How do you know if your child has a Sensory Learning problem?

Estimates of children with sensory integration problems are that between 12 to 30% have significant enough problems indicating the need for intervention.

Check out these signs:

Vestibular - Balance and Movement:

  • Poor Balance
  • Difficulty going up and down stairs or hills
  • Props head on hands while reading or writing
  • Seems fearful in space (swing, seesaw, heights)
  • Is afraid of, or avoids, vigorous, fast-moving activities at the playground (bouncing, swinging, balancing, or spinning)
  • Seems sensitive to movement, getting dizzy or seasick
  • Prefers fast-moving or spinning activities, perhaps not gettign dizzy or seeming less sensitive than most children

    The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A. - page 30

Hearing

  • Is frightened or irritated by loud noises.
  • Is very sensitive to background sounds
  • Has difficulty paying attention amid surrounding noise
  • Often shouts or speaks in a loud voice
  • Frequently makes repetitive noises or sounds
  • Fails to follow through on verbal requests
  • Needs directions repeated
  • Confuses spoken words (bear/hair)
  • Misses some sounds

    The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A. - page 31-32

Sight

  • Appears sensitive to light, preferring dark or dim lighting
  • Has difficulty discriminating shapes or colors
  • Has difficulty keeping eyes on objects
  • Cannot follow a moving object or line of print smoothly with eyes; loses place
  • Often squints, rubs eyes, gets headaches or watery eyes after reading
  • Becomes excited with a lot of visual stimuli
  • Resists having vision blocked
  • Reverses or confuses numbers, letters, or whole words
  • Has difficulty with written instructions
  • Has difficulty copying from blackboard or books

    The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A. - page 32-33

Attention and Behavior

  • Is restless or fidgety
  • Is impulsive, often jumping up before instructions are given
  • Has difficult organizing or structuring activities

    The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A. - page 33

Indicators of Sensory Integration Dysfunction

  • Overly sensitive to touch
  • Under-reactive to sensory stimulation / pain
  • Activity level that is unusually high or low
  • Coordination problems
  • Delays in speech, language, motor skills, or academic achievement
  • Poor organization of behavior
  • Poor self concept