Mynd Works - Services and Programs

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About Processing Disorders

- Sensory Processing

- Auditory Processing

Sensory Processing

Sensory Processing is the process of organizing sensory input for use. This unconscious process allows us to use our body effectively in the environment and to produce useful perceptions, emotions and thoughts. It provides a system for our protection and survival, and it is the underlying foundation for academic learning and social behavior.

The senses with which we are all familiar - the senses of sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch - pick up sensations coming from outside the body. But we also have two "hidden" senses, our proprioceptive sense and our vestibular sense, that pick up sensations that tell us where the body is in space and how it is moving. These senses tell about our own body and its relation to gravity. These are the building blocks that help develop the senses of sight and sound. Academic abilities, behavior and emotional growth depend on a strong sensorimotor foundation formed by these two senses.

Sensory Processing Dysfunction (SPD) is when the brain is not processing the flow of sensory impulses in a manner that gives the individual good, precise information about himself or his world; it is like a "traffic jam" in the brain. Without good communication among all parts of the brain, learning becomes difficult and it is not easy to cope with ordinary demands and stress. Some children may have associated learning and developmental disabilities along with SPD, while others do not. It is estimated that 5-15% of the population has SPD.

The three primary diagnostic groups of sensory processing dysfunction are defined below.

Sensory modulation disorder is a problem in the capacity to regulate and organize the degree, intensity, and nature of response to sensory input in a graded and adaptive manner. At one end of the continuum, the individual is overly responsive to input and may seem fearful and stressed out. At the other end, it takes a lot of input to provoke a response from the individual and they may be highly active and "on the go". Sensory modulation dysfunction disrupts the ability to achieve and maintain an optimal range of performance and to adapt to challenges in daily life. Individuals with modulation disorders have difficulty getting to and staying in the "just right" zone needed for optimal performance, learning and attention. The individual may have difficulty regulating his/her emotions, poor self-esteem, or difficulty with attention.
Sensory discrimination disorder is a problem in interpreting the characteristics of sensory stimuli that results in maladaptive responses. Sensory discrimination problems result primarily in decreased skill development.
Sensory-based movement disorders include dyspraxia and postural disorders. Praxis is the ability to conceive of, organize and carry out a sequence of actions to interact effectively with the physical world. Dyspraxia is characterized by difficulty performing smooth, coordinated movements. Individuals with motor planning challenges take a longer amount of time to learn new tasks; they rely a good deal on visual and cognitive compensation and may become fatigued and frustrated as a result.

For more information, go to www.spdnetwork.org