Spotlight on Sensory Processing Difficulties

Abstract

This chapter opens with the current thinking about sensory processing difficulties acknowledging the works, opposing stand points of the Sensory Integration Community, Ayres and APA and discussing implications for current assessment, treatment options and provision.

An experiential perspective is then presented from Graves’ work as an occupational therapist in CAMHS, from identification of commonly recognised presentations which can indicate sensory processing difficulties which include: ASD, ADHD, ‘fussy eater’, ‘emotional dysregulation’ and ‘meltdowns’ to detailing how these difficulties can be assessed and formulated with use of the sensory profile. Then the authors provide the practical examples of how to screen for these difficulties, explain them to young people, parents and schools and manage them through esnsory activities and environmental adaptations. The contributions from Howl’s experiences by working in the African Caribbean Community Initiative and as a specialist psychological wellbeing ractitioner improve access to psychological therapies for the ‘hard to reach’ population, consideration has been given to adapting these resources with the intention of them being more acceptable and accessible for use in work within BAME communities.

The chapter concludes with questions about the future implications for service provisions for people with sensory processing difficulties and how raised awareness of these difficulties might impact on other evidence-based diagnoses and treatments such as cognitive behaviour therapy (drawing on the authors recent learning on the CYP IAPT CBT course) for anxiety presentations.

Citation

Howl, L.P.a.T. (2020), "Spotlight on Sensory Processing Difficulties", Majors, R., Carberry, K. and Ransaw, T.S. (Ed.) The International Handbook of Black Community Mental Health, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 489-503. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83909-964-920201031