Thursday, April 7, 2011
Can we change the arousal level of a child?
We shall see that shortly... Do come back to see the reply
What is Arousal?
Arousal is the level of alertness that one possesses. When we are riding a roller coaster or watching a cricket match that has a nail-biting finish, our arousal level is high. At other times, mostly after lunch or a boring lecture, we fight with ourselves to stay awake, then our arousal is low. Either of these extremes are not helpful for learning. Learning, be it a task or academics, can be quick and efficient only when our alertness is 'somewhere in the middle'.
You guessed it right, our alertness do not stay the same throughout the day. It goes in a wave like pattern, increasing and decreasing at various times of the day. How does understanding this help a parent?
Good question! Identifying the level of arousal in a child with disability is the first step towards teaching. A child cannot learn when he is sleepy or jumping around. The first thing towards learning is to get the arousal to the optimum level. To begin with, lets try to find out which time of the day the child is most receptive to learning and use that period to teach him new concepts.
You guessed it right, our alertness do not stay the same throughout the day. It goes in a wave like pattern, increasing and decreasing at various times of the day. How does understanding this help a parent?
Good question! Identifying the level of arousal in a child with disability is the first step towards teaching. A child cannot learn when he is sleepy or jumping around. The first thing towards learning is to get the arousal to the optimum level. To begin with, lets try to find out which time of the day the child is most receptive to learning and use that period to teach him new concepts.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Is Sensory Stimulation the same as Sensory Integration
No.
The brain understands the body as well as the environment from the information provided by the senses. When the senses are not giving a consistent and appropriate information (feedback) the brain is confused. Sensory Stimulation is the method in which we stimulate the senses to make them work properly. In other words, we increase the intensity of feedback e.g. bright lights for vision, swinging for vestibular and music for auditory senses. As more and more information reaches the brain from a particular source, the brain starts responding to them. This is the concept of Sensory Stimulation.
Sensory Integration on the other hand is not only about increasing the intensity of inputs but also about making the child respond with appropriate responses. How do we know that the child is able to take in an information? It is only through the way he responds to that input, isn't it? If you turn (response) when you hear your name being called (input), that means you were able to hear it as well as figured out that it is your name. So, Sensory Integration focuses on the use of multiple senses at the same time to get an appropriate response. Sometimes we do require increased intensity, talking loud in a noisy environment, to communicate, which means that the focus is also on modifying the intensity of the input to get an appropriate response.
If a child is made to swing, it is sensory stimulation (for vestibular). If the child is pumping the swing himself or herself, it is sensory integration.
The brain understands the body as well as the environment from the information provided by the senses. When the senses are not giving a consistent and appropriate information (feedback) the brain is confused. Sensory Stimulation is the method in which we stimulate the senses to make them work properly. In other words, we increase the intensity of feedback e.g. bright lights for vision, swinging for vestibular and music for auditory senses. As more and more information reaches the brain from a particular source, the brain starts responding to them. This is the concept of Sensory Stimulation.
Sensory Integration on the other hand is not only about increasing the intensity of inputs but also about making the child respond with appropriate responses. How do we know that the child is able to take in an information? It is only through the way he responds to that input, isn't it? If you turn (response) when you hear your name being called (input), that means you were able to hear it as well as figured out that it is your name. So, Sensory Integration focuses on the use of multiple senses at the same time to get an appropriate response. Sometimes we do require increased intensity, talking loud in a noisy environment, to communicate, which means that the focus is also on modifying the intensity of the input to get an appropriate response.
If a child is made to swing, it is sensory stimulation (for vestibular). If the child is pumping the swing himself or herself, it is sensory integration.
Friday, April 10, 2009
What is Sensory Integration?
Dr. Jean Ayres, who formulated the concept of Sensory Integration gave a very simple definition of Sensory Integration. "It is the organization of senses for use in everyday life"
Let us throw some light on the definition. Everyday every moment we receive numerous information from our own body as well as from the environment. Just pause for a moment and listen to the sounds that you can hear as you read this. I am sure you have noticed a sound now which you did not hear in the first place. This is because of Sensory Integration. As we receive numerous information, some of them relevant and some irrelevant to us, our brain automatically filters out the irrelevant ones so that we can stay focused on the task at hand.. in this case, reading this content. So, we are organizing our senses...
Why do we need to organize our senses? As we organize information, we decide whether it is important or not. If it is important we act upon that information, isn't it? So we receive the information and 'use' it. And we are looking at our day to day tasks right from switching off the alarm in the morning to cover ourselves with blanket in the night.
Let us throw some light on the definition. Everyday every moment we receive numerous information from our own body as well as from the environment. Just pause for a moment and listen to the sounds that you can hear as you read this. I am sure you have noticed a sound now which you did not hear in the first place. This is because of Sensory Integration. As we receive numerous information, some of them relevant and some irrelevant to us, our brain automatically filters out the irrelevant ones so that we can stay focused on the task at hand.. in this case, reading this content. So, we are organizing our senses...
Why do we need to organize our senses? As we organize information, we decide whether it is important or not. If it is important we act upon that information, isn't it? So we receive the information and 'use' it. And we are looking at our day to day tasks right from switching off the alarm in the morning to cover ourselves with blanket in the night.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Parent Training
Are you a Parent of a child with special needs?
If your child is diagnosed with any of the following disorders, Autism, ASD, Hyperactivity, ADHD, Down's Syndrome or
Your child does not know how to play
Your child is poorly motivated... please read on
Sensory Integration has become a catch word nowadays. So, as a parent if you are wondering what it is and does your child really need it? then learn about it - FIRST HAND from the Only Physiotherapist in India to be certified in Sensory Integration
The training programme is conducted at Shrishti Physiotherapy & Child Development Centre,
32/14, III Avenue, Ashok Nagar, Chennai - 600083 on March 14 & 15 (Sat & Sun).
Timings: 9.30 am to 1 pm on both days
Fees: Rs. 600/- per parent and Rs.1000/- per couple
Contact: Mr. Karthik @ 98401 06608 for registration
the schedule of topics has been listed in www.shrishtitherapies.blogspot.com
If your child is diagnosed with any of the following disorders, Autism, ASD, Hyperactivity, ADHD, Down's Syndrome or
Your child does not know how to play
Your child is poorly motivated... please read on
Sensory Integration has become a catch word nowadays. So, as a parent if you are wondering what it is and does your child really need it? then learn about it - FIRST HAND from the Only Physiotherapist in India to be certified in Sensory Integration
The training programme is conducted at Shrishti Physiotherapy & Child Development Centre,
32/14, III Avenue, Ashok Nagar, Chennai - 600083 on March 14 & 15 (Sat & Sun).
Timings: 9.30 am to 1 pm on both days
Fees: Rs. 600/- per parent and Rs.1000/- per couple
Contact: Mr. Karthik @ 98401 06608 for registration
the schedule of topics has been listed in www.shrishtitherapies.blogspot.com
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Welcome
If you are looking for details about Sensory Integration in Chennai, you are at the right place. This page is under construction!
The owner of this page is Mr. Karthik Ranganatha Rao who is currently the only Physiotherapist in India (as on September 2008) to be Certified in Sensory Integration from USA.
He can be reached at 098401 06608 (Chennai)
You will hear more from us soon.... Keep checking this website
The owner of this page is Mr. Karthik Ranganatha Rao who is currently the only Physiotherapist in India (as on September 2008) to be Certified in Sensory Integration from USA.
He can be reached at 098401 06608 (Chennai)
You will hear more from us soon.... Keep checking this website
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