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2022

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What is sensory integration training? What benefits can it bring to children?

Research in our country indicates that 10-30% of children experience varying degrees of sensory integration dysfunction. The main culprits of sensory integration dysfunction are urban living and the small family system. Behavioral issues caused by insufficient sensory integration include hyperactivity, lack of concentration, clumsiness, and severe shyness.


Author:

Linyi Maternal and Child Hospital - Editor

Linyi Maternal and Child Hospital is a comprehensive hospital that integrates medical treatment, prevention, health care, and rehabilitation. It is a designated hospital for medical insurance, maternity insurance, and long-term care insurance in Linyi City.The hospital has been designated as a reimbursement unit for outpatient special diseases.It is a major illness health poverty alleviation assistance unit and a member of the Linyi People's Hospital 'Medical Alliance'.

At Linyi Maternal and Child Hospital, you can enjoy personalized health services while also accessing high-quality medical resources from a top-tier hospital!

 
During training, we often hear the term 'sensory integration' So what is sensory integration? What senses are included in sensory integration? Today, let's explore sensory integration.
 
Sensory integration refers to the learning process in which the brain and body coordinate with each other. It means that the body effectively utilizes its senses in the environment.Through different sensory pathways (such as vision, hearing, touch, vestibular sense, and proprioception), information is obtained from the environment and input into the brain. The brain then processes this information (including: interpretation, comparison, enhancement, inhibition, connection, unification) and makes adaptive responses, abbreviated as 'sensory integration'.
 
 
In simple terms, sensory integration is a learning process in which the brain and body coordinate with each other. Without sensory integration, neither the brain nor the body can develop. Research in our country shows that 10-30% of children exhibit varying degrees of sensory integration dysfunction. The main culprits of sensory integration dysfunction are urbanized lifestyles and small family systems. Insufficient sensory integration can lead to behavioral issues such as hyperactivity, lack of concentration, clumsiness, and severe shyness.
 
Sensory integration dysfunctionrefers to the phenomenon where external sensory stimuli cannot be effectively combined in the brain's nervous system. The child's brain loses the ability to control and coordinate the body's organs, resulting in a lack of harmonious operation. For example, seeing a cup of water and wanting to drink, but being unable to control their hand to accurately pick up the cup or spilling water while carrying it.Children's sensory integration dysfunction mainly manifests as poor visual perception, poor auditory perception, poor proprioception, vestibular balance dysfunction, and excessive sensitivity or insensitivity to touch.
Sensory integration training content:
1. Discover children's physical potential, enhance the development of their limb muscles, and cultivate their concentration.
2. Train children's visual, auditory, taste, smell, touch, vestibular sense, and proprioception.
3. Develop the brain, improve sensory integration ability, and enhance overall quality.
4. Cultivate children's self-confidence and optimistic personality.
5. Provide sensory integration therapy and correction for various disordered children, helping them regain physical and mental health.
6. Train their balance ability, body coordination, and touch. Increase cognitive ability and improve characteristics such as timidity and reluctance to speak.
 
 
Sensory integration training equipment:
Balance boards, balance beams, suspension equipment, tactile boards, balance bikes, trampolines, etc., with different training equipment and plans selected based on individual differences among children.

Why do sensory integration training?
Sensory integration develops synchronously with the brain. It grows and develops alongside the child's growth and is an ability that extends from the child's brain. Promoting sensory integration can aid brain development, help children develop their brains, enhance language skills, cultivate concentration, and the development of vestibular sense can influence children's personalities, leading to better emotional development. An optimistic personality can make children more confident and improve their interpersonal relationships. Therefore, training sensory integration from childhood can lay a good foundation for children in the future.
 
As the saying goes: 'What a child cannot do now, they will be able to do when they grow up.' This statement is debatable.Sensory integration dysfunction does not disappear with age. If not corrected professionally, subsequent problems will increase.
The phenomena occurring in children are not merely educational issues; many are due to the uncoordinated development of brain functions, leading to obstacles in the brain's sensory integration of the body.These need to be corrected through professional training.The optimal development period is from 0-3 years, the best plasticity period is from 3-6 years, and the best correction period is from 6-12 years.
 

Key words:

Linyi Maternal and Child Hospital, Children, Sensory Integration Training