Developing a Sensory Diet Complete a Sensory Profile When developing a sensory diet, consult an Occupational Therapist with experience in sensory processing disorders. In Appendix ___ is a sensory scale that I use when assessing sensory preferences and sensitivities for developing sensory diet. Any sensory profile is going to provide the following: • What types of stimulation does child seek? Avoid? • What stimulation calms: Deep pressure, slow movement, soft lighting, rhythmic chatting, etc? • What stimulates excites and holds child’s attention: fast movement, rough play, animated facial expressions, etc? • What helps organize and regulate: allows the child to feel relaxed, alert and attuned to you? • Stimulation to avoid. What distracts the child? How to identify sensory preferences? Since children on the spectrum are attracted to, and often seek out, sensory stimulation they enjoy, it is important to know what their preferences are. Once we identify these preferences with can then build social, leisure, and learning activities to incorporate these preferences. Consider the following when trying to identify sensory preferences. 1. Ask the child! Sit down and fill out the profile together. 2. Watch the child. The child will tell with their actions. a) Play (run, bounce, sing, etc.) b) Self stimulation (spin, rock, vocalize, etc.) c) When upset (hit, throw, bit, bang, etc.) d) To calm self (wrap up in blanket, rock and hum) e) What do they seek out? What do they avoid? 3. Systematically sample stimulation (smells, tastes, different touch, etc.) and note reaction. 4. Ask family and support people close to the child. 5. Use sensory assessment scales to help identify profile. 6. Direct assessment of stimulation by a occupational therapist trained in sensory processing disorders. Putting it Together! Once your profile is developed, the occupational therapist can develop a routine schedule of sensory activities to keep the child’s nervous system calm, organized, and focused. Usually the diet will include routine activities to do at different times of the day, as well as sensory stimulation to be used as needed to calm and organize the nervous system. This diet should be used throughout the day, both at home and at school. A sensory diet may look like the following: James’ Sensory Diet At Home Morning: Message, joint compressions upon waking. Jumping on trampoline after morning routine (while watching tv). Chewing gum, with mp3 on bus going to school. After school: Trampoline, or climbing/swinging on playscape. After Dinner: Exercise bands with dad, wrestling, heavy work activity, or tramp. Before Bed: Deep pressure massage, compressions, weighted blanket. At School First thing: Group exercise/gross motor Circle time: Sit on ball or swivel board. Midmorning: Sensory break: Tramp, swing, jump or climb After Lunch: Group exercise/gross motor activity Mid-afternoon: Sensory break: Tramp, swing, jump or climb. Before Bus: Wear heavy backpack while sharpening pencils for teacher. Throughout the day: Weighted lap pad, chewy tube, and air pad to sit on.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 11:56:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015