Occupational Therapy, a Treatment for Sensory Processing Issues

Today, I will advocate for any child out there who is struggling with Sensory processing issues, who it is not being diagnosed yet. The static of kids having sensory issues and/or autism is dramatically increasing. This is an issue I worry because the future of this country can be affected if the future women and men keep developing with neurological issues. 


The exact cause of sensory processing and autism is unknown, but research are begining to link it to the environment, a contaminated environment with Toxins. The last research I read mentioned that the cause may be 60% environmentally. 6 of every 10 kids, in our school nationwide, have sensory issues and they are not receiving treatment due to they are not diagnosed. The United States is the country with the higher statistics in Autism and sensory processing world wide. We have huge battle to win at home, not just in the middle east.


The best way help a child with sensory issues is to recognize sensory processing issues in yourself. At some point, we all have sensory issues; but for people who have healthy neurological pathways, it is easier to regulate themselves. I will share two of my auditory issues, so you can understand how a child with sensory processing struggles:

I cannot stand the noise of a marker against a board. This bother my auditory sense, it causes weird chills on me, but it is something I can control. In a child with auditory processing issue with the same noise of the marker will panic and even feel pain in his ears, resulting in an overreaction that people around, who are not aware of sensory processing, won't be able to understand and help the child.

I couldn't drive with the windows in my car half way down. The noise produced by the wind getting into the car was disturbing for my ears. The windows had to be all the way up or all the way down. Now, I can handle it. I learned to self regulate this noise. A child with sensory processing is not able to self-regulate himself or herself resulting in withdrawn from the environment because the auditory input is not pleasant; instead, is painful, lauder of wath realy is. Here is when a child needs professional help.

Finding help for a child with sensory processing issues
One should be an advocate first and a parent second. It is not easy to do it when your child is already facing a diagnosis which is affecting him or her. But getting to understand your child's needs is the open door to help the child to overcome their sensory challenges.


Requesting to the  local school district/school board for an evaluation for sensory processing disfunction if the child is over age three. It is a way to begin finding answers of what it is happening to the child. The evaluation should be done by an Occupational therapy with knowledge on Sensory processing —Not all Occupational Therapist are certified in Sensory Processing. The school must provide OT services at no charge, but not all schools include the Occupational therapy services focused on sensory issues in the IEP. Teachers are not specialist in Sensory Processing Disorder, either. They can provide certain activities or sensory diet, but  Sensory processing issues is with the child where ever he or she goes, so school services are not enough to decrease to the maximum extend sensory issues in a child. But you can work with the child's IEP team  to provide activities that can help the child to get organized in the school setting. Hiring an private paid Occupational Therapist who specialized in sensory processing is highly recommended. Actually, is the one who will help the child to heal and is the one who truly has the knowledge on how your child sense the world and how the child can learn to cope with his or her sensory challenges.

Take time to shop for a good sensory specialist center according to the child's personality and sensory issues; and not about the therapy cost. This is crucial to be successful in the treatment. When I was looking for a place for Tommy, I checked three places that I got good recommendation from parents and therapists and I have previous experience with one of them. Things I considered to chose the place that will work with tommy: I observed personality, how they are organized and environment because it has a big impact in how kids with sensory processing disorder take and process the sensory information throughout the 7 senses. In the center  Tommy attends,  they teach kids to be quiet when certain noises affect other sensitive kids. They also ask for not wearing strong fragrance due to there are kids very sensitivity to smell some odors or scents. 

A good Sensory Specialist Center to consider is a place where the whole family is encourage to be part of the treatment. So you can feel confident in talking about your concerns about your child and ask questions about how you can help at home and find the answers your are looking for. Look for a place that has updated/innovative methods and sources for the treatment, including link you with other specialist that are an important factor in treating sensory processing, such as: nutritionist, developmental optometrist, and others.

