SENSORY PROCESSING AND STRATEGIES FOR SELF-REGULATION
By Carrie Sheppard, M.Ed., LMH , Mary Fuhr, OTR/L, and Kathy Patten, MPA, OTR/L
Does you child overreact to sensory stimulation (sounds, texture of clothes or foods)? Or, do they seem to be oblivious to things others pay attention to? Does your child maintain an activity level that is way too high or way too low? These and other symptoms could signal a sensory processing disorder.
Self-Regulation - the ability to master appropriate responses to the stresses of everyday living - is a critical factor in a young child's development. Because this ability impacts all areas of interaction throughout a lifetime, it is crucial - especially for a child on the autism spectrum- to learn strategies for self-calming, regulation of responses to stimuli and management of attention and emotional responsiveness.
You will learn to identify some of the symptoms of sensory processing disorders and recognize the relationship between these disorders and the management of emotions, behavior, communication and social interactions. You'll go home with fun and practical strategies you can use to help your child learn to self-regulate and improve his or her ability to cope with the demands of a dynamic and often bewildering world.