What Sensory Issue Does Your Child Have? In some situations, children may actually be undersensitive to the world around them, a problem that becomes evident through the absence of reaction tostimuli.This isanotherformofsensory issue thatcanbe treated via occupational therapy. This is referred to as hyposensitivity. This is a concerning issueaschildrenwithhyposensitivitytotouchmayunknowingly burnthemselvesorexposethemselvestounnecessarydangerbynotrealizing theyoughttoreacttoanexternalstimuli,suchasa loudcarhornorahotstove. Long-term Consequences and Treatment If not addressed as a child, sensory issues can create life-long struggles for the individual. Children who struggle with sensory issues are typically resistant to change and have trouble focusing, which may lead to trouble in school. In addition, sensory issues often lead to difficulty developing motor skills,whichrequire interactionwithexternalstimuli,aswellas lackofsocial skills and poor self-control.
It is possible for children to exhibit both signs of hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity.Thisgenerallymanifests intheformofanextremeresponse to a change in environment, such as going into a noisy store or a theater, and the tendency to flee from stimulation by abandoning environments that cause sensory anxiety in favor of a familiar, calming space.
While autism spectrum disorder is associated with sensory issues, there are many non-autism related instances of this concern. Working with an occupationaltherapistcanhelpachildovercomesensory-inducedanxieties and help a child create a healthier relationship with external stimuli.
SOURCES https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/2015/03/sensory-integration-exercises-reduce-sensory-sensitivity/ https://childmind.org/article/treating-sensory-processing-issues/ https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/sensory-processing-issues/understanding-sensory-processing-issues http://nspt4kids.com/therapy/what-is-the-difference-between-occupational-and-physical-therapy-for-children-north-shore-pediatric-therapy/
www.ptandrehab.com
Is Your Child’s Back Pack Going to Cause Injury?
Finding a Safe Pack Despite their potential problems, backpacks are great when used properly. Before you buy one, though, consider a backpack’s construction.
Using Backpacks Wisely
To help kids prevent injury when using a backpack: • Lighten the load. No matter how well-designed the backpack, less weight is alwaysbetter.Use thebathroomscale tocheck thatapack isn’tover10% to15% of your child’s body weight (for example, the backpack of a child who weighs 80 pounds shouldn’t weigh more than 8 to 12 pounds). • Use and pick up the backpack properly. Make sure kids use both shoulder straps. Bags that are slung over the shoulder or across the chest — or that only have one strap — aren’t as effective at distributing the weight as bags with two wide shoulder straps, and therefore may strain muscles. Also tighten the straps enough for the backpack to fit closely to the body. The pack should rest evenly in the middle of the back and not sag down to the buttocks. You may need to adjust your kids’ backpacks and/or reduce how much they carry if they : • Struggle to get the backpack on or off • Have back pain • Lean forward to carry the backpack If your child has back pain or numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, talk to your doctor or a physical therapist.
Look for the following to choose the right backpack: • Lightweight pack: get one that doesn’t add a lot of weight to your child’s load; for example, leather packs look cool, but they weigh more than canvas backpacks • Two wide, padded shoulder straps: straps that are too narrow can dig into shoulders • Padded back: it not only provides increased comfort, but also protects kids from being poked by sharp objects or edges (pencils, rulers, notebooks, etc.) inside the pack
• Waist belt: this helps to distribute the weight more evenly across the body • Multiple compartments: to help distribute the weight throughout the pack Although packs on wheels (which look like small, overhead luggage bags) may be good options for students who have to lug around really heavy loads, they’re very hard to pull up stairs and to roll through snow. Check with the school before buyinga rollingpack;manydon’tallow thembecause theycanbea trippinghazard in the hallways.
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter