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Reflex Integration provides the foundation for Sensory Integration.
Maturing the reflexes will integrate the senses.
Sensory sensitivity seems to be on a spectrum from overly sensitive to under responsive. Several reflexes may be involves. The foundational sensory systems are the tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive systems which develop and become functional by 12 weeks in utero.
Tactile
When the sense of touch is not properly integrated individuals can either crave touch or be hypersensitive.
The kids who crave tactile input will have individual preferences for soft, scratchy, sticky, etc. that they seek out. They love to run their hands along things or get extra dirty via mud, food etc.
The kids who avoid tactile input perceives it as threatening, distasteful or dangerous and may react with fear or aggression. This can be noticed with clothing choices and picky eating among other things. There may be certain textures felt on the skin or in the mouth that are uncomfortable, even painful.
Vestibular
The vestibular system has to do with balance and movement. Input is through the inner ear into the brain stem. Vestibular processing begins well before before birth.
Some kids tend to be movement seekers, while others tend to be movement avoiders.
The seekers get input from swinging, hanging upside down and moving a lot!
The avoiders are fearful of movement and avoid vestibular input. They typically hate hights, being upside down and anything that knocks them "off balance". When their head is tilted in vrious positions they may lose theireasily balance.
Proprioception
Proprioceptive input is also active before birth with receptors in muscles and joints. It is the inner sense that tells you where you are in space and what direction you are moving. If your child bangs, crashes, chews and jumps nearly constantly they are seeking proprioceptive input to help them feel grounded and know where they are in space!
The tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive systems all work together and affect the other senses of interoception, sight, taste, smell & hearing. Huge changes can be made to mature the sensory system by integrating the reflexes which provide a foundation for sensory processing.