DISCOVER

Initially, Sensory Steps, Inc. was founded as a pediatric therapy company in 2002, providing home based early intervention services to children ages birth to three in the Midwest.  Sensory Steps, Inc. has always aimed to promote a mindset & philosophy that encourages a variety of sensory experiences through natural play based experiences while also providing parents & caregivers with resources, products, & services related to play, child development, & parenting in a safe,  confidential, &  collaborative environment.

The Basics:
What is it? What does this terminology sensory processing mean?  Suddenly you’ve heard these words and you want to know more about what  is specifically means. Sensory processing refers to how your body  receives sensory information. When sensory information is received the  human body has receptors that receive information and via transmitters  send that information to the brain. The brain takes this information,  decodes and interprets this information, and then tells your body to  react to that information.
 

The brain is like a computer and requires certain types of input,  specifically sensory input to power the brain and allow the body to  function in a variety of settings and situations. The brain needs this  input to be received in a detailed and organized manner so that it can  be processed and interpreted appropriately. Sensory input includes:  hearing, vision, touch, taste, smell, vestibular/movement, and  proprioception.
 

The structures within the inner ear, specifically the semi-circular  canals, detect movement and changes in head positioning. These  structures are what comprise the vestibular system. This system  is responsible for coordinating eye, head, and body movements. As well,  it influences praxis (motor planning) bilateral coordination, muscle  tone, movement and balance, appropriate head positioning, and auditory  language processing.
 

There are receptors in the muscles, tendons, and joints that are responsible for the proprioceptive sensory  system. These receptors are critical for telling our body where it is in space. This information is automatic and constant. Typically, we do not consciously think about where we are in space or how we are going to  move our bodies unless we have decreased proprioceptive sensory  processing skills. If this occurs, we present with poor body awareness  and often appear clumsy. A person with poor proprioception often trips  and falls, bumps into things, walks over things, drops things, and has  poor social spatial boundaries (gets too close too people or needs  increased personal space). The tactile sensory system, also known as the  touch system is quite complex.
 

The tactile system is made up of skin receptors under the surface  of the entire body. The tactile sensory system includes the protective  system and the discriminatory system. The protective system is part of  our nervous system’s flight or fight response. It alerts us to various  levels of touch, if something is dangerous, whether or not something is  hot or cold, or if our body is experiencing pain. When the tactile  sensory processing system is misinterpreting information, someone will  demonstrate inappropriate responses to touch. They may be sensitive to  touch, and light touch may even be interpreted as painful, or pain may  not even be registered or responded to. The discriminatory tactile  sensory processing system provides the body with information about what  we are touching without using our visual sensory system, where the touch  is occurring on the body, and where our body is moving.
 

The tactile system connects to many different areas of the brain. As a  result, dysfunction that occurs in the tactile sensory processing system  often affects sleep/wake cycles, emotion and behavior, spatial concept  skill development, sequencing, fine motor skills: grasping and  manipulative skills, and gross motor skill development.
 

The vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile sensory systems are critical  for higher level learning to occur. This foundation of these systems is  necessary not only for higher-level thinking, but also for typical  development and ease with daily activities. If there is dysfunction in  any of these systems, the foundation for higher learning is impeded.
 

Neurologically, there are important concepts regarding the correlation  of sensory processing skills, developmental growth, and higher-level  learning.
• While a baby is in utero, the baby’s brain continues to grow and develop.
• After a baby is born, the brain continues to grow and develop.
• The brain’s growth and development is dependent on the sensory input it receives
• The sensory-enriched brain thrives and develops the foundations for higher learning. (Adapted from Lorna Jean King).
 

When sensory processing dysfunction occurs, it is necessary and  detrimental for a the appropriate intervention of a sensory based  evaluation to be completed by an occupational therapist skilled in  working with babies, children, and adults struggling in this area. The  evaluation and plan of treatment should be formulated in conjunction  with the child’s family and direct caregivers.
 

SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER: When a child presents with  challenges with their sensory processing skills that are resulting in  developmental delays in a variety of skills, such as: play,  communication, self-help skills, self-regulation, fine and gross motor  skill development; then the child may be diagnosed with having sensory  processing disorder. Sensory processing disorder often affects a child’s  behavior, their ability to learn, their ability to move, their ability  to communicate and connect with others, and their self-image.
 

Services Include

Sensory Play Products & Toys

Special Packages which Include Products + Coaching + Developmental Play Groups

Personalized Toy Recommendations

Virtual Developmental Check

Family Coaching Packages

• Expert Virtual Developmental Checks
• Child Advocacy Coaching
• Sensory Processing Education & Activity Ideas
• Sensory Play Product & Toys
• Sleep Training Coaching
• Toilet Training Coaching
• Personalized Developmental Specialist Toy Recommendation

• Hourly Packages
• Individual/Family Coaching Packages
• Virtual Developmental Play Groups
• Membership Packages with Links to Developmental Updates, Frequent Resources, and Private Parent Groups