Sensory Integration Is Not A Learning Disability
December 3rd, 2008

Adults and children with conditions such as autism, or other disabilities that hinder development, could quite possibly have sensory system dysfunctions. Many times, some of their senses become so over stimulated that it can induce such symptoms as hand flapping, spinning, or rocking. It is now believed that the problem stems from the central nervous system, linking to the brain rather, than what was truly believed originally. It was first thought that the sensor receptors located in the peripheral system were the cause. This, of course, excludes the spinal cord and the brain.

Many individuals with conditions such as autism state that pressure touch techniques enhance awareness and attention. Integration and interpretation of said sensors, which is fed by the brain, is the direct relation to sensory integration. Many problems in development are caused by this disorder, which can include erratic behavior and a lack of information processing. As the individual develops and matures, feeding off their environment, their sensory integration works on three primary senses. These senses are vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile. These senses start forming while in the womb and continue throughout life. These senses are directly connected to the brain and with sensory integration the connection is somehow interrupted. The senses that are in question are most critical in our way in life and survival. This is a very complex system and when interrupted make it difficult for us to interact with our environment, as well as taking in information properly.

It must be stressed that sensory integration is indeed not a learning disability, rather a problem with the basic sensory functions that feed information to the brain. When dealing with tactile sensors, it is noted that there are a great amount of nerve endings under the skin that send information to the brain where it translates it for further processing. This can include changes in temperature, pressure, pain, or any forms of sensation. This is what is known as a safe guard or protective reaction for basic survival. Tactile dysfunctions can make eating certain foods unpleasant, and refusing to be touched by someone else. Wearing some types of clothing can indeed incite a fussy demeanor, as well. Having simple tasks, such as hair or teeth being brushed, can be affected, too. This can easily lead to a very grumpy disposition in an individual; sometimes it will cause them to retract from other people in a sort of self-imposed isolation. Many times the amount of brain activity is much greater than that of someone without this condition, making it a problem with overload.

The vestibular system is not related to touch, rather interference in the inner ear. This is the sensor that determines whether your head is tilted or upright almost like a natural level, so to speak. If there is an interruption in this sensor, minor things like quick movement or motor skills that require going up or down stairs or climbing become troublesome. In some cases, this is an apprehension, in other cases the individual will try to compensate for the lack of sensory low by making jerking or quick movements such as jumping or spinning. They will continually try to stimulate this vestibular system. The final system is the proprioceptive and controls the joints and muscles. This is the system that gives one the sense of where there body is positioned. When this system is not interrupted, the body will naturally compensate for different positions. This includes sitting, standing, or kneeling. Without this system working properly, it makes for quite a task just to hold a spoon, to eat soup, or use a pencil to write. It is generally assumed that the individual with this system hindered is more likely to fall down or appear clumsy. They have a lack of awareness of their body in general space.

To imply that these symptoms are the direct result of a learning disability are unjust and unfounded. The difference in the two conditions is where as one has their information processing disrupted, the other has a broken signal so to speak and it makes for physical mishaps, that most learning disabilities show no sign of. So, in short, sensory integration is indeed not a learning disability

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