Site of the Day: Hacking My Child's Brain
Back in February, I mentioned a Wired blog entry by a dad who was addressing his son's sensory integration problems the same way he might a computer problem -- by doing a little reprogramming. That entry on "Hacking My Child's Brain" has grown now into an eight-part series examining some of the more high-tech solutions to sensory problems, particularly those offered by the Sensory Learning Center.
The series presents a good basic explanation of sensory processing difficulties, and an intriguing look at audio, light, and motion treatments. Writer Mark Woodman's son chimes in on a podcast late in the series to offer his perspective, and readers' comments throughout offer other points of view. More entries are promised, making this a good blog to bookmark.
Personally, I put more faith in occupational therapy and coping strategies than Woodman does -- they've worked well for my son, although they can be somewhat inelegant, like thumping the side of a balky computer to get it going. But it's still neat to read about what's out there, and how people from different backgrounds are taking on the challenge of rewiring kids' brains. Frankly, I'm just happy to see anybody taking sensory integration seriously.
For more good reading on the subject, try Lucy Jane Miller's Sensational Kids, which also seeks to put a scientific spin on a disability that's been disrespected as insufficiently research-based.
Comments
I don’t get this part of it: What’s the problem w/ OT? Why is it supposedly deficient? OT has been nothing short of miraculous for my middle son, who was dx’ed with Nonverbal Learning Disorder (with sensory itegration difficulties, too) a little more than three years ago. I seriously think his therapist is a miracle worker.
The idea behind OT — as it has been presented to us — is not simply as a “coping” mechanism (as implied by the Wired series’ author), but to establish new neural pathways. Many of my son Grant’s “quirks” have been significantly improved, but, oddly, not necessarily by specifically working to eliminate one particular problem or another, but just by doing seemingly mundane exercises formulated to get the left half of his brain working in concert with his right.
Both Grant’s therapist and his developmental pediatrician predicted that this would happen: Grant’s sensory integration problems would be dramatically improved by “just” working on his fine & gross motor skills and his midline difficulties. IOW, as I understand it, sensory integration problems are a symptom of the right/left brain hemisphere communication problem, and addressing the physicality of that issue IS a way to correct those symptoms.
I, too, applaud a highly-involved parent (and the dad, no less!). And, I don’t begrudge him seeking any high-tech solutions; it seems a natural, since that’s his forte. I just think that he’s selling OT short — way short.
I completely agree, Karen. I’m also a big believer in OT for sensory integration, and hate that it gets so little respect. It may not be as “sexy” as some of the high-tech solutions, but it’s worked well for my son, and has at the very least been a lot of fun for him.
There are all kinds of ways to change a brain, and OT with a sensory integration approach is just as much about re-wiring as anything else.
I am a Physical Therapist Assitant and I did OT and PT from infancy on with my son. He had major SI problems. We only saw minimal progress. We went to the Sensory Learning Center in Boulder and in 1 month his SI went away and his learning and attention jumped way up. It is documented by several test. All the OT and PT we did helped, but Sensory Learning Center was a lot less work and made much more progress in a very short time. Go Mary Bolles at the Sensory Learning Center in Boulder. Great work!!