Our sensory experiences encompass various channels, including sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, movements, balance, body position, and muscle control. Sensory Integration refers to the intricate process through which we receive sensory input, organize it within our brains, and utilize it to engage in everyday activities. While most children receive sensory signals in a typical manner, some encounter challenges in organizing this information effectively. These difficulties can manifest in different ways, with some children being over-responsive or sensitive, leading them to avoid sensory input, while others may be under-responsive or less sensitive, causing them to actively seek sensory input.
The Foundation
1. Vestibular
2. Proprioception
3. Tactile (Touch)
4. Interoception
The Functional
1. Auditory (Sound)
2. Visual (Sight)
3. Gustatory (Taste)
4. Olfactory (Smell)
“Reading, writing and arithmetic… are extremely complex processes that can develop upon a strong foundation of sensory integration.”
Sensory Integration involves the following components:
1. Modulation and Regulation of sensory input.
2. Management of Arousal level.
3. Discrimination of sensory stimuli.
Sensory Modulation:
Sensory modulation refers to the central nervous system’s control over neural messages related to sensory stimuli, allowing for the adjustment of behavior based on the input’s degree, nature, and intensity. It involves managing arousal levels and maintaining a balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Achieving a ‘Just Right’ equilibrium is crucial, considering individual differences in sensory processing.
Sensory Regulation:
Sensory regulation involves exhibiting adaptive, functional, and socially appropriate responses to internal and environmental demands.
Arousal Level:
Arousal pertains to physiological readiness for responding, encompassing the preparedness to react to stress and engage in stress recovery.
Discrimination of sensory stimuli:
Sensory discrimination involves the recognition and interpretation of specific characteristics in sensory stimuli, encompassing the accurate understanding of what is seen, heard, felt, tasted, or smelled.
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DIRFloortime® Practitioner
Denise is a DIRFloortime® Practitioner (DIR-Basic) with a specialization in Sensory Integration and Developmental Play. Her approach combines the DIRFloortime methodology with developmental play strategies and sensory integration techniques. Denise holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors in Psychology from the University of Sussex.
With years of experience, Denise has worked extensively with individuals on the autism spectrum, those with sensory processing difficulties, and learning challenges. She is deeply committed to seeing beyond the surface and believes in the inherent potential of every child, embracing the philosophy, “If a child could, they would.”
Denise has furthered her expertise through various courses, including those from the Maude Le Roux Academy, Developmental Play by CreateCatt, and other programs focused on learning challenges, sensory, play, and emotional processes.
Advisory Partner
Maude Le Roux is an occupational therapist with an extensive following of professionals across the globe. She studies human development in different capacities of growth, spanning ages and stages, neuroanatomy, assessment tools as well as current trends of intervention. She completed her DIR/Floortime® certificate in 2005 and has been an Expert Training Leader for ICDL since 2011. She owns and directs a clinical practice in Glen Mills, PA, where she has become known for her effective assessment and intervention protocol. While she trains globally, Maude continues to operate this active practice to continue to inform her work and develop the case studies from which she expands her assessment and intervention protocol. She co-authored the book “Our Greatest Allies” in 2011 with Lauren O’Malley describing the journey of one child and also describing the DIR/Floortime® Method.
Training Director
James Ho is a certified DIR® Advanced Trainer and specializes in Sensory Integration. He combines the approach of DIR Floortime and play as well as the practice of Sensory Integration as a basis of his work as he strongly believes that learning happens best when the child is having fun. James is also a certified Tomatis Consultant. James graduated from Murdoch University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and has over 10 years of experience working with children, teens, and adults on the Autism Spectrum as well as those with sensory processing challenges and learning challenges and difficulties. His passion and drive had allowed him to be chosen to manage and coordinate a branch in Jakarta, where he would supervise and train a team of staff. His responsibility also includes conducting reviews with parents and working with them through coaching and giving them advice on parents’ engagement in supporting the child’s ability to partake in his or her learning environment. James is trained and mentored under international trainer, Maude Le Roux, OTR/L, SIPT, RCTC, who is a DIR® Expert Trainer, Certified Tomatis Practitioner, and a consultant. He has also attended various courses with Maude Le Roux Academy. James has attended workshops in understanding the mental health developmental structures as they relate to playing and emotional processes.
