Occupational Therapists

INFORMATION FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS.

Sensory Pod Benifits Benefits:

 

Why is occupational therapy important for Neuro-diverse children?

 

We use our senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste, and movement) to understand our environment. However, some Neurodiverse individuals may have difficulty filtering sensory information, which can become overwhelming, uncomfortable and painful.

 

On the flip side, some Neurodiverse people actively seek sensory sensations to calm themselves, relieve anxiety and often just for pleasure and relaxation. Experiencing sensory stimuli differently from the neurotypical population is known as sensory processing differences.

 

When a person experiences sensory overload, it can be incorrectly perceived as distressed behaviour. Sensory overload may also result in withdrawal or complete shutdown. Ensuring students with sensory processing differences have the right sensory opportunities and environmental adaptations throughout their day will remove learning barriers and improve their well-being.

 

Occupational therapists are critical. Providing advice and interventions to target each sense helps the child's nervous system become more organised and regulated. This can reduce the child's anxiety and exhaustion and improve their attention and performance.

 

What is occupational therapy (OT)?

Occupational therapists work to promote, maintain, and develop the skills students need to be functional in a school setting and beyond. For example:

Self-care: (e.g. dressing, eating a meal, managing toileting needs and managing personal hygiene)

productivity: (e.g., emotional regulation, levels of alertness, participation, handwriting, and organisational skills), and leisure (e.g., socialising with friends, belonging to a group, participating in hobbies/play, and motor skills for PE). Every individual has a unique set of sensory needs, which will alter depending on mood, environment, and therapeutic intervention.

 

For Neurodiverse children, an occupational therapist works to develop skills in handwriting, fine motor skills and daily living skills. However,

the most essential role is assessing and targeting the individual's sensory processing differences. This is beneficial to remove barriers to

learning and help the students become calmer and more focused.

 

At Sensory Pod Australia, we specialise in providing a unique and innovative sensory Pod Series for occupational therapists.

Our pods are designed to provide relief and comfort to individuals with sensory processing disorders, ADHD, autism, and those experiencing general stress or anxiety.

 

Our state-of-the-art sensory pods boast cutting-edge tools and equipment that enhance sensory integration and promote overall well-being, leaving you impressed and intrigued.

We carefully curate a therapeutic environment that stimulates the senses in a controlled and therapeutic manner to address various sensory needs.

 

What is Sensory Pod Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy in a sensory pod involves using specialised tools and equipment to help individuals improve their sensory processing abilities.

 

Occupational therapists guide this therapy, and the goal is to provide a safe and effective environment where clients can explore sensory experiences.

 

The therapy helps individuals improve their sensory processing skills and learn coping mechanisms for managing their daily lives sensory aspects.

 

Who Can Benefit?

This therapy is beneficial for individuals of all ages who experience difficulties with sensory processing, including those with:

 

Sensory Processing Disorders

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Anxiety and stress-related disorders

General stress and relaxation needs

 

Features of Our Sensory Room

Our sensory room is equipped with a variety of tools and equipment designed to offer a wide range of sensory experiences:

 

Fibre-optic lighting: Provide visual stimulation and create a calming visual focus.

Tactile wall: Offers different textures for tactile exploration and sensory input.

Weighted: Weighted Animals, Weighted Blankets and sensory supports: Weight supports help with proprioceptive input to enhance body awareness. Supports in deep pressure therapy.

STEM Wall: STEM Wall is an innovative approach to learning and development that integrates the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It allows individuals to build sequences and pictures using colourful pegs, screws, and bolts to construct working gear chains or tubes that would enable balls or water to flow through, creating exciting journeys. This unique activity helps individuals develop their gross motor skills and promotes teamwork and creative thinking skills.

Curvey Mirror: The curvy design of our mirror, with its convex and concave surfaces, encourages visual exploration. Mirrors can enhance self-awareness and help individuals understand the emotions, intentions, and perspectives of others.
This can promote self-confidence, mobility, and joint attention in children.

Light Tube: The light tube is a beautiful tool that can enhance various skills, such as visual tracking, auditory awareness, cause and effect, and social interaction.
It can also help reduce stress and anxiety in students, especially those with autism. Lack of natural light can lead to depression, and the colour of light can affect our mood. Sensory lighting improves focus in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Spinning wheels:

The spinning wheel is a mechanical device that is an excellent educational tool for teaching individuals about the laws of motion.

