The Effect Of Sensory Diets On Sensory Processing Skills

When children do not eat a healthy meal, their concentration and energy become more difficult to manage. The “Journal of School Health” issued a study in 2008 about the eating behaviors of approximately 5,000 school children. The research showed that children who ate more fruits and vegetables, accomplished higher grades on tests compared with children who consumed a high-fat, high-salt diet

Sensory therapy uses everyday objects to arouse one or more of the five-senses (hearing, smell, taste, and touch) in order to evoke positive outcomes of feelings (Gilbert, 2001). The use of sensory stimulation can improve an

Paired-stimulus preference assessment. Separate paired-stimulus preference assessment (Fisher et al., 1992) will be conducted to identify preferred edible reinforcers for each participant. Between 12-16 stimuli were used for the assessment. Items were identified through parental reports and previous preference assessment conducted with behavioral teams. Before the assessment begins the participants will get to sample each piece of each type of food. Items will then be presented in pairs in which the therapist will tell them what both items are and then prompt them to “choose one”. Choice of an item will be defined as reaching towards or asking for an item. For edible reinforcers they will be allowed to consume the food chosen. If a participant

A key problem for John, the 10 year old child, is that he does not like eating sandwiches. Taste preferences cannot be controlled completely. However, John may benefit from being in a positive environment while he eats and has a bit of control over what he eats so that he may learn to listen to what his body wants and what his body needs. The younger sibling, Jamie, poses no problems or issues with regards to nutrition. Jennifer, has the issue of keeping up her nutrition as she needs to maintain an optimal nutritional diet in order to have her baby developed healthily and maintain proper growth. Furthermore, once her child is born, it may be wise to follow the idea that using food as a reward or punishment, as well as encouraging could lead to negative effects on the child’s nutritional eating patterns and over/under-eating as well as a picky eater, which

How does sensory processing disorder affect learning? Sensory input plays an important role in learning. The effect of and impact of sensory processing difficulties are not fully understood or researched. Play helps children learn cooperation skills, appropriate social skills, conflict resolution, and about friendships. However, research has shown the correlation between sensory processing, play, and learning is unclear and inconsistent. (Watts, Stagnitti, & Brown, 2014). This is the second reason for the controversy surrounding sensory processing disorder. There is no clear cut or valid proof that sensory processing difficulties effect learning. Parents of children with sensory processing difficulties will disagree. There children struggle every day with things that typical developing children can perform without any difficulty or thought. Treatment for sensory processing disorder is limited and extremely expensive for parents. Treatment for sensory processing disorder involves a “sensory diet” which is an individual plan designed to help the individual function. (Delaney, 2008). Typical

Some of the senses that are vital during the growth of the child are: hearing, vision, smelling and tasting, ability to speak and feeling pain; they are the basic improvements in the child’s mental growth, they help the child in the perception of the general occurrences in the world around the child. After the child have developed the basic senses to the major aspects of life that is when they will be able to develop permanent images of objects even if they are not there at the moment. The sensorimotor nerves of a child develops as the child make primitive movements, these improves the reflex response of a child (Piaget, & Inhelder, 2010).

A sensory activity is an activity intended to achieve a particular sensory result. Sensory activity promotes sensory integration which is the ability of the body to integrate and process all of the information it receives from either, touch, taste, smell, hearing and vision (Creative collection for kids, 2017). They can learn about special concepts (full, empty), learn pre-math concepts as well as language and vocabulary. Getting them involved in messy play is an essential component to learning which encourages exploration and discovery through play.

This chapter reviews research collected that is related to the phenomenon of sensory processing disorder. The growing number of sensory processing deficits reported, as well as the frequency in which therapists use sensory based interventions requires a more complete understanding of the intricacies of evidence supporting the use of sensory based interventions. Each of the six studies reviewed in this chapter varies in rigor, design, and construct definition thus producing mixed results. The information is a microcosm of the current landscape of research related to sensory processing disorder.

A single-subject design of research was utilized. This research design is a prevailing and practical tool that is applicable for assessing interventions with the participant seeking specific habitual behavioral changes under a given set of circumstances (monitoring SSB intake). The design involves a AB structure, where “A” is the baseline (regular daily SSB consumption) phase and “B” refers to intervention phase (limiting SSB intake). Outcome was recorded during both phases, which made it easier to understand because it showed (intake) what happened on a day-to-day basis. Baseline data will be collected daily at the home (setting) of the participant for one week and entered into a questionnaire and chart at the end of the week. The following week the participant did the same thing, but only this time SSB intake was monitored daily to see if limits could be put on consumption, the behavior the participant wanted to change.

A. Jean Ayres. Ayres’ was an occupational therapist that was responsible for the foundation and practice of sensory integration theory (W&S). Sensory integration theory is used to explain behavior, plan intervention, and predict how behavior will change through intervention (Roley et al., 2007). Ayres’ focus was on the organization of the central nervous system and how it was involved in the process of children using sensory information. Ayres’ theory of sensory integration describes how the neurological process relates to the recognition and organization of sensation from the body and environment (Devlin et al., 2010). This disorganization can lead to problems with learning, development, and behavior and also has a negative impact on occupational performance. In relation to the topic of Wilbargers’ DPPT, the focus of the articles collected was related to theoretical research on one particular sensory modulation problem defined by Ayres: tactile defensiveness. Tactile defensiveness is exhibited through the negative influence of touch avoidance symptoms (Moore & Henry, 2002). The aim of the Wilbargers’ DPPT is to utilize the connection between the client’s tactile sensation through the skin and nervous system to improve and normalize the sensation of

The controversy of sensory integration research and practice has surrounded the therapy and can be confusing to educators and parents (Jacobson & Foxx, 2015). Sensory integration, whether effective or ineffective, gained strength from the authority granted to the professional who promotes this therapy. This treatment is unsubstantiated, the claims are vague, with a lack of careful, scientific evaluations of the treatment and tests whether they benefit difficult or impossible.

Children, unlike adults are willing to try anything if given the chance and so allowing a child to taste test food is an ideal way to introduce new and healthy foods. Food and meal times can provide children with many learning opportunities, particularly by allowing a child to participate at meal times. However, food can also be a source of frustration and a cause of arguments between to food provider and the child. Building on positive experiences with food will help reduce such

Each child is a unique individual whose heredity and environment shape the course of his or her life. Woven into the daily life are aspects of food and nutrition. What childhood memories of food do you have? Are these memories healthy or unhealthy?

Four year olds are still very much learning through the use of their senses (Blaustein, 2005). As well, some children may have special needs concerning sensory processing and integration (Ayers, 1994). Children with sensory processing disorders range from over-responsive, under-responsive, to sensory craving (Ayers, 1994). Nonetheless, every person encounters a plethora of sensory stimuli each day and must take in information and integrate it with prior knowledge to make meaningful responses (Ayers, 1994). Multisensory centers provide young children with and without special needs with the opportunity to seek out sensory stimulation, acquire sensory integration and motor skills, learn coping skills, and understand basic scientific concepts (Blaustein, 2005).

Sensation and perception are tested in infants through the senses sight, sound, taste, smell, touch and pain.