Are our neurological thresholds genetic?

Yes, our neurological thresholds (or tolerance for sensory input) are inborn and basically part of our genetic wiring. However, the way that we are brought up, our culture or exposure as children will obviously “mould” our thresholds to a degree. For instance, if you grew up in a household or community where people were living on top of each other, you will probably have a smaller “body space”. This means that you have potential to tolerate people within your immediate body space easier, thus finding crowded spaces manageable.

Can I change my thresholds?

Can we change something that is part of our genetic coding? Although the neuroplasticity theories do suggest that we can continue to “train” the brain, with adults it is often a matter of understanding our thresholds and making changes accordingly. We can “challenge” our thresholds and give the brain the things that it dislikes or avoids, but the key is motivation of the individual and knowing the impact that our thresholds are having on our lives. So with adults the question is asked: How much is this affecting your life? And would you like to change it?

Is sensory profiling not done more with children?

Yes, the sensory profiling process and sensory integration theories are strongly rooted in how children learn and develop. It is mostly applied with children and, due to their still maturing brains, it is easier to change their thresholds. With children, direct sensory integration therapy is successful in shifting the thresholds and also helping them acquire new skills. However, the core genetic coding here also still remains the same. A sensory sensitive child will most likely grow up to be a sensory sensitive adult.

Who can work with children with sensory problems?

Occupational therapists with sensory integration training have the best knowledge and approaches into dealing with sensory issues in children. It is a complicated process that is treated best by a qualified professional.

How did Sensory Intelligence™ develop?

Annemarie Lombard trademarked Sensory Intelligence as a result of her 15 years of working with children in clinical practice. It was a natural development out of this work into the adult field. The sensory integration theory was developed in the 1960s by A. Jean Ayres, and mostly applied in paediatrics. The Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile (our first standardised instