Customer Reviews

Sensory Integration and the Child

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This book explains very clearly the problem of sensory integration dysfunction. It examines the cause, and the scope of the problem, and also treatment. It clearly states that this problem can occur despite a parent's proper nurturing of a child's development. Most encouraging, this book explains the therapy that can help the child (or adult). However, it is written by a PhD, and so is rather difficult to understand at times. It also covers a huge scope of learning disability, from slight dysfunction to autism.

If you have a young child with learning difficulties and want to understand the nature of your child's problem, definitely read this book. I found it invaluable in understanding my child's problems.

This book is an excellent intermediate reference to follow reading Sensory Secrets...How to jump-start learning in children.
It takes the reader into more depth with information on sensory systems and will satisfy the need to learn more about the technical aspects of sensory integration. I have used this book (written by Ayres, the pioneer of research in this area) as a reference with thousands of educators and readily refer to it as the "next step" to understanding the neurology involved with this facinating topic. It is well worth the investment of time and money to have it readily available for personal reference.

This is a fine book, by a brilliant and enthusiastic researcher, and I would recommend anyone involved in treating developmentally disabled children to read it. They should be aware that not all of it is generally accepted as scientifically proven.
Ayres uses some diagnostic terms that are not in DSM IV and ICD10. I wouldn't hold that against her, because many of the "official"diagnostic entities for childhood neuropsychiatric disorders are fuzzy. Sensory integrative disorder is not a DSM or ICD entity. Dyspraxia is an accepted neurological symptom. "Developmental dyspraxia" and "clumsy child syndrome" are in ICD10 and are used more in Britain. They are called "developmental coordination disorder" in DSM. The term "minimal brain disorder" or MBD is considered obsolete by these two nomenclatures.
The child emerging from the womb must have a hard time making sense of all the sensations coming in from eyes and ears and touch and taste. Ayres believes that many developmental disorders are due to something going wrong with this process. It is a plausible theory, but hard to prove or disprove. The first 130 pages of the book are devoted to developing her theory, and to an overview of the whole of child development, neurology, and the theories of Piaget.
Based on her theories she has produced the Southern California Sensory Integration Test. This is not reviewed in Lezack's "Neuropsychological Assessment."
Based on the results of the SCSIT, occupational therapists trained in Ayres techniques carry out the treatments described in Chapter 10. The results of controlled trials of the treatment are not described in the book, but evidently many parents of afflicted children have found the treatment helpful. It involves four hours a week of treatment over an unspecified length of time, that is at least several months. If this could be proved to be effective it would b well worth the expense and time.

I work as an elementry school teacher. In my profession I see many children who unfortunatly have not received enough sensory motor training. Parents need to understand the importants of sensory integration. This book does a good job of explaning it.

Every social worker should read this book.