Understanding Sensory Processing: How Occupational Therapy Can Help with Sensory Challenges
Sensory processing plays a crucial role in how children experience the world around them. It’s the way the brain receives, interprets, and responds to sensory information, such as sights, sounds, textures, and movements. How we interpret this sensory input varies for everyone. For some children, however, this process can lead to challenges that can make everyday environments feel overwhelming or uncomfortable.
At Steps Together Children's Therapy, we help children with sensory processing difficulties navigate these challenges, providing strategies and support to help them feel more comfortable and confident within their environment.
What Are Sensory Processing Challenges?
Sensory processing challenges occur when the brain struggles to interpret sensory input. Children may be highly sensitive to certain stimuli (like loud sounds or bright lights), or they may seek out more intensity of sensory experiences, such as spinning or jumping. Signs of sensory processing issues can include:
Sensitivity to textures, sounds, or lights
Difficulty sitting still or seeking out movement
Avoidance of certain foods or clothing
Challenges with focusing in busy environments
These behaviours can impact daily activities, making it difficult for children to participate fully in school, play, and social interactions.
How Occupational Therapy Helps
Occupational Therapy (OT) is a valuable tool for supporting children with sensory processing challenges. Occuptional therapists work with children to improve their sensory regulation and help them feel more at ease in their environments. Here’s how OT can make a difference:
Personalised Sensory Plans: Every child is unique, and our therapists create tailored sensory plans to meet each child’s specific needs. This can involve provision of tools or strategies to adjust the sensory input received by the child, adapting the environment to reduce sensory triggers, and adjusting specific activities so that the task may be completed in a more appropriate way for the child.
Play-Based Therapy: Through engaging, play-based activities, children can explore sensory experiences in a safe and controlled way. This could involve using textured materials, swinging, or playing with soft or weighted objects.
Creating Coping Strategies: OTs work with children to develop coping strategies to manage sensory input in their daily lives. These might include breathing exercises, sensory “toolkits” (like fidget toys or noise-canceling headphones), or creating a calm corner at home or school.
Support for Families
Supporting a child with sensory processing challenges is a team effort. At Steps Together Children's Therapy, we collaborate with families, providing resources and guidance to create sensory-friendly spaces at home and to reinforce strategies learned in therapy.
If your child experiences sensory challenges, Occupational Therapy can help them engage with the world in a way that feels comfortable and manageable.
Contact us to learn more about how our team can support your child’s sensory journey.
Together, we can support them to build confidence and find joy in everyday experiences.
