Ohana OT Pediatric Therapy in Wenatchee

Sensory Processing Disorder Solutions for Your Child

‘Ohana Occupational Therapy

1139 N. Princeton Suite B, Wenatchee, WA 98801
P: 509.888.7435 | F: 509.888.7674

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Guide to a Better World – Access Page

Guide-to-a-Better-World

Help for uncontrollable outbursts:

If your child is in a sensory meltdown it can look like a tantrum. The big difference is that the response is so intense it is more like a fight/flight/freeze/shut down response (e.g. the feeling you might have if you found a spider or snake crawling on you). If it is a sensory meltdown, he will not be able to calm quickly just by getting his way.

The important thing is to realize that your child is not trying to manipulate you.

Your child is in distress and does not know how to calm himself. Try to assess what may have triggered the meltdown and reduce that stimuli if possible. For example many children with sensory processing problems react negatively to fluorescent lighting. If there is a way to reduce this stress it can help calm your child. For example, you could use your coat over a shopping cart to create shade from the lighting while in a store. Another common trigger is noise. If you are able to reduce the noise by moving to a quieter area that will often help your child to calm down. Often noise cancelling headphones are helpful. Creating a sensory retreat in your home can be a wonderful tool for preventing meltdowns and recovering from them. It can be as simple as a blanket fort with pillows. Once you understand common triggers for your child you can often prevent meltdowns by avoiding over stimulating your child. Deep pressure can be very calming for some children (e.g. a bear hug or a side hug).

 

Help for when your child’s activity level is much different than his peers:

The most common reason we see here at Ohana OT is due to poor core strength and poor body sensation of position and movement. It is very common for these children who are constantly moving to actually be physically unable to sit calmly for more than a couple of minutes.   An occupational therapist can evaluate your child to determine if there is a physical reason that your child won’t stop moving. She can then help you provide activities to help your child become more aware of his body and develop the physical strength in his trunk to sit for longer periods of time to function better with day to day tasks. Your child will probably benefit from lots of outdoor play time, swimming, and helping with chores like vacuuming or moving a basket of laundry (“Heavy work to the muscles”) which help him feel resistance to his body increasing his ability to feel his body in space.

 

Help for over sensitivity to light, sound and touch:

Children are often oversensitive to stimuli of the outside world when their internal body senses of movement and position in space are off (which makes them basically feel uncomfortable and stressed). It is important to find out the root of the problem and an occupational therapist trained in sensory processing disorders can help determine why your child is struggling. Your over sensitive child may benefit from some simple adaptations such as using lamps in the classroom and avoiding fluorescent lighting. Also, wearing a hat and sunglasses if needed when out in the community is helpful. When sounds are too invasive it may help to listen to something else that is comfortable (e.g. familiar music, white noise of a fan), use ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones. Occupational therapists also have special programs to help with systematically helping your child to be comfortable with a full range of sound frequencies. If your child is very sensitive to light touch on his skin he may be extremely picky with clothing. Wearing a comfortable soft undershirt can help. Also snuggly fitting lycra clothing works well like a “second skin”. Make sure that your child had some protection against unexpected touch will help him to feel safe (e.g. be in his field of vision before you put your hand on his shoulder).

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Community Doctor of the Month!

This month 'Ohana OT has chosen

Dr. Shauna Hornby, MD

Shauna Hornby, MD

Dr. Shauna Hornby grew up in Lodi, California. She completed her undergraduate studies at Walla Walla College in College Place, WA. She graduated from Loma Linda University Medical School and completed her Pediatric Residency at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.

Columbia Valley Community Health Pediatrics

(509)662-6000
504 Orondo Ave,
Wenatchee, WA 98801

 

 

Ailments We Treat

Diagnoses/Conditions:

Sensory Processing Disorder
Developmental Coordination Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
ADD / ADHD
Hyperactivity
Physical disabilities
Global Developmental Delay
Brachial Plexus Injury
Stroke
Spinal Cord Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury
Spinal Bifida
Down Syndrome
Muscular Dystrophy
Neurological disorders
Vision and hearing disabilities
Congenital anomalies
Neuromuscular disease
Prenatal drug exposure
FAS
Cerebral Palsy

Areas of Treatment:
Attention
Learning
Behavior
Feeding / Picky eating
Handwriting
Social skills
Play skills
Coordination
Sensory seeking behaviors
Sensory over sensitivities
Gross motor skills
Fine motor
Self care Skills
Ocular motor skills
Sleep
Eye contact
Hand splints and foot orthotics
Wheelchair selection and fitting
Adaptive toys, equipment and
adapting the environment to the
child's needs.
Transition Skills

Pediatric Therapy Specialists

Wenatchee Clinic
1139 N. Princeton Suite B,
Wenatchee, WA (509) 888-7435

Our Revolutionary “Sensory Integration” Program Changes Lives!

Watch the program in action in our video. If your child is suffering from behavior, coordination, learning, or energy issues, this program could make a world of difference. Boost confidence, … More...

What is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)?

It's when a child has difficulty processing the world around them. What they see, hear, smell, touch, and taste isn't recognized the same as you and me. The signals get mixed up and it can cause … More...

Click Below To Learn More On How To Make Your Child’s Life A Better Place

Guide-to-a-Better-World

Testimonials

Chase's success Story: "Before coming to 'Ohana, Chase was having a hard time focusing. He is now calmer and able to focus more and is able to be more independent. The therapists are great with the … More...

What Can I Expect?

Our specialized programs and treatments are proven to bring results. You can expect to see changes and improvements within your child sometimes within the first 14 days. You can also expect to get … More...

Specialized Facility

In our clinic, you will see about 1800 square feet of cushioned floor space with an amazing array of ropes, therapeutic suspended equipment, tunnels, crash pillows, balls and other child-oriented … More...

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Recent Blog Posts

‘Ohana OT’s Roots, a Tribute to Mary’s Father

In honor of Father's Day today, I want you all to know how my own Dad has influenced me. If my Dad was still alive today, … [Read More...]

Sunscreen Tips for your Sensory Child

Summer is approaching fast and it's important that we protect ourselves and our children against the hot summer sun... But … [Read More...]

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