Sensory Processing Disorder
 
In children and adults with sensory processing issues the brain has difficulty making sense of the sensory information it is receiving from the environment, deciding what to focus on or what to filter out, and how to respond appropriately to the information. 
 
This response may be a motor action, such as adjusting your posture so you don’t fall down (clumsiness), or it may be a cognitive response, such as being unable to concentrate on your parent’s or teacher’s voice even when there is little noise in the room. 
 
People with sensory processing issues expend a lot of extra energy and thought making sense of their sensory world and trying to think of appropriate responses. Therefore they struggle with poor attention, become frustrated easily, can be moody, anxious and sometimes depressed. 
 
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is an umbrella term that encompasses several different types of disorders resulting from poor integration of the senses.
 
Typical symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder include the following:

•  infants who are “really easy” or “really difficult” – both extremes can indicate sensory issues
• delayed development of motor skills and speech
• picky eaters or have cravings for a limited number of foods
• avoid touch, or touches EVERYTHING in sight
• doesn’t like feet off the ground, resists motion activities
• seeks intense motion, often “crashes” onto floor or walls on purpose
• walks on toes or with “heavy” footsteps
• picky about clothing textures or chooses clothes based on how they “feel”
• sensitive to odors in environment, or doesn’t seem to notice smells at all
• poor attention span
• fussy, irritable, moody, anxious
• easily overwhelmed in busy, noisy environments like birthday parties and supermarkets
• has frequent “melt-downs” out of proportion to the situation
• hates hair-washing, haircuts, nail-trimming, bathing
• poor or delayed social skill development

 
These are just some of the more common symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder. 
 
If you feel like you or your child may have some of these symptoms which are interfering with your / their quality of life, our occupational therapists can help you.  They will identify and give you strategies to manage yours or your child’s sensory issues. You don’t have to struggle alone, just call us at Therapy Professionals Ltd 

            Phone:           03 377 5280
            Email:            [email protected].

Gardening helps keep us fit.  It works and stretches our muscles. However, it can be hard on other parts of the body, especially our back and knees.
 
Don’t overdo it!!
 
Here is some advice from our friendly physiotherapists on how to keep fit with gardening and avoid the physical drawbacks from the activity.  
 
Their general advice is to:

• start with short bursts of 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a week. If you feel okay after this, increase the time (don’t double it!).
• change activities after 10 minutes.
• keep a bottle of water with you and sip regularly (dehydration causes headaches and tiredness).
• avoid gardening at the hottest time of the day in full sun.
• remember your hat and sunscreen.

Advice to save your back and knees:

• Stop and stretch (especially your back and knees).
• If kneeling, use a cushion.
• Kneel or get on your hands and knees while doing activities, rather than bend over.
• Kneel for maximum of 15 minutes, then change activity
• Install raised beds.
• If you have trouble getting down to the ground and up, use a ‘kneeler’ with handles, or leave a solid chair in the garden areas so you always have a support to use getting up – and somewhere to sit once you do get up!
• Do all jobs as close to your body as possible eg weed with your hands close to you, not reaching out
• Carry all loads close to your body.
• Don’t overfill bags you have to carry, eg weeds, compost – use a wheelbarrow or sack barrow
• Use the ‘lunge’ rocking movement using your legs when raking or sweeping – it’s much easier on your back than stretching and bending
• If you have sore or disabled hands you can get gardening equipment.

​If you want more advice on gardening safely as you age, our friendly physios and occupational therapists can help, contact us as follows:

          Ph:                              377 5280  
         Email:                        [email protected]
        Website:                    www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz

​All children and younger adults learn through play. They acquire and practice physical, social, emotional, intellectual and sensory skills which are important in life. Those with special needs are no different, they too learn through play. To assist the development of those with special needs often play or games are used in a deliberate way to help them achieve certain developmental milestones.
 
Physio, Speech Language and Occupational Therapists can help. They will pinpoint what the child or young person is able to do and assess whether they are progressing at the expected development rate. If a child or younger person is behind in their development the therapist may:
provide equipment or alternative methods for them to do certain activities.  

• suggest games, play ideas and play equipment. 
• recommend sensory equipment and activities to help them focus.

 
Toys, games and equipment can be expensive. For many families there are several ways you can reduce the cost, by buying second hand, sharing toys with other families, or joining a toy library.  If you live in Christchurch.  If you have a special needs child or younger adult you can use the Special Needs Library for educational and therapeutic toys.
 
The Special Needs Library assists parents and professionals to help those with special needs, supplies good play material and ideas to enrich the learning experiences, and employs a Play Advisor to assist parents to choose appropriate toys.
 
They provide stimulating educational toys and equipment.  Age is irrelevant. The needs of the clients are the most important factor.  Those needs are from mild to severe and in any developmental area.
 
The Special Needs Library offers you:

• a wide range of specialist toys
• ideas for their use
• home visiting Education Play Advisor

 
Catering for:

• stimulation
• challenge
• early learning skills
• language development
• co-ordination
• sight and hearing
• behaviour management 

​They welcome children and adults with long or short-term special needs, their families, teacher and therapists; groups and schools; or anyone with an interest in special needs. 
 
For example:
 

• newborn Spina Bifida or Downs Syndrome clients requiring early stimulation
• very bright, very active toddlers needing plenty of play experiences
• autism
• multiple births
• children with delayed language development
• severely physically disabled people
• those with developmental delays
• poorly co-ordinated children, often with specific learning difficulties
• sensory impaired children
• ‘short-term needs’ clients - perhaps a convalescent patient
• clients facing the special problems of the aging process

 
For those children or younger adults with sensory issues - smell, visual, sound, touch, balance, posture, weight and pressure or issues with oral motor (muscles of eating), gross motor (large muscle movements), fine motor (finger skills) there is some help.  The Southern Centre – multi sensory experience run out of Pioneer Recreation and Sports Centre is a great resource.  
 
Specialist sensory equipment can be brought from Sensory Corner in Auckland www.sensorycorner.co.nz.  We would recommend you consult a therapist before using a sensory room or purchasing sensory equipment. 
 
The Southern Centre is a multi-sensory recreational environment for people of all ages and abilities.  It uses innovative lighting and sound technology which allows participants to explore and create at the touch of a switch.  It is a unique facility with the ability to cater for the needs of the individual and empowers the participant/s to choose their own environment, make changes and control their leisure time.
 
The Southern Centre is located within Pioneer Recreation & Sport Centre and is a partnership that incorporates the Christchurch City Council and the Southern Centre Charitable Trust. 
 
If you have a child or younger adult who is struggling, or they appear behind in their development compared to their peers, our friendly therapist may be able to help. Just contact:
             Therapy Professionals Ltd.           -          Phone:            (03) 377 5280