"What Are the Signs of a Child with Poor Sensory Integration?"

Symptoms and Coping Strategies for Children with Poor Sensory Integration

Children with poor sensory integration often exhibit symptoms such as poor coordination, lack of concentration, emotional instability, delayed language development, and excessive reactions to external stimuli. Specifically, they may:

• Have poor coordination: Struggling with activities like running, jumping, and climbing, appearing clumsy.
• Lack concentration: Find it difficult to focus during classes or homework, easily distracted by surroundings.
• Experience emotional instability: Tend to lose control of their emotions, crying or tantruming when faced with stress or frustration.
• Show delayed language development: Speak and understand language more slowly than peers.
• React excessively to external stimuli: Display abnormal responses to sounds, lights, and other sensory inputs.

Here are detailed descriptions and corresponding strategies for addressing these issues:

1. Poor Coordination

Children with poor sensory integration often appear clumsy in daily activities, frequently falling while running, struggling with balance during jumping, and displaying uncoordinated movements in climbing. Parents can help by engaging them in activities like balance beams, skipping ropes, and swimming to gradually improve coordination. These activities not only enhance physical fitness but also strengthen the brain's control over bodily movements. Additionally, encouragement and companionship from parents can boost their interest and confidence in sports.

2. Lack of Concentration

These children often have trouble focusing during lessons or homework, easily distracted by surrounding noises or activities. To improve concentration, parents and teachers can create a quiet, consistent learning environment with minimal distractions. Utilizing timers and reward systems can motivate children to complete tasks with focused attention, gradually extending their concentration spans. Establishing healthy routines and ensuring adequate sleep also contribute to better attention.

3. Emotional Instability

When confronted with stress or setbacks, these children may lose emotional control, resorting to crying or tantrums. Parents should provide extra love and patience, teaching them to recognize and express emotions appropriately. Emotional expression training, such as through drawing, storytelling, and other creative outlets, can help children learn to communicate emotions verbally and behaviorally, rather than through tantrums. Creating a stable and nurturing home environment can further minimize emotional fluctuations.

4. Delayed Language Development

These children typically lag behind peers in language expression and comprehension. To promote language development, parents should engage in frequent language interactions, including language games, storytelling, singing, and conversational practices. Early intervention and professional speech therapy are also crucial for children with delayed language development. Specialized training can gradually enhance their language skills.

5. Excessive Reactions to External Stimuli

Children with poor sensory integration may be overly sensitive or insensitive to sounds, lights, and tactile inputs. Sensory integration training, involving activities like brushing the skin, massage, and pressure exercises, can help adjust their responses to stimuli. Gradually exposing them to different environments and stimuli can improve their adaptability. Participating in sensory experience activities, like sandplay and aquatic activities, can also enhance their tolerance and responsiveness to various stimuli.

Children with poor sensory integration face numerous challenges in coordination, concentration, emotion management, language development, and reactions to external stimuli. Timely medical attention, professional guidance, and treatment are vital for their healthy growth. Parents should maintain a supportive home environment and adopt positive lifestyle habits to foster an environment conducive to sensory integration development.