Skil-Care (tm) Sensory Star Features :
- Effectively improves finger strength and fine motor control
- Provides both tactile and visual sensory stimulation
- Reduce boredom and increase attention span
- Helps with eye/hand coordination
Sensory integration is a theory developed by A Jean Ayres, an occupational therapist with training in neuroscience and, educational psychology. Ayres defines sensory integration as a "neurological process that organizes sensation from ones own body and from the environment thus making it possible to use the body effectively within the environment"½. This theory helps explain the relationship between the brain and behavior and helps explain how and why individuals respond to various sensory inputs.
The five main senses are: Touch, Sound, Sight, Taste, & Smell.
Two other powerful senses are:
1. Vestibular - Movement and balance sense.
Provides feedback where the head and body are in relationship to external space.
2. Proprioception - Joint and muscle sense.
Provides feedback where and what the body parts are doing.
Since many special needs children are deprived of normal proprioception in the fingers it makes it difficult to manage fine motor tasks which are needed to write well, button clothing and other important tasks. Activities that support fine motor control of the hand and fingers are an important part of physical rehabilitation.