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Sensory
Finding sensory distractions during a pandemic Claudia Boes, an occupational therapist, explores the issues that can arise if sensory modulation needs are neglected and how this can be addressed.
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esearch overwhelmingly suggests that many people with SEN have difficulty processing sensory information. If someone’s sensory needs are ignored, this is likely to result in other challenges such as an inability to engage with meaningful activities and connect with others or lead to a lack of focus, all of which are crucial for learning and development.
“However, you can never control the environment or a student’s mood entirely.”
Sensory modulation Sensory modulation refers to the ability to respond appropriately to sensory information from the environment and remain at an appropriate level of alertness for daily activities. People with sensory modulation difficulties frequently fluctuate between being over-responsive to stimuli (for example bright lights and loud noise) and under-responsive to stimuli (like not responding to verbal communication or being unaware of pain or temperature). These reactions to sensory input can result in distress, aggression or anxiety and need to be addressed with care and thought.
Finding new coping mechanisms In a pre-Covid world, I’m sure most people with SEN and their carers or educators would have had access to any number of coping mechanisms to ensure that their sensory needs SEN111
were adequately catered for. This includes activities such as swimming, countryside walks or riding bikes. However, many of these have been curtailed for safety reasons during the pandemic and subsequently, many people are having to do without activities they previously relied on. When you add in the changes to routine caused by Covid-19, things have been especially challenging for people with SEN. Our current challenge is to think creatively about ways to engage their senses. For us, one of the main issues has been making sure that our students continue to be alert and engaged with their learning, even while things are especially trying for them outside the senmagazine.co.uk
