Sensory Development: Why Earlier Intervention is Better
Janna Lopez, MS, OTR/L
Everyone processes sensory information differently. For a child with sensory processing difficulties, making sense of the things they hear, feel, see, taste, and smell can be overwhelming. Although we can help adapt their environment to be more comfortable, it is not feasible to always stay away from sensory experiences that bother them. For this reason, it is imperative to learn how to cope with all sorts of sensory experiences—the earlier the better.
Why is early intervention important?
If you have concerns about your child’s sensory development, it’s best to get help from an occupational therapist sooner rather than later. These are a few reasons why:
- Children can learn to adapt very quickly, and it is not always in the most healthy way. For this reason, early intervention is so important for sensory concerns so the child can learn healthy skills to carry them through. Some behaviors can be very difficult to reverse later in life.
- Many parts of childhood development follow a process, and if one step is out of sync, other parts of development can be affected. If a child’s sensory difficulties are impeding their ability to learn, they could miss out on important learning experiences because of their sensory concerns.
- Neuroplasticity in children is most constant and rapid in the first five years of life. The quicker your child gets the help they need, the more time they will have to hone their skills!
We highly encourage you to talk to your child’s doctor and get a referral to occupational therapy if you believe your child may need intervention for their sensory development. If you’re in the Central Kentucky area, the therapists at Hogg Therapy would love to help! Visit our website or give us a call at 859-353-3666.
