Sensory processing

The following are answers to the questions that parents/carers asked in the Lancashire and Cumbria Sensory Education session that was held in November 2021.

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide individual advice but please refer to the other sections of this web page for more information about sensory processing needs and other sources of support.

Do all children with SEN have sensory processing difficulties?

Not necessarily. We all process sensory information and we all do it differently regardless of whether we have SEN or not. It’s only a problem if we are not able to do what we want and need to do. Sometimes children can have difficulties due to communication, anxiety etc and it may present as a sensory strategy that they are using to cope.

What is the science behind why sensory processing difficulties start/happen and is there any current research being done?

The best place for more information on this is the Sensory Integration (SI) website where there are some links to research.

How or who would do assessments for a sensory profile/diet please? / Who could help us with better understanding what senses our child struggles with? / How do parent/carers find the correct people who have the ’skills’ to interpret checklist and do assessment?/ Can I self-refer to get an assessment?

Unfortunately services are not commissioned in a way that allows all children across Lancashire and Cumbria with sensory processing needs to access group based, or 1-2-1 support based on need. There are also not the resources available to change this at present. We have acknowledged this and are working to address this and this is one reason why we have put this training together so that parents/carers are able to get some information and ideas about strategies to help their children in the interim.

If you have not been able to access support with sensory issues through your local Occupational Therapy or Learning Disability team in your area, we are sorry but it is likely that there is not commissioned support available.

Please note that not every child with sensory processing needs requires an individual assessment. Changes to a child’s environment and routine can be made in a “plan-do-review” approach in the absence of an assessment, although we appreciate that having a skilled professional to guide you through this process may be helpful. We also appreciate that there are some children with a high level of sensory processing needs who would benefit from a 1-2-1 assessment with a skilled professional.

In some circumstances, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) may commission an independent Occupational Therapy provider to carry out a holistic occupational therapy assessment including a sensory profile or assessment. This will be based on individual need and will require clinician recommendation and a clinician to submit a request for funding to the relevant CCG for the CCG to consider. Your care coordinator will lead this process.

As mentioned in the presentation, Lancashire and south Cumbria NHS are currently awaiting the outcome of the commissioning policy for “Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy ®” specifically. This policy will outline what CCGs will and will not commission in relation to “Sensory Integration Therapy ®” assessment and treatment.

Please refer to the other sections of this web page for more information about sensory processing needs and other sources of support.

Is sensory integration therapy that may reduce the sensory difficulties available on the NHS or via direct payments?

As mentioned in the presentation, Lancashire and south Cumbria NHS are currently awaiting the outcome of the commissioning policy for “Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy ®” specifically. This policy will outline what CCGs will and will not commission in relation to “Sensory Integration Therapy ®” assessment and treatment.

Please note that not every child with sensory processing needs requires an individual assessment nor “Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy ®”. Changes to a child’s environment and routine can be made in a “plan-do-review” approach in the absence of an assessment, although we appreciate that having a skilled professional to guide you through this process may be helpful.

What sensory profile checklist would you recommend parent/carers to use to check if their child may have an issue?

Difficult question to answer. Children’s difficulties accessing activities may be as a result of a number of factors and a subjective checklist wouldn’t necessarily identify this. It often relies on a parent interpretation of a child’s presentation (if they are not able to verbalise this themselves). This is why a holistic assessment of the child is more important to consider all factors impacting on the child and in this case, the therapist would use the most appropriate tool. The best approach would be to attend training similar to the one we presented so the parent can begin to understand the underlying reasons for why the child is doing what they are doing

What training do teachers receive on this subject and how can we help teachers to understand the importance of this and the effect on our children’s behaviour in school?

Teachers do not receive mandatory training on this subject however, Lancashire and Cumbria are piloting the Autism in Schools project, with a select number of schools. These schools will receive training to better meet the needs of children with autism, including sensory processing needs.

The education session contained a lot of info…. can you give me the details for the 5 week training course and how much it costs?

The 5 week workshop is provided to families who have open referrals to the Children’s Learning Disabilities service in Lancashire and South Cumbria. It’s part of a range of workshops that the service provides and children need to meet the criteria for referral to the Learning Disabilities Team ie moderate to severe Learning Disabilities.

Whilst I understand we can provide adaptations in the classroom and at home isn't important to get the therapy alongside otherwise we risk the young people always having the sensory difficulty?

This depends on the young person’s needs and they don’t always need therapy which is why it needs to be an individual assessment approach.

Can your profile/system change as you grow older?

How people present may change depending on factors such as hormones/puberty/maturity/ability to communicate and articulate their emotions. Often people learn to manage and cope with their sensory difficulties as they get older but equally, these factors can exacerbate situations that may make their sensory difficulties harder to cope with

Are you saying put baby on tummy?

As the child moves through their developmental stages then their sensory systems are being developed and tummy time is an essential part of this natural developmental process. They should be encouraged to move through all the developmental stages and if they miss a stage that is not always a concern, it’s more to do with how they present.

Pathways.org for more info.

Does it affect them when they clean themselves after the toilet?

Without an assessment we wouldn’t know as there could be many factors impacting on this but technically tactile discrimination and poor proprioception could impact on this. This is why a holistic assessment is important.

What would help with dental appointments?

This would need an individual assessment and information to identify what the issues are. Communication of needs with the dentist is always a good place to start.

Babies that spend a large period of early days in a hospital environment without that constant touch and are tube fed, is there something that can be done to develop the touch system as they grow up

Sensory Beginnings is a website that has lots of information that may be helpful.

Sensory Integration Education website - What is sensory integration? – terminology and definitions of sensory integration and sensory processing.

Sensory Integration Education website - Sensory Integration Annual Conference

Sensory Minis Vestibular video on YouTube 

Sensory Minis Proprioception video on YouTube

Sensory Minis Tactile video on YouTube

Sensory Ladders website - Course for parents and carers

Local support and information

Lancashire SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIAS)

Lancashire Parent/Carer Forum (please note this is not a support group)

Lancashire's SEND Local Offer

To help prevent and manage crisis

Healthy Young Minds has been developed to help parents and carers support children and young people with their mental health. You will find lots of resources and information from local and national organisations focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. You'll also find support for your own mental health, if you're worried about a young person's behaviour, you're not alone. 

General parent/carer support

Contact is a national charity that supports families with children who have additional needs. They offer information, advice and guidance, workshops on particular topics and a listening ear service with a 1-2-1 support adviser.

Greater Manchester Autism Consortium has a video presentation, accompanying PDF to help with understanding sensory needs.

Locala have published a number of sensory awareness training videos which can be accessed both by healthcare professionals working with families and parents/carers themselves. There are around 8 units in total, 4 covering the basics of sensory processing and links to the autonomic nervous system and then 4 tackling issues families typically struggle with (sleep, toileting, food issues, self-care).

NHS Humber have produced a website with a number of videos and useful resources regarding sensory processing differences.

Sensory Integration Education have developed a 1 hour free training for parents/carers to help them understand sensory processing and integration in children.