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Seyon Occupational & Speech Therapy Centre logoSeyonOccupational & Speech Therapy Centre
Occupational Therapy

Sensory Integration Therapy

Helping the nervous system organise sensation so a child can stay calm and alert.

Suitable for ages 2 – 12 years

Overview

Sensory integration therapy uses carefully graded movement, touch, and proprioceptive input — swings, crash pads, climbing, deep pressure and tactile play — to help the brain interpret sensation more efficiently. Children who are over-responsive learn to tolerate input; children who are under-responsive learn to seek it safely.

Sessions run in a purpose-built sensory gym and are always child-directed within a therapist-designed structure. Alongside clinic work, every family receives a personalised sensory diet for home and school.

Signs your child may need this therapy

  • Covers ears at ordinary sounds such as mixers, horns or hand dryers
  • Distressed by clothing labels, socks seams or hair washing
  • Seeks constant spinning, jumping, crashing or squeezing
  • Chews on clothes, pencils or non-food items past toddlerhood
  • Extreme reactions to unexpected touch in queues or assembly
  • Very picky eating limited to a small set of textures

Benefits of Sensory Integration Therapy

  • Calmer transitions between activities and places
  • Longer tolerance for classroom seating and group settings
  • Improved sleep and mealtime routines
  • Fewer sensory-triggered meltdowns
  • Better body awareness and safer play
  • A practical sensory diet parents can run at home

Treatment process

  1. STEP 1

    Detailed OT evaluation

    A 60–75 minute session covering developmental history, sensory profile, muscle tone, coordination, hand skills and daily-living independence, using tools such as the Sensory Profile-2 and DASII/Peabody-based motor measures.

  2. STEP 2

    Shared goal setting

    We translate findings into 3–5 functional goals that matter at home and school — holding a pencil, sitting through a meal, tolerating a haircut, buttoning a shirt.

  3. STEP 3

    Individual therapy plan

    Your child receives a written plan specifying session frequency, activity progression, equipment used and the home programme that supports it.

  4. STEP 4

    Weekly play-based sessions

    45-minute one-to-one sessions in our sensory gym and fine-motor studio. Activities are graded so your child is always working just beyond their comfort zone, never past it.

  5. STEP 5

    Parent training

    The last 10 minutes of every session are for you: what we did, why, and the two or three things to practise before the next visit.

  6. STEP 6

    Progress review

    Formal re-assessment every 12 weeks with a written report, updated goals and a discharge pathway once targets are met.

FAQ

Sensory Integration Therapy — your questions answered

Not sure where to start? Begin with an assessment.

One hour with our team gives you a clear picture of your child's development and a written plan you can act on — whether or not you continue therapy with us.