Sensory Integration Dysfunction is an inability to pull together and understand (or process) sensory information from the environment. This includes the ability to understand sensory information that arises from one's own body (such as from muscles and joints), as well as understanding sensory information that arises from other people (such as language) and objects in the environment.
Everyone experiences difficulties in pulling together this type of information at one time or another, particularly during periods of growth, change, or stress. However, people who have sensory integration dysfunction experience these difficulties at times throughout most of their day. These difficulties impact their performance at home, at work, at school, and at play.
A person with Sensory Integration Dysfunction may exhibit one or more of the following signs:
• Overly sensitive to touch, movement, sights, or sounds
• Under reactive to touch, movement, sights, or sounds
• Easily distracted
• Difficulty regulating behavior
• Activity level that is unusually high or unusually low
• Physical clumsiness or apparent carelessness
• Impulsive, lacking in self control
• Difficulty making transitions from one situation to another
• Inability to unwind or calm self
• Poor self concept
• Delays in speech, language, or motor skills
• Delays in academic achievement
• Social and/or emotional problems