Summary Statement : ..........

Details : Book Review: Building Bridges through Sensory Integration
The Bottom Line
By Ellen Yack, Shirley Sutton and Paula Aquilla; 208 pages. Subtitle: Therapy for Children With Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Delays

Sensory integration problems can be a factor in many of the behaviors seen in kids with PDD, from hand flapping to perseveration to refusal of eye contact. Building Bridges focuses on the implications of SI for those on the autism spectrum, while providing an overview of sensory dysfunction that will be useful to any parent.

About the Guide Rating

Pros
Extremely easy-to-follow format.
Better suited to children with special needs, and older children, than other SI books.
Checklists help to identify areas in which your child may be having problems.
Helps parents answer the question, "Why does my child do that?
Includes disturbing and frightening behaviors, and constructive ideas on what to do about them.
Cons
Assumes a certain level of knowledge of SI theory and treatment.
Matter-of-fact writing style may not appeal to readers who prefer a more conversational tone.
Parents of children without PDD may find some of the content off-putting.
Somewhat higher price-tag makes it less of an entry-level item.
Description
Chapter 1: What is Occupational Therapy?
Chapter 2: What is Sensory Integration?
Chapter 3: What are the Sensory Systems?
Chapter 4: Identifying Problems with Sensory Integration.
Chapter 5: Strategies for Challenging Behaviors.
Chapter 6: Ideas for Self Care Skills.
Chapter 7: Adapting Home, School, and Child Care Settings.
Chapter 8: Activity Suggestions.
Chapter 9: Equipment and Resources.
References and Index.
Guide Review - Book Review: Building Bridges through Sensory Integration
It’s becoming easier to find good information about sensory integration, but so much of it is tailored to children for whom that is their greatest challenge. Yet SI dysfunction can be a major factor in behavior problems for children on the autism spectrum or with other neurological challenges, and these kids require some special strategizing. “Building Bridges,” written by three occupational therapists but highly parent-friendly, fills that gap beautifully.

Loaded with charts and bullet points, “Building Bridges” starts with an outline of sensory integration theory, how occupational therapists apply it, and how it impacts children with PDD. Each sensory system is profiled, along with checklists to identify dysfunctional behavior at various points in a child’s day and specific, do-able strategies for home and school. Visual aids are provided to help children find their way through comforting sensory motor activities. There’s even advice on what to do about disturbing or scary behaviors -- something you’re not likely to find in more mainstream SI guides.

Those mainstream guides are certainly useful, and may be better suited to the parents of young children who are just being introduced to the fact that their child may have problems in this area. But of all the SI books I’ve read, this is the one I go back to most often -- if only because its less chatty format makes it easy to find exactly the information I want, with no surplus fluff.