What Is Sensory Diet For Sensory Processing Disorder
As we need food and water to keep ourselves active, fit, and alert throughout the day, but it is not the same as the children with a sensory processing disorder.
Children with sensory processing difficulties may respond in different ways. Some kids might be over-aroused, wired and some might be under aroused and too tired.
So, they need a particular set of activities which can make them fit and active. These particular planned and personalized activities are called ‘sensory diet’.
A sensory diet consists of a range of activities that target the different sensory systems and must be specifically tailored to the child’s needs.
Sensory diet are planned by occupational therapist in such a way that it help the overactive and wired child to become calm and focused , whereas it helps underactive and sluggish child to become more active and alert.
In other words, these activities play an indispensable role in keeping them focused and organized throughout the day, in whatever activity they are engaged.
Commonly used sensory diet activities can include:
1.Physical: Physical activities are the easiest to start with as most children tolerate movement better than any other type of sensory input.
Physical activities which use the large core muscles result in a greater amount of sensory stimulation and might include:
Animal walks (e.g bear walks, crab walking, frog jumps)
Trampolining
Climbing ladder
Cycling or using a scooter
Swings (forward and back, side to side, rotary)
Rough and tumble play
Deep pressure squishing or sandwiching with pillows or balls
Wearing a heavy backpack for movement (e.g. to carry heavy drink bottle when scooting)
Playing with weighted items (wheat bag on the lap while sitting or heavy blanket for sleep)
2.Tactile: Play with play-doh, kinetic sand, shaving cream, birdseed, rice, or any other tactile products.
3. Visual: Using torches to look at books, using dot-to-dots or mazes to narrow visual attention.
4. Oral: Chew toys or specifically chewy foods.
5. Auditory: ‘white noise’ or favored music on iPad, Balloons noise
Results of appropriate Sensory Diet:
Appropriate use of sensory diet helps the children in becoming more adaptable to their environment.
It can also help them in increasing their attention and concentration.
It can also them in cognitive development in later stages.