The new book Love, Jean: Inspiration for Families Living With Dysfunction of Sensory Integration promises to be a treat for anyone interested in DSI. It features letters written by A. Jean Ayres, pioneer in the field of sensory integration, to her nephew, Philip Erwin; Erwin’s own stories about his struggle with sensory integration; and ideas for parents from therapist Zoe Mailloux. Below are samples from each of the book’s three voices.[The following are excerpts from the book "Love, Jean: Inspiration for Families Living With Dysfunction of Sensory Integration” by A. Jean Ayres, Philip R. Erwin, Zoe Mailloux; published by Crestport Press; May 2004; $15.95US; 0-9725098-1-X. Copyright © 2004 Philip R. Erwin.]
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A. Jean Ayres Baker
Torrance, CA
October 22, 1975
Dear Phil:
I was delighted to get your letter of October 19 and I found its contents most encouraging.
The fact that you can notice improvement in coordination as a result of the activities indicates that your nervous system can change in a positive direction. If it has changed that much in a few months, it will probably change some more in the coming months. I am particularly pleased with your report of reduced nausea when swinging on the platform swing. That means your brain is modulating the vestibular input better. As it becomes better modulated, you will be able to tolerate more movement; more movement will, in turn, help your nervous system to work better. It is like breaking a vicious circle.
Glad to hear the football is working out well. I don't think I gave you very good directions for using it, but you seem to have done well with what I said. Here is a more explicit set of directions. The objective is to get your brain to send automatic messages to the muscles that make your trunk muscles contract just enough to keep your center of gravity on the ball. I suspect those automatic movements don't come through very automatically with you. You may have to help them by thinking about rotating your trunk a little and consciously doing it when you find yourself beginning to roll to one side, or bending your trunk if you start to go forward or backward. The best way to do that is to first position yourself on the ball so that you are close to being able to balance, then put one hand on the floor. Then try not to use your hand to help you balance, just to keep you from falling off, but try to balance by wiggling your trunk. If it doesn't come naturally, explore movements a little bit by deliberately moving your trunk one way or another to see the effect.
Another way of getting those reactions is by nailing a piece of wood about 2" x 2" on the bottom of a larger piece of wood. Then get on top of the wood on your hands and knees and rock the board back and forth in different directions.
Something else you might try sometime is a jumping board. I don't use one because it is difficult to get one light enough for me to carry around but sturdy enough to hold up. Put a piece of 2 x 4 crosswise at either end of a long, narrow board that has a spring to it, then jump on it. Maybe a 2 x 6 would be better for a 14 year old.
Incidentally, many parents have reported growth spurts as a result of sensory integrative therapy. You might be interested in keeping track of your growth rate.
Blowing on a tin whistle while on the platform swing (which is mostly for balancing rather than swinging) is a good idea. The automatic system often comes in better if the consciousness is directed elsewhere.
Love, Jean
Magical Footwear
By Philip R. Erwin
One day I got new sneakers. It had been a very snowy winter, meaning that I couldn't spend much time out of doors. One day it thawed and I went outside to play. I picked up my long-unused lacrosse stick and used it to toss a tennis ball against the garage door. To my utter amazement and elation I actually caught it!
I then felt an overwhelming urge to climb the big tree in the backyard. I clambered up it with ease. Great shoes, I thought. But then I felt an urgent need to climb every tree on the large property where I walked my dog. I needed to get on the roof of the garage. I felt compelled to swing and climb on the structures at the playground at the school in back of our house. I needed to ride my bike. For the first time in my life I felt as if I had a physical presence on the planet. For the first time in my life I didn't feel puny. We were well beyond good footwear. Something inside me was changing.
My final year at the prep school was dismal. At every turn I was presented evidence that I was a substandard misfit. But my skills at coping effectively with these assaults were bolstered, I believe, by two things. First, I had been reassured that my failure to thrive in the school was not entirely my fault and was not necessarily my only destiny: hope was evident. Second, I felt better about myself because the therapies I was receiving were enabling me to cope with all of the stimulation — good and bad — in a more organized fashion. The world had gradually become a less hostile place for me. And great changes were on the horizon.
Will My Child Be OK?
By Zoe Mailloux
When a parent seeks and finds help for their child's sensory integration problems, I always feel that half the battle has been won. Clearly one of the most debilitating aspects of these disorders is the fact that they are little known and largely misunderstood. Whenever possible, helping the child to understand what is going on in his nervous system seems to be a positive step. The most common emotion I encounter from both parents and children upon learning about sensory integration dysfunction is relief. A great burden is lifted and there is often a sense of validation when there is a name for a previously confusing and vague condition. In addition, feelings of guilt are commonly alleviated, since parents and children alike often feel at fault for the problem. Well-informed and astute parents help their children a great deal as they learn to recognize how problems in sensory integration function are affecting learning, behavior, skill development, and social interactions.
Dysfunction in sensory integration is often referred to as a type of "inefficiency" of processes that occur in the brain and nervous system. Sensory integration functions typically occur automatically, fluidly, and subconsciously for most people. Some parents become alarmed to think that there might be a problem in their child's brain. However, sensory integration difficulties are not like the problems usually associated with "brain damage" or trauma. In most cases, the structures of the brain and nervous system are probably intact. It is more likely that the "messages" sent from one part of the brain and nervous system to another are not as clear, fast, or complete as expected.
One thing that is well documented about the structures and functions of the brain and nervous system is that they are "changeable," especially in a young person. The word "plastic" or "plasticity" is used to describe this characteristic of the brain. The fact that the brain is plastic allows us to be affected by the experiences we have, especially in early development, in both potentially positive and negative ways. We talked earlier about children whose development was affected by conditions of deprivation (such as in crowded orphanages) and that these children can make great gains when given more optimal developmental opportunities. The same principle is at work for children with dysfunction in sensory integration. They will often need individualized opportunities for experiences that will help their brains and nervous systems send and interpret messages more efficiently.
As important as sensory integration function is, it is still only part of what determines our success or failure in life. Intelligence, personality, drive, temperament, and persistence are all characteristics that will play an important role in whether or not any individual leads a satisfying and productive life. The most important thing a parent can do for a child with a sensory integration disorder is to ensure that this problem does not interfere with that process. This is accomplished by a combination of integration and understanding.
— ZOE MAILLOUX, MA, OTR, FAOTA. Ms. Mailloux is nationally and internationally recognized within the profession of occupational therapy in the area of sensory integration theory and practice. She is currently the Director of Administration at Pediatric Therapy Network, a non-profit children's therapy center serving over 1000 children and their families. She was a research assistant to Dr. A. Jean Ayres from 1978 to 1984 and was involved in many clinical and research projects with Dr. Ayres. In addition, she has published numerous journal articles and textbook chapters on these topics. Ms. Mailloux was the chairperson of the Sensory Integration Special Interest Section of the American Occupational Therapy Association from 1993 to 1996 and was named a fellow of this organization in 1993.
Reprinted from Love, Jean: Inspiration for Families Living With Dysfunction of Sensory Integration by A. Jean Ayres, Philip R. Erwin, Zoe Mailloux; published by Crestport Press; May 2004; $15.95US; 0-9725098-1-X. Copyright © 2004 Philip R. Erwin.
