Helping Hyperactive Kids – A Sensory Integration Approach
Techniques and Tips for Parents and Professionals
by Lynn J. Horowitz MHS, OT
, Cecile Röst P.T.
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For the last 30 to 40 years in both America and the rest of the world, the sensory integration approach has been providing help for children with behavior, learning, and motor problems. Sensory integration was pioneered by Dr. A. Jean Ayres of the University of Southern California and the Brain Research Center of UCLA. It is a treatment based on play, with a strong theoretical background grounded in science.
The hyperactive child with or without attention and concentration problems, is viewed by sensory integration practitioners as a child who has difficulty processing information. Information needs to be selected appropriately and reacted to appropriately. One example is a type of filtering problem where the child has trouble with determining which information is most important: the sound from the teacher's voice or the sound from the airplane, the door closing, or the bird cheeping outside the room.
Frequently, these children already know from negative experiences that they have problems which get them into trouble at home and at school. When they begin to function in a more appropriate way through sensory integration exercises, this helps their self-esteem, which then helps all areas of their life.
This book provides simple sensory integration-based strategies that can be used immediately by teachers and parents to help the child live a daily life with more integrated behavior. The book includes the following:
- descriptions of how each of our sensory systems work at different stages of child development
- an overview and explanation of sensory integration therapy
- sensory integration tips aimed at helping the hyperactive child (though they are good for any child)
- practical advice for parents and teachers of hyperactive children
- description of a sensory integration session with a therapist
- helpful illustrations and case studies
- abstracts of recent research on hyperactivity and attention problems, especially for professionals and interested parents
The book is clearly written and easy to read. The sensory integration approach is non-medical, and it can be used in conjunction with medicine for hyperactivity, or as a substitute for medicine.
REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS
"A basic introduction to the approach of sensory integration is presented in this collaborative effort,
Helping Hyperactive Kids, by Lynn J. Horowitz and Cecile Rost. Written for the layperson as
well as the professional, the book gives a better understanding and insight into the behavioral
patterns and factors that might cause the hyperactive behavior of the child. The book includes a
study of how the brain works, and helps the reader in their understanding the main sensory systems, of balance, touch, hearing, sight, feeling, taste, and smell.
The purpose and process of sensory integration therapy are developed and include the environment
and atmosphere needed to make the treatment a success, play as therapy, and the structure of the
treatment.
The tips for dealing with the hyperactive child are especially designed to help the parent. They
include tips on communicating, organizing, and nurturing calmness. The tips also provide
suggestions for giving directions, for adapting toys and games and for negotiating in the classroom.
Well-documented with complete endnotes, a sequential format, a complete table of contents, a
helpful index, and detailed case studies make this book a useful reference tool. A full chapter is
dedicated to a questionnaire for parents. This checklist will help the parent determine if a sensory
processing problem is occurring in their child.
Helping Hyperactive Kids is clearly written for the parent looking for a non-drug, child-friendly intervention program for the hyperactive child. This is a hands-on guide with activities, tips and techniques for the child with learning disabilities. " - Richard R. Blake for Reader Views
"This book is very well written. It is meant for parents and teachers and is done in an easy to read and succinct manner. It touches on every aspect of sensory integration. You will find information here on smell, taste, touch, vision, the effect of the environment in general, and more. It won me over with the sentence "All children need discipline." It has been my experience that many parents whose children receive a diagnosis of anything that affects behavior, simply throw up their hands in resignation and say “There is nothing I can do, he/she has ______. This benefits no one, least of all the child. I always wonder if these parents have ever considered that their child will one day be an adult, with these same issues and their lives will be more difficult than it has to be. It is hard work to raise any child, more difficult when the child needs a little extra help. The information in this book will help the parents identify possible problems and give suggestions on how to begin to help their child.
There is a lot of very useful information here, as well as explanations. It is not a book that says do this, because I say so, it is one that says do this, and here is why. It tells you how to do it, when to do it and gently guides you through the difficulties that you will face while you do it.
I work in a special needs school. None of my own children had issues of this kind. I see sensory issues on a daily basis, often exhibited in the most extreme ways. I have attended in-services on sensory integration, and work with it every day.
Helping Hyperactive Kids- A Sensory Integration Approach is a book is meant to address these issues in typical children, but I feel that it is also a valuable resource for me, and the team that I work with. I have already benefited from the information provided." - Kathleen McStay Wagner, LibraryThing Early Reviewer
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Why This Book?
Chapter 2: The Hyperactive Child
Chapter 3: What You Should Know about How the Brain Works
Chapter 4: Understanding the Main Sensory Systems
Chapter 5: SI Therapy
Chapter 6: Tips for Dealing with Your Hyperactive Child
Chapter 7: Scientific Insight
Chapter 8: Questionnaire for Parents
Glossary
Additional Reference Material Used in this Book
Resources
Index
PUBLICATION DETAILS
PUBLICATION DATE: 2007 April
PAGES: 168
SIZE: 7-1/4 x 9-1/4
ILLUSTRATIONS: 44
INDEXED: Yes
BIBLIOGRAPY: No
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynn J. Horowitz is an occupational therapist, and was the director of the Netherlands Center for Sensory Integration for more than 20 years.
Cecile Röst is a physical therapist. She lives in the Netherlands.
