowledge and use it to plan and execute adaptive responses. This is essential for learning, daily function, communication and behavior. The goal of sensory integrative therapy is to utilize a child’s strengths to “enhance existing skills, while facilitating the carryover of new skills and behaviors into additional situations”. From the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. website, www.aota.org.
