Sensory Integration Overview
Sensory integration is a normal process by which the sensory systems provide information about our bodies and the world around us. The brain and actually our entire nervous system takes in that information and organizes it so that individuals can learn, move and demonstrate appropriate adaptive behaviors. This process is referred to as sensory integration. Every individual processes sensory information, although some more efficiently than others.
Dr. A. Jean Ayres, Occupational therapist developed the theory and treatment of sensory integration in the 1960's.
The web is full of information on this topic! Try not to get overwhelmed and take it one learning process at a time.
The Sensory Systems
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The senses we all learned about as kids: tactile system, visual system, olfactory system (smell), auditory system and the gustatory system (taste). In addition, we now know how important the vestibular and proprioceptive systems are in our everyday functioning and development.
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The tactile system is the sense of touch. It lets us know when we are being touched, what is touching us, about pressure on the skin, temperature and pain.
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The vestibular system is the gravity sense. It tells us if we are moving, how fast we are moving, which direction we are moving, enables us to develop good eye muscle control, visual perception and attention span. This system has influence over almost every part of the brain. It effects the ability of our muscles and helps us to balance
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The proprioceptive system provides us with information about our own bodies. This system tells us what position our bodies are in, where our bodies are in the environment, helps us learn skilled movements and with feeling comfortable moving through our environment.
