Occupational Therapy For Reducing Hypersensitivity

Did you know that occupational therapy can help improve your child’s sensitivity to sensory information like vision? 

Autistic children are hypersensitive to the feeling of touch, balance, vision, and hearing and easily get distracted by stimulation from different sources. 

It is the aim of occupational therapy to reduce sensory hypersensitivity in autistic children through various exercises and activity plans. 

Let us know in detail about occupational therapy techniques and how they work. 

Different senses like the sense of balance, touch, smell, hearing, and sight help us to manage daily activities and accomplish our tasks with speed and precision. 

Autistic children do not have the perception of these senses,  partially lose them, or are hypersensitive to these senses. They continuously try to regulate their sensory inputs to release their anxiety. 

How do occupational therapists help?

The role of occupational therapists is to remove the sensory barriers from autistic children and help them live a meaningful life.

1. Assessment

Occupational therapists conduct comprehensive assessments to understand the specific needs, challenges, and strengths of special children.

2. Individualized Treatment Plans

Based on the assessment, therapists develop personalized plans tailored to address the child’s unique requirements, considering sensory, motor, and cognitive aspects.

3. Sensory Integration Therapy

Occupational therapists often use sensory integration techniques to help children process and respond to sensory information more effectively, improving their overall sensory experiences.

4. Fine and Gross Motor Skills Development

Therapists work on enhancing fine motor skills (like handwriting) and gross motor skills (such as coordination and balance) through various exercises and activities.

5. Daily Living Skills Training

Special children may receive training in activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing, grooming, and feeding, to promote independence.

6. Assistive Technology

Occupational therapists may recommend and teach the use of assistive devices and technologies that can aid children in overcoming specific challenges.

7. Behavioral Strategies

Therapists collaborate with parents and educators to develop and implement behavioral strategies that support positive behavior and social interaction.

8. Environmental Modifications

Occupational therapists may suggest changes to the child’s environment to create a more supportive and accessible space, accommodating their unique needs.

9. Collaboration with Parents and Caregivers

Regular communication and collaboration with parents and caregivers are crucial to ensuring consistent support for the child’s development.

10. School Inclusion Support

Occupational therapists may work with schools to provide support and accommodations, fostering a more inclusive learning environment for special children.

11. Emotional and Social Development

Therapists address emotional and social challenges, helping children develop coping mechanisms and social skills essential for their overall well-being.

12. Transition Planning

For older special children, occupational therapists may assist in transition planning, preparing them for the transition from school to adulthood, including vocational training and independent living skills.

13. Productivity related activities

Occupational therapists must make autistic children alert, make them participate in various activities, improve their organizational skills, and last but not least help autistic children to read and write sentences.

14. Leisurely activities

An occupational therapist will help autistic children to take part in leisurely activities like playing, socializing, taking part in events, and improving their motor skills.

It has to be remembered that every autistic child is different and should be differently trained to meet their sensory needs.

15. Preparing the daily action plan or the sensory diet activities

Creating a daily schedule or organizing sensory diet activities is a significant responsibility for occupational therapists. Their primary task involves developing a daily plan for autistic children, facilitating focus and attention throughout the day. When the child’s excitement levels are excessively high, activities such as taking a walk or engaging in leisurely pursuits are recommended to promote relaxation. Conversely, if the excitement levels are too low, activities like singing, dancing, and visiting the gym can be beneficial for stimulation. 

Different exercises to regulate stimuli in autistic children 

In exploring diverse approaches to support sensory regulation in autistic children, various exercises can act as tools to manage stimuli and enhance their overall well-being. Let’s check a few of them.

1. Stimulus related to position and movement (Proprioceptive inputs)

Proprioceptive inputs refer to information our body gets about its position and movements. For autistic children, this can affect how they move, making them seek or avoid certain sensations, like intentionally falling, pushing others, or preferring snug clothing.

These are some of the activities that can help immensely.

• crawling, 
• climbing 
• pressure on knees and shoulders
• giving a heavy backpack while sitting
• providing them with weight jackets

2. Stimulus related to the movement of the head (Vestibular Inputs) 

Vestibular inputs refer to the sensations related to the movement of the head and body in space. In the context of autistic children, these inputs can influence their comfort with activities involving head movement, such as swinging or spinning. Some may seek or avoid these sensations based on their individual sensory preferences and sensitivities.

Kids who are extra sensitive to movement might not like activities that involve spinning or swinging.

Exercises for them are 

• linear swinging
• jumping on the trampoline. 

3. Stimulus related to sense of touch (Tactile Inputs) 

Tactile inputs involve information received through the sense of touch. In the context of sensory processing, this refers to how individuals, including autistic children, perceive and respond to sensations like textures, pressure, and temperature. Some may be hypersensitive, finding certain touches uncomfortable, while others may seek more tactile input for comfort or stimulation.

The exercise for them is to make them aware of different kinds of textures like rough, smooth, soft, grainy, and wet.

4. Stimulus related to sense of vision (Visual Perceptual Inputs) 

Visual perceptual inputs, related to the sense of vision, involve how individuals interpret and make sense of visual information. For autistic children, this can affect how they process and respond to visual stimuli, influencing their perception of colors, patterns, and spatial relationships. Sensitivities or preferences in visual perception may vary among autistic individuals, impacting their daily experiences and activities.

Children with visual input difficulties have problems searching for things.

Therefore, the best exercise for them is  

• word search exercise 
• finding the missing half of a picture 

Conclusion 

Occupational therapists play a crucial role in managing the behavior of autistic children, ensuring it doesn’t disrupt their daily lives. Through the use of rubrics for performance assessment and mindfulness exercises to enhance focus, occupational therapists strive to address both physical and mental disturbances arising from hypersensitivity to sensory inputs. 

While occupational therapy is effective, it may be time-consuming in transforming behavior. Alternatively, stem cell therapy emerges as an innovative option, capable of regenerating neuronal cells in the brain and spinal cord to alleviate autism symptoms. 

MedicoExperts, a global virtual hospital, specializes in implementing stem cell therapy for autism treatment, boasting years of experience in serving patients from 17 countries worldwide. Entrust MedicoExperts for a promising future, ensuring your child’s well-being and happiness.

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