Finding ways to pay for services
Depending on your insurance plan, you may get coverage for an occupational Therapy of your choice. Or you may have to choose from plan-approved providers, but is not very common that specialists in pediatric sensory issues are in in the list of the insurance providers. If your insurance doesn't cover for this services, look for non-profit organizations that can fully or partially help to pay for the services of occupational therapy for sensory processing. If your family household salary is based in two incomes, you may not qualify for most of the free services. If this is your case, keep looking in your local organizations, you may find funds that will help with some of the therapy bills, other activities or sports, such as: swimming, soccer, gymnastic, among others. This activities help with sensory processing depending on your child sensory needs. 

Online Sources

• The Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL). This website has valuable information on how to entice your child and how you get into their world when the child is withdrawn. I highly recommended the free recorded broadcast. I have put in practice some of the principals of their neurodevelopmental approach DIR® FLOORTIME™ and it works. 
• The Greenspan Floor Time approch is an organization funded by Jacob Greenspan, who is son of Dr. Stainley Greenspan the developer of DIR® FLOORTIME™. Dr. Stainley Greenspan is well know world wide for his remarkable work with kids with special needs. His family has decided to continue with his job after he left us in 2010. They are training parents and professionals in the Dr. Greenspan Floor time approach.
• The sensorysmarts.com website is the continuation of the book Raising a Sensory Smart child book. They have great tips for sensory diets, working with school and so on. Check it out!
• The American Occupational Therapy Association may be able to help in finding a local Occupational therapist certified in Sensory processing.
• SPD Foundation. They have a directory of specialized therapists in occupational, physical and speech/language therapies, as well as, other specialist for children with sensory issues.
• Western Psychological Services. This website has a list of therapists in the U.S. and other countries, who are certified to perform the Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT). 

Self-education

It is not easy to understand what sensory processing really means for parents. Most people aren't familiar with this topic, either. So self education is a key in treating sensory processing disorder. Two books I highly recommended are:

1. Raising a Sensory Smart Child By Lindsey Biel, OTR/L and Nancy Peske. This book is foreword by Dr. Temple Grandin, who has Autism. When I read this book, I asked my self: Why I didn't get this book before? This compile all the start point information you need to start treating sensory processing disorder. I found out a lot of the info in this book on my own, so I know for sure what it is in this books is highly recommended. I would save time, if I would read this book before when I was looking for answer to what happen to my son.
2. The Child with Special Needs by Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D. and Serena Wieder, PH. D with Robin Simons.  It is a long book with 496 pages. So you have to take the time to read it. They explain how to do FLOORTIME techniques can be done as a based home-therapy. Because the book is long, for working parents will take time to go throughout the whole book. I try to read it during my lunch time or before going to bed. I have found answers in this book that any other doctor or specialist has answered. This books has become a important tool to help my son to reach his full potential. The information in this book is worth reading!

In the pictures bellow is Tommy, happily working with Miss C.

Miss C. has recommended to decrease services from every week to 

every other week due to the great progress Tommy has done since last June.

The pictures are courtesy of Leaps & Bounds,

The Sensory Specialist Center where Tommy gets 

his therapies.

Here is brief curriculum of our Private Paid OT:

Miss C. earned her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. She has experience working with clients of all ages in a variety of setting, which includes: school based therapy, pediatric inpatient therapy, pediatric outpatient therapy, inpatient acute rehabilitation and outpatient adult therapy. Miss C. has received training in splinting, sensory integration and processing, handwriting and primitive reflexes. She has worked with children with a variety of diagnoses including: sensory processing concerns, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, reactive attachment disorder, autism spectrum disorder, hearing impaired, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and hypotonia.

Advise to Parents

My advise to expecting patents or patents who are starting the journey on raising a child with special needs, start your child in occupational therapy with emphasis on sensory processing, as soon a you can, while your child is a baby. If you can afford private pays therapy don't wait, just because your child is receiving services from the state. You can also ask to your EIP service coordinator to incorporate sensory activities in the early intervention program because most kids with special needs or with genetic disorders have sensory processing issues. This is something your doctor won't tell you!


If you think your child have sensory processing, please look for help. Sensory processing affects the overall development of a child with or without a genetic disorder. Dysfunction on sensory processing stops development and cause regressions. I have suffered my son's regressions, but I have found the help he needs. So today, I am happy because Tommy is progressing and beginning to regain the lost skills and learning new skills!