Vestibular Functions And SPD Part 3

One outcome of vestibular functions is spatial awareness. This skill may be defined as the ability to perceive the shape and position of objects in the environment and/or  the ability to appreciate the position of oneself in relationship to objects in the environment. The vestibular system stimulates the muscles of the eyes and ears so as to sharpen their ability to discriminate among sensory

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Vestibular Processing and SPD Part 2

Essential  Skills  Mediated by the Vestibular System Visual system – coordination of muscles that move the eye balls.  This helps eyes work together to focus on:  a) the trajectory of moving objects as they pass through space and b) the perceived trajectory of stationary objects in the environment as the person moves from place to place. Auditory system – coordination of muscles that act

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Vestibular Processing and SPD Part 1

What is Vestibular Processing? Vestibular processing may be defined as the ability to interpret and conceptualize data arising from  movement of the head in space.  The application of this information allows us to interpret the spatial orientation of objects around us. Why is Vestibular Processing Important? The ability to conceptualize the position of oneself in space affords emotional, psychological and physical safety commonly referred to

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Attentive Behaviors Part 3

Attention is the act of concentrating on one or more aspects of an environmental task that requires the ability to multi-task sensory  processing input.   External Controls of Attention Sensory input from the environment are comprised of events that can generally  be manipulated to some degree and can be referred to as External Controls.  These features  can usually be heightened or minimized to help

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Attentive Behaviors Part 2

Attention is the act of concentrating on one or more aspects of an environmental task that requires the ability to multi-task sensory  processing input.   Sensory influences in the environment for each of our sensory systems contribute to attention.  These influences can be easily tweaked to improve attentive behaviors. For example:  


Attentive Behaviors Part 1

Attention is the act of concentrating on one or more aspects of an environmental task that requires the ability to multi-task sensory  processing input.   Types Of Attention   Children who have sensory processing disorders often have deficits with attending behaviors as well. As caregivers, we all primarily tend to wish for sustained,   focused on task behavior during  self-care, school, and play. However, there

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Why set up a workstation for Duplo projects?

In much the same way as a mechanic, scrapbook pro, or programmer  would set up a tool chest separating out tools that perform different functions, children with SPD also need to learn to associate form with function.  One technical term used is the phrase “identification of functional affordances” (what function can this object afford me?).  The ability to quickly identify how an object can

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Setting up Fine Motor Skills

Many children who have Sensory Processing Disorders, also have deficits in prerequisites for efficient emergence of fine motor skills: Executive Functions Attention Task organization Task maintenance behaviors / sustaining focus Initiating/terminating activities Postural control coordinating muscles that control posture Ocular motor control coordinating muscles that control the eye balls Developmental Prehension Coordinating muscles that control hand and finger moves Getting all of these domains

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We hung up a hammock

The fabric of the hammock was silky and didn’t cling to the skin like the Lycra swing.  So we didn’t use it primarily to enhance body awareness  in the same way we used the Lycra swing.  Instead, we found ourselves using it for pushing and pulling, climbing and rolling movement patterns. These coordinated types of movement patterns are the same ones  required for daily

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Graviception

Graviception is described as the ability to appreciate the force of gravity as we move through space.  Graviception develops from integration of sensory input including information  from the vestibular, visual, and somatosensory systems.  Research has now shown that graviception provides a developmental basis for evolving concepts of spatial relations embedded in academic success.  Curricular skills such as handwriting, math, geometry, history, geography, and fluency

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