Sensory Integration Education

This client and therapist's story of the outcome of a sensory integration informed occupational therapy intervention was first published in SensorNet Issue 57, July 2018. 

In this unique article, we hear both the client and therapist's perspective of the outcome of Occupational Therapy intervention, in which a Sensory Integrative approach was adopted. Jen gives us an insight into what it is like as an adult to live with Sensory Integration difficulties.

Sensory Integration Informed Occupational Therapy -The Client’s Story: Jen

I first became aware of sensory processing difficulties (as I now know them) when I was 28 and investigating why my life kept crashing around me. On the surface, I had achieved well with a good education, a progressing career, a social life and relationships. This masked a much more tragic truth. 

In reality, I had struggled terribly to achieve what I had. Poor self esteem and confidence was shored up with unhealthy habits like low level drug and alcohol consumption, control issues that manifested as intermittent self harm, and eating disordered patterns of behaviour. I kept hearing the same words in all domains of my life: selfish, difficult, arrogant, fussy and rude. I kept experiencing the same negative outcomes: verbal warnings at work, friends blanking me for no reason and relationships ending badly. This was highly distressing and detrimental but it never affected me so badly that I was unable to function on a daily basis.

All this changed when I became pregnant, aged 29. I was settled in a relationship and everything was planned - the time seemed perfect. Other than severe pelvic pain, my physical health was fine, but my mental health was very different. By the time I had progressed to thirty six weeks I was under the care of the perinatal mental health team and had been admitted to a mother and baby inpatient unit by the time my son was five months old, where I remained for three months. I was suicidal and ended up experiencing a poor understanding of my needs, which exacerbated an awful situation. Ultimately, this and the experience of parenthood motivated me to seek the truth about myself and my experience. Going back to the old ways of coping was not possible so I had to find the root cause to move forwards. 

I am able to reflect with far greater insight into what happened to me. The experience of a rapidly changing body, together with hormone surges and the alien movement of my baby triggered eruptions of sensory processing difficulties that had remained previously undetected, or just put down to me being ‘difficult’. When my son was born, the structure of my life collapsed. I had a traumatic and prolonged birth, which left me exhausted and ill-prepared for the demands of newborn care. Introduce the lack of sleep and sensory issues with the smells, noise and tactility of a young baby and I experienced a perfect storm of mental distress. 

As my son aged, I was told things would get easier, but for me they were worse. At a year old, the sensory storm that was my child now gained the ability to climb, walk and follow me. A prolonged mental health crisis ensued, with another two hospitalisations, and eventually a diagnosis of high functioning autism, aged 33. The recommendations included Sensory Integration Occupational Therapy, which I was also told was not available to me through commissioned services because I had no learning challenges. 

Recovering and returning to some semblance of normality has become my obsessive interest. I found a way to access the recommended sensory integration occupational therapy via a new form of healthcare commissioning called a Personal Health Budget, which allows individuals with long term conditions to take control and personalise their care and support. I successfully applied for an assessment, course of treatment and further interventions that my Occupational Therapist, Alison Harris, suggested to improve my functioning. 

To say that the difference has been transformative would be an understatement! Alison used a whole family approach, including my partner, my son, my wider family and my formal paid supporters in the therapeutic process. Although the commissioned work was around sensory processing, we naturally explored other areas of functioning as Alison's skill at working with autistic individuals extends into many domains.

I have subsequently outperformed all estimations about how much support I have needed. After hanging about with secondary mental health provision for five years I was discharged after six months of Sensory Integration work. My family and I, with this input, can enjoy a quality of life together. I have resumed my identities as a partner and a parent, and have begun studying for an MSc in mental recovery and social inclusion. I am also exploring a return to work. 

Addressing my sensory distress and increasing my insight into my needs was instrumental in returning to a state of wellness. I am now better at self care than I ever could have hoped to be had I not travelled the path my mental health and autism led me down. 

Currently, I am working in healthcare to improve understanding and awareness of the importance of work such as Sensory Integration input and Occupational Therapy in mental health, not only for those with neuro-divergent conditions but also people with different kinds of distress. As the number of adults with an autism diagnosis increases, the need to support us to contribute and live well will become far more important than curing us. We need to develop better skills for living and bridge the gaps in understanding that exist, firstly within ourselves and also with others in our lives, from our families to the professionals who work with us. 

Alternative therapies, such as SI Occupational Therapy, are crucial in achieving this, and I hope very soon to be hearing of more examples where autistic adults like me can derive the benefits I have reaped so gratefully. 

Sensory Integration Informed Occupational Therapy -The OT Perspective: Alison Harris, Consultant Occupational Therapist and Advanced Practitioner in Sensory Integration

Being able to adapt my practice and focus on working with an adult without the usual access to a sensory room and all its fun, was a challenge, but one which Jen was keen to pursue. A full assessment identified many issues with sensory processing and dyspraxia. Jen’s difficulties were pervasive and affected everyday life, also fueling distressing mental health crises that impacted on the whole family. 

Jen has sensory modulation difficulties with touch, light, smells and noise. She was easily overloaded in busy situations and became very stressed when she could not manage her environment. We approached change from an external aspect, looking at her home environment, her need for withdrawal and modification in expectations of her during the day together with working actively on self regulation. Jen was very up for this – being a huge proprioception and vestibular seeker. 

We developed GAS goals and a daily structured plan. Initially, this was essential to keep her on track and record what she was doing. We developed a sensory diet that included proprioceptive activity and womb space withdrawal time. Jen enthusiastically engaged in this process taking on board all advice. She bought a FitBit which helped her track her steps and prompted her to move when she had been sedentary for too long. Over time, activity included yoga and meditation, deep pressure massage, aerobic exercise, hula hooping in the living room, carrying her son up and down stairs, biking with him to school and digging the allotment. 

After more regular sessions, we then met every two months, and intervention is coming to a conclusion after twelve months. One of the biggest factors in the success of the programme was Jen’s understanding and knowledge about sensory processing. She researched and read extensively and her level of awareness increased rapidly. This helped her develop insight into how to adapt her sensory lifestyle to meet the changing needs of the seasons as well as her fluctuations in needs. Jen is now becoming an ambassador in our community – campaigning for Occupational Therapy and Sensory Integration in adult mental health services and working hard to educate professionals who are less aware of the needs of adults who are on the Autistic Spectrum.  

Did you enjoy this article? If you are not already a member, join Sensory Integration Education for free today to ensure you receive your copy of SensorNet, the SI community’s magazine since 1996.