Sensory integration helps children with autism learn
Thursday, March 03, 2005 (18:05:53)

Posted by sylvia

ABC local.go.com 30/01/2005

By Karen Meyer

Creative indoor play areas help keep children busy and active. Autistic children need a play environment that keeps them calm. Children with autism have different sensory integration issues. Adapting homes for these children requires recommendations from therapists.

Michael and Wendy Rosen's 7-year-old son Jack was diagnosed with autism when he was two years old.

"It affects his ability to communicate as well as have social interaction with people," said Wendy.

In order to help Jack at home, they needed to create special areas that would be beneficial to Jack. The Rosen were referred to Deborah Michael, president of North Shore Pediatric Therapy.

"In the home what we can do is try to provide equipment for them that they can feed their nervous systems that arousal that they're looking for," said Deborah.

"A lot of them are under aroused and they seek out stimulation to arouse themselves," said Deborah.

"We've been able to modify our house by having a swing, a bazillion balls all over the house," said Wendy. "A bag of beans or a box of beans gives him the sensory input that he needs in order to help him learn. Therapy balls help him get the impact that he needs. He'll bounce on those."

Adaptations were also made in Jack's bedroom.

"We have a tent that hangs from his ceiling and the tent gives him the feeling of being enclosed," said Wendy.

Jack can bounce on a trampoline in his bedroom.

"He also has a weighted blanket on his bed that he sleeps with and that gives him the pressure," said Wendy.

Deborah says you can find many of these items in catalogs or you can make them.

"We have a therapist who's made a lot of things. They've made body bags for kids to get in and play in and they'll just hug their body," said Deborah.

Since the Rosen's have made changes in the house, Jack's occupational skills have improved.

"His speech too has improved, even though that's going to be a continual struggle he has made improvements there," said Michael.

"Sensory integration has definitely starting to shine now. People know what it is because if the media and because of research and papers coming out and it works. It really works," said Deborah.

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