Personal Sensory Seeking Part 2
By Jessica Jordan, MS, OTR/L
Age and Why It Matters
From our understanding, we find that younger children may use personal sensory seeking as a calming strategy, much like thumb sucking, where as older children may also use this as a calming input, but also as an alerting form of sensory input. Again, it is crucial to really examine the environment and try to determine why this behavior is occurring and if there is anything that can be done to decrease the sensory overload in the environment if at all if possible.
Offering Input in Varied Ways
If an individual is personally sensory seeking in public places, it may be beneficial to offer more input to that area built into already existing routines during the day. It is very hard to inhibit this type of input, as learned from our previous post, it is part of a very rewarding circuit, therefore here are a few of our favorite strategies in order to incorporate into an individual’s daily schedule/routine:
At home or in the classroom, encourage the individual to straddle a chair backwards or straddle a peanut ball
Encourage the individual to lie in prone (on the stomach) or on top of an exercise ball/peanut ball to complete homework, complete reading, or even classroom activities
Alternative seating including but not limited too an exercise ball, a T stool, etc.
Providing extended time in Cobra pose during yoga times at school/home/ or in an after school program
Providing more input through clothing, therefore a compression garment worn to school underneath the individual’s clothing. Think tighter boxer breifs vs. loose boxers and underwear made of more elastic/compression type materials (athletic style).
Access to weighted input targeted to the groin area (i.e. during evening routines try using a weighted blanket)
Again, consultation and collaboration with an occupational therapist is key to determine what strategies will match the individual and their occupational profile best.
Education For all
We think one of the most important pieces to this topic is education. Making sure that the social stigma and embarrassment is taken out of the equation, as this is a sensory need that can be filled just like any other sensory needs an individual might have. Individual, parent, teacher, and caregiver education is crucial and may help to better support younger individuals or children who may be engaging in this sensory seeking. Helping individuals understand boundaries between public and private actions should be supported as well as acknowledging and confirming in a non judgmental way that an individual does have autonomy over their own body.
We are here to support you at SUNRISE Therapies, therefore please leave your comments and questions below! We look forward to reading them!