When the wheel is in motion, it demonstrates the concepts of speed, force, and direction. The wheel's rotation is caused by force, which the spinner's hand applies. The wheel's speed is measured by the amount of force used, and the direction of the force determines the direction of rotation.

The spinning wheel also illustrates the principle of inertia, which states that an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external force. In the case of the spinning wheel, the inertia of the wheel keeps it in motion once it has been set in motion, and it will continue to spin until the force is removed.

Overall, the spinning wheel is an excellent teaching tool for individuals of all ages to learn about the laws of motion practically and engagingly.

Pixel Wall: The Pixel Wall is an interactive and tactile platform that allows you to express yourself creatively using your hands. You can use it to create images, tell stories, and start conversations. Utilising these tactile features can help improve your focus and concentration, coordination, and fine and gross motor skills. Additionally, it can reduce anxiety and aggression by encouraging sharing and turn-taking. Regularly using the Pixel Wall can boost your problem-solving skills and creativity.

Sound Wall: A sound wall can be a great tool to develop children's cause-and-effect skills, vocalisation, motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. It also helps build their speech and communication abilities, as hearing and understanding are crucial parts of the learning process. Listening to music and rhythmic patterns can improve attention in children with ASD, indicating an improvement in sensory integration.
Their listening skills also play a vital role in their ability to learn reading and writing, significantly affecting their social skills.

 

Benefits of Sensory Pod Occupational Therapy:

Engaging in sensory pod occupational therapy can offer a wealth of benefits, transforming the way individuals experience the world. From improved sensory processing and integration to enhanced focus and attention, the benefits are numerous and life-changing.

 

Improved Sensory Processing and Integration:

Sensory rooms have various tools to help the brain organise and interpret sensory information. This can enhance an individual's ability to participate in activities and environments.

 

Enhanced Focus and Attention:

Sensory room occupational therapy can assist individuals with attention deficits, like ADHD, improve their focus and attention spans. The controlled sensory input minimises distractions and overstimulation, allowing for deeper task engagement.

 

Reduction in Anxiety and Stress Levels: Individuals can experience significant relaxation benefits by engaging in soothing sensory activities.

Since it provides a safe space to learn and practice relaxation techniques, it contributes to a more balanced and calm state of mind.

 

Better Emotional Regulation:

Sensory room therapy aids emotional regulation by enabling individuals to identify and control their emotional responses. This leads to positive interactions and reduces emotional outbursts.

 

Increased Comfort in Daily Activities:

Better sensory processing increases comfort in daily activities. The improved ability to handle sensory inputs makes navigating daily routines and new experiences easier with less discomfort, such as crowded public spaces, new social situations, or certain types of clothing.

 

Strengthened Coping Skills for Sensory Challenges:

With exposure to various sensory experiences, individuals learn personalised strategies to cope with sensory overload or underload.

These skills enable individuals to adapt more readily to sensory challenges in their everyday environments, improving their quality of life.

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INFORMATION FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS.

Weighted Benefits:

The recommended weight ratio for weighted blankets is 10% of a person's body weight.

This is a guide only; you, as an occupational therapist, know your client and what that client's requirements may be. Some may require a heavier or lighter blanket.

Our products are constructed from four layers of breathable cotton or poly cotton fabric. Every blanket is double stitched and filled with poly pellets, distributed evenly in 6” pockets. These pockets are not removable.

Poly Pellets are non-toxic and hypoallergenic. They are fully machine washable. Consumers should be aware of cheaper alternatives, such as wheat, rice, popcorn, and other unsafe materials. These more affordable products are not machine washable, non-toxic, or hypoallergenic. The weights are often removable, posing a safety risk to the user, especially those who are oral-seeking.

Unlike gel blankets, our blanket is constructed from breathable materials. It is designed for weight only and will not provide warmth. We recommend adding a blanket over the top if extra warmth is required.

Each blanket is designed to go over the top of the bed and not hang over as the weight can pull it off.

Therapists should already be aware of deep pressure touch stimulation (DPTS).

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​HOW DO WEIGHTED PRODUCTS WORK?

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The abridged version of the theory behind how weighted products work is that the deep pressure touch stimulation (DPTS) supplied by the weight in our products is believed to release a chemical in the brain that naturally calms.

Massage and deep pressure release both serotonin and endorphins.
Serotonin calms the body, while endorphins stimulate the brain.

Together, they can bring pleasurable feelings and general elevated moods in your body and mind.

It calms you when you are feeling anxious.

Serotonin converts to Melatonin, which is the hormone the body releases at night.

Studies show that Melatonin aids in giving the body a good night's sleep.

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