The Sensory Profile: An Evidence-Based Assessment of Sensory Processing

  • by glarehab
  • Mar 21, 2014
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The Sensory Profile: An Evidence-Based Assessment of Sensory Processing

Sensory Processing refers to the way that our nervous system receives messages from our senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioural responses. We have five basic senses that help us to navigate our daily environments – vision, smell, hearing, touch and taste.

In addition to these five basic senses, we are equipped with two other sensory systems, which provide us with addition information about our body and environment.

The first is the Vestibular System, which provides us with information about our bodies in relation to space. This system contributes to balance, posture control, muscle tone regulation and coordination of eye movements.

The second inner sensory system is the Proprioceptive System, which provides us with information about the impulses from muscles, tendons and joints. The Proprioceptive System gives us information about body position and movement, and works with touch receptors to help control the movement, speed, force, and direction of our bodies.

Sensory processing begins when we are infants, and as we grow, we learn to regulate sensory inputs based on our personal preferences. For example, while some like their food spicy and crunchy, others prefer bland or sweet tastes. While some people seek sensory stimulating environments like concerts or parties, others prefer quiet environments.

Everybody processes sensory environment a little differently (think about how some people love the thrill of a rollercoaster, while others can’t stand the thought of it), but most of us able to process the sights, sounds and smells we encounter each day without much difficulty.

For some people however, sensory processing can be disrupted. This can lead to behavior and learning difficulties in both children and adults.  Research shows that children with autism, ADHD and learning disabilities have difficulty processing sensory input. In addition, children and adults with traumatic brain injuries can also have difficulties with sensory processing. The cognitive impairments associated with brain injury including difficulty concentrating and paying attention to a task can sometimes be connected to a sensory processing disorder.

Occupational therapists are trained to recognize and assess sensory processing issues.

At Galit Liffshiz and Associates, our occupational therapists use the gold standard in sensory processing assessment: The Sensory Profile.

Through a comprehensive checklist completed by the client or their caregiver, The Sensory Profile gauges how, and how often, a client responds to various types of sensory stimuli in their environment.

Results from this assessment can help guide occupational therapy intervention and can help OTs develop behavior and learning accommodations for clients in schools, workplaces and at home.

For more information about sensory processing or The Sensory Profileplease contact our office.

By Bani Ahuja, MScOT. Reg. (Ont)

Occupational Therapist

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Catastrophic Determination and The Situational Assessment

  • by glarehab
  • Mar 21, 2014
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Catastrophic Determination and The Situational Assessment

At Galit Liffshiz and Associates (GLA), our highly skilled OTs complete Situational Assessments that describe in detail a client’s physical, cognitive, emotional and functional impairments. This type of assessment is invaluable to the process of having a client deemed catastrophically impaired.

One example of this is the aarbitration decision in Reichert Vs. Chubb Insurance (FSCO A12-003518). Here, the arbitrator agreed that the client is Catastrophically Impaired.

In this case the client sustained a mild head injury but developed psychiatric problems and personality changes that lead to CAT designation.

Galit Liffshiz completed a 2 day Situational Assessment and observed the client in his own environment, performing daily activities which he would normally do such as working on the computer, making breakfast and trying to fix a light fixture.

She then provided a report describing her observations in every hour of the 2 days and describing the functional impairments in detail.

The task was to connect observations with the understanding of chapter 14 in the AMA guides and to rate the client on the 4 domains (ADL, Concentration, Socialization and Adaptation to Work). This provided material contribution and assisted in my court appearance.

The arbitrator said: “The descriptions of Mr. Reichert’s attempts to be productive and his ability to cope with a basic daily schedule are similar: he is unable to complete even simple administrative tasks; he has serious difficulty concentrating and applying himself; he requires cuing but still cannot complete tasks; what he accomplishes is of poor quality; he has poor short term memory; he cannot organize his thoughts; he cannot accomplish more complex tasks and many simple tasks as well. Further, Mr. Reichert has been unable to work and his prognosis for work in the future is poor at best. The preponderance of the evidence supports the notion that Mr. Reichert has a marked impairment in his ability to adapt appropriately in a work or work-like setting with many assessors finding that he is unable to work at any job much less on the level he performed in the past.”

The arbitrator went on to say: When all the evidence is considered in its entirety, it is fair to conclude that Mr. Reichert’s life has been altered on every level by the disorder he suffered as a result of the accident. Mr. Reichert went from being a high functioning individual professionally, personally and socially to someone who could not work or socialize easily, focus or concentrate, or accomplish what would have been in the past the easiest of tasks for him”.

Needless to say the arbitrator agreed that his impairments were marked. The Situational Assessment completed by GLA provided essential observational information and details of the client’s daily functioning.

At Galit Liffshiz and Associates, we constantly review case law and invest time learning how to assess and document clients’ function so that our reports will be the best material contribution to your files.

Please contact us to refer a client for a Situational Assessment or for more information.

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