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The Torture of Touch
Raising a Child With Sensory Integration Dysfunction By Laurie Dove
Treating DSIIt has been a journey with great reward, Lofgren says, and a lot of work. Lofgren's daughter now regularly sees an occupational therapist specifically trained to treat DSI.
The goal of occupational therapy, according to Sensory Integration International, is to enable children to take part in the normal "occupations" of childhood such as playing with friends, enjoying school, eating, dressing and sleeping which are often problems for children with DSI.
Treatment often occurs in a large, sensory-enriched gym with lots of swinging, spinning, tactile, visual, auditory and taste opportunities. At-home activities also can make a big difference to a DSI child, says Heather Miller, an occupational therapist from Hilliard, Ohio.
Miller encourages parents to keep routines and possessions in the home as organized and structured as possible. She also advises parents to be consistent with daily rules and consequences, as well as posting a large calendar to highlight the child's daily and weekly routine.
"After therapy, she can sit and draw quietly, string beads calmly and speak fluently like never before," Lofgren says of her daughter's progress. "She tolerates her clothing and even enjoyed shopping for jeans and long-sleeved shirts for school last month. I have a picture of her smiling while wearing a turtleneck, jeans and a pony tail that brings tears to my eyes. To a stranger it means nothing. To me it shows how far we've come!"
