Sensory Processing Disorder or as it has been called in the past Sensory Integration Disorder is described by the medical world as a neurological disorder that occurs as a direct result of the brain being unable to properly process the information it receives from the 5 basic senses. When functioning properly these senses, sight, sound, taste, smells and touch are combined within the brain and formed in a mental picture that tells us what is happening in our surroundings so that we can react appropriately. Being able to actually tell the difference between these different inputs is known as sensory integration and for most people occurs automatically and takes no effort whatsoever. For the person coping with a Sensory Processing Disorder it can take tremendous amounts of energy and effort to make sensory integration actually occur. There is no real guarantee that they can always achieve integration which can make it difficult to achieve goals or cope with everyday life. Typically sensory integration begins while a baby is still in the womb and continues to develop throughout the rest of a person's life with the bulk of the development occurring before the teenage years. As we age we gain the fine motor skills as well as control over our emotion.
Those who are prone to Sensory Processing Disorder often do not seem to have the ability to develop these skills at the appropriate stages of growing up. In most cases Sensory Processing Disorder is detected when children are very young. Most children develop the needed skills as they mature and take part in the activities that most children enjoy. For those with this disorder, the sensory integration is unable to develop quite as efficiently and can cause a wide spectrum of problems such as learning disabilities, developmental and behavioral problems that manifest themselves in various ways. There are several different methods of treatment for Sensory Processing Disorder; one of the most common is the uses of occupational therapists. They provide a variety of sensory inputs along with teaching their patients how to respond to the appropriately. This carefully planned treatment program allows the child to be actively involved and choose the activities that seem to help them the most.
Treatment may include the use of lights, sounds and a variety of touches to help the child retrain their brain to respond in a more appropriate manner and do a better job of organizing the sensory information. If you live in the Los Angeles area and have a child that has been diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder you can turn to the Sensory Research Center for help. Here you will find a very supportive staff that offers an Individualized Sensory Program that does not use any form of drugs to treat SPD, instead they use the latest in hi-tech treatments using phototherapy, vestibular and auditory training to help treat the cause of the problem instead of just dealing with the symptoms. With this treatment program many patients have learned to overcome their disorder and learn to lead fulfilling lives.