Sensory integration. What on earth is it?
It could be just one thing, or it could be many. It can be experienced as an under- or over-sensitivity to sensory experiences, like touch, hearing, smell, and sight. And it probably affects most of us in some way, at some time.
Perhaps you cannot bear the labels on clothes touching the back of your neck, the erratic rhythm of escalators, or the noise created by a large group of people. All these things may create some sort of sensory ‘overload’ leaving you on edge, exhausted, or even anxious. These are natural reactions to uncomfortable external spaces and sensations, made worse when we are stressed.
When do sensory integration issues become a ‘dysfunction’?
At primary school I had been ridiculed (by teachers!) for being unable to catch and throw a ball, to balance, or to play confidently on playground equipment. I couldn’t even draw a straight line, even using a ruler. Growing into my teens the way I walked brought on comments, and, among other things, I could not cope with loud noises – especially raised and aggressive voices, and I overreacted to bright light. I had difficulty following movements shown to me, riding a bike, and as a primary teacher I would feel ‘seasick’ if I had to walk through a group of children sitting on the carpet – I detected their smallest movements as a surging mass.
To help me cope in these ‘negative’ situations I avoided contact and proximity to people or left the ‘scene of the noise’ as quickly as possible. At other times I talked excessively to block out other sounds, and because all noises are equal to me, I unwittingly interrupted others if I found it necessary to cut through the external, threatening din.
When I was assessed and diagnosed in January 2001, I was found to be affected in the main eight sensory areas: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, movement, spatial awareness, balance. When my condition was described and explained to me, that the nightmare that was my life had a name and a reason, I was elated.
Over the next few years, I had regular physical therapy sessions and I learned to throw and catch beanbags, use a small trampoline, and to crawl. All this helped to improve my hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and mobility and increased my physical confidence. This would not have been possible without an initial diagnosis; and without this I would not have developed an awareness.
As long as it accurately describes what’s in the tin – labels can be positively life affirming.
marilyn unmasked 
That’s a heck of a personal story, I can’t imagine how you would live like that. I guess your coping mechanisms were always seen by others as making you a bit weird, made worse by your teacher’s reaction to your “inabilities”. You lived with this for a long time before you got an accurate diagnosis and treatment/therapy; has it worked totally or do you still need more? Slightly connected, ailments like this are relatively rare, I hope, but it reminds me of the book The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat by Oliver Sacks, well worth a read as a series of cases that Dr Sacks came across as a neurologist.
Good morning Dr B
I guess I am able to cope better now as, after decades without accurate knowledge, we now know that it is very much a part of my autism (diagnosed at 68!). Embarrassment is the biggest problem as I can burst into tears at a sudden/unexpected/loud noise but fortunately my husband is always on hand to explain. 🙂
Thank you for recommending the book. I’ve heard of it but had a quick scan of the details online, and found that proprioception was mentioned. That is also part of my sensory/autism difficulties.
I love being autistic, just as I enjoy the ‘highs’ of my bipolar. It is ‘me’ and affords perceptions, sensitivities, and awareness that are a privilege. What can sometimes be very distressing is the incredible sense of fair play that comes with it and at the moment I am needing to increase my meds and am losing sleep over current injustices in the media.
To answer your questions, no, there is no ‘cure’ so I use a stick when I go out and no longer drive; a few years ago I needed a wheelchair so situations do chance. As for rarity – I don’t know but the OT who diagnosed the sensory dysfunction said that she had not worked with another adult who displayed over- and under- responsivity in all sensory areas.
My main coping strategy is to make sure I fit creativity into my day. Your photo challenges were a gift from the gods for me as it provided a focus (excuse pun!).
Enjoy your day, and thank you for your interest. M
Hi just a quick reply for now, I’ll write more after we get home. I have the sacks book in Audible I can gift to you for free! Would you like it? I can send it to your email address?
I hope you are somewhere enjoyable. You truly are special. Thank you for the gift offer – I don’t know how Audible works but would that be against your ‘agreement’ to gift outside your family? If not, that would be wonderful. My blog email unmasked@caft.net should work. Thank you again. M
Hi, We were at Millet Farm in Oxfordshire, it’s a massive farm shop, a pick your own centre, a garden centre and a big park with lakes. We’d finished shopping and my daughter had just got the coffees when your long reply dinged on my phone. My wife and daughter were intrigued with why I was reading something so intensely and had a read too. They were shocked at what you had suffered. And …. to have only had the diagnosis so late at 68. A close friend of mine was bipolar but not diagnosed until late in life for him, but it explained his manic behaviour and mood swings perfectly. He was a very difficult person to work with! Thank you for those kind words about my Photo Challenge, I didn’t keep it going for long but it filled a gap for me in blogging terms. I was going to run a wine challenge too but I think you might have been the only person interested 😂.
I am privileged that you shared all of that with me, it’s funny how blog engagement can swing between people who are minimalist with comments or criticism, across to people who have a positive view of what you’ve written, though not always agreeing, and sharing some of their own experiences. Thank you again, and do let me know if you have problems with Audible. B.
PS, I forgot to say email sent, might be in your spam folder 😂😂