Sensory Processing Disorder
What is Sensory Processing?
Sensory processing refers to the brain’s ability to receive, organize, and process information from the environment. This is fundamental to our ability to effectively respond to and navigate the world around us. Sensory processing is a complex process that involves many different aspects of brian function, and sometimes individuals can have difficulties in sensory processing.
This is called Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). SPD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain processes and responds to sensory stimuli. Individuals with SPD can have atypical responses to sensory information, which can make it difficult to respond to the sensory information appropriately or function effectively.
Here are various types of SPD:
- Sensory Modulation Disorder (SMD): This type of SPD can lead to difficulties in sensory responses. Subtypes of SMD include sensory-oversensitivity, sensory under-sensitivity, and sensory seeking. For example, some individuals with autism spectrum disorder can be very sensitive to sound, light, and touch. Sensory over-sensitivity can be very overwhelming with individuals with SMD.
- Sensory Discrimination Disorder (SDD): Individuals with SDD can have difficulties distinguishing between different types of senses (sound, touch, vision, etc.). They might also have difficulty understanding what a sensation means. For example, they may have difficulty distinguishing the difference between various textures on their skin. This can make it difficult to function effectively, because they have trouble choosing clothing or identifying objects.
- Sensory-Based Motor Disorder (SBMD): SBMD is a condition that affects motor coordination and planning. Subtypes of this condition include Postural disorder (when posture diverges from normal alignment) and dyspraxia (difficulty in coordinating movements). Individuals with SBMD may exhibit awkward movements and have difficulties in motor activities such as catching a ball or handling a utensil.
How Does Sensory Processing Work?
Sensory processing is a complex process that involves a multistep and parallel processes in the brain. In other words, many different parts of the brain work together to process sensory information, and these parts of the brain constantly talk with one another to manage the sensory processing. Here is a basic overview of the chain of sensory processing:
- Sensory receptors: The human body has specialized receptors located throughout the body that pick up information for each sense. For example, the eyes take in light, the ears pick up sound waves, the skin feels touch in touch, etc.
- Sensory Input: Each one of these sensory receptors convert the sensory stimuli into electrical signals and shuttle them off to the brain for processing.
- Sensory interpretation and integration: Once the sensory information reaches the brain, it is registered, processed and interpreted. At this stage, the brain is making sense of the sensory stimuli and integrating it with the information collected from other sensory receptors to make a unified picture of the world around us.
- Behavioral Response: Once the information is registered and interpreted, the brain will generate an appropriate response. For example, if one touches a hot surface, the touch receptors on the skin send the signal to the brain. In turn, the brain will respond by taking the hand away.
This is a simplification of a very complex process. Any issue along this chain of processing can result in SPD. SPD is diagnosed by healthcare professionals who specialize in sensory processing disorders. The diagnostic process may involve a multidisciplinary team that includes occupational therapists, pediatricians, neurologists, developmental pediatricians, and clinical psychologists. Referring to a report from those professionals or collaborating/consulting with the team might provide insight and help you to best serve your client with SPD. If a client has SPD, it is important to identify what the client has difficulty with in order to address the issue and provide therapeutic intervention. To help identify the specific needs of your client, you can find a checklist on chapter one of “The Out-of-Sync Child” by Carol Stock.
Application to Music Therapy
There are many ways SPD can manifest, and there are many possible strategies to address the issues. In the case of music therapy, Here is an example of how SPD might be addressed through a narrative explanation.
Client A walks into the session smiling and laughing. One might automatically assume that they are happy and excited. However, smiling and laughing may also indicate sensory overstimulation (a sign of SMD), and the client might need help regulating himself.
Here are a couple of strategies that might help the client regulate their sensory system.
Movement and Music Therapy for SMD
Sometimes, a client can regulate themselves through movement. This can be done by jumping on a trampoline, bouncing on a bouncy ball, or dancing. There is no simple answer to this, as each individual is different and may require different strategies. Let’s take the bouncy ball for example. The music therapist might prompt the client to bounce on the ball. One can incorporate music by utilizing the ISO principle (matching the clients psycho-emotional state and movement with musical stimuli) by playing music to the tempo of their bouncing at volumes and timbres that match the client’s energy level. The music therapists can allow the client to bounce while gradually modulating the energy level of the music to help the client to calm down and settle into a regulated state. However, it is important to be aware if the client becomes overstimulated. Watch out for signs of overstimulation such as hysterical laughing and smiling. Songs for such interventions would be chosen from a few different considerations, such as the client’s preferred music. A couple song choices I have used in these situations are “Three Little Birds”, “You Are My Sunshine”, “Row Row Row Your Boat”, “The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers” (for bouncing), and “Jump” (for jumping).
Signs of overstimulation might include:
- Excited or nervous laughter
- Pupil dilation
- Headache
- Disorganized movement
- Crying
- Saying “Stop” or “no”
- Dizziness, nausea, vomiting
Source
Astronaut Training: A Sound Activated Vestibular-Visual Protocol: For Moving Looking & Listening
In conclusion, SPD is a condition that can affect individuals of many different diagnoses. We can learn to more effectively help our clients when we understand the basics of sensory processing, the nature of sensory processing disorders, and learn to apply music therapy interventions to help ameliorate clients’ needs.
Written by Alec Johnson, Music Therapy Intern
