WHAT IS SENSORY INTEGRATION?

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well. Dr. Ayres believed that sensory integration occurs automatically in most people, so we just take it for granted. While many people have now become used to thinking of the brain as directing all activity in the body and mind, the concept of sensory integration continues to introduce a new way of looking at learning and behavior. Briefly, in her book Sensory Integration and the Child (1979), Dr. Ayres described the nervous system as an interconnected network of nerve cells that are distributed throughout the body. The brain and the spinal cord together are known as the central nervous system. Basically, the central nervous system is responsible for taking in sensations from outside (and inside) the body, sending signals to the brain where they are organized and processed, where a response is formulated and sent. So, according to Dr. Ayres, Sensory Integration is the organization of sensation for use. Our senses give us information about the physical conditions of our bodies and the environment around us. Sensations flow into the brain, like streams flowing into a lake. Countless bits of sensory information enter into our brains every momentthe brain locates, sorts and orders sensationssomewhat as a traffic policeman directs moving cars. When sensations flow in a well organized or integrated manner, the brain can use those sensations to form perceptions, behaviors and learning. When the flow of sensations is disorganized, life can be like a rush hour traffic jam. (pp.45) So, it is sensory integration that attempts to put it all together and that helps us make sense of who we are and the world around us. For us, as mothers, Sensory Integration and the Child was a challenging but incredibly eye-opening book. It gave us a lifelinefinally, someone who seemed to understand our children and give us an explanation for why they behaved the way they did. It truly changed the way we viewed our children and their odd behaviors. This was our first realization that our children were simply wired differently, and that there was something we could do about it. We figured that if we could just gain an understanding of sensory integration dysfunction, it would enable us to interact more positively and effectively with our children and become better advocates for their needs; and, most importantly, there was hope that we could improve the quality of their lives! We came to find out that our children were not just willful and difficult, but were doing the best they could from moment to moment. Dr. Ayres was one of the first to recognize that some childrens nervous systems are just not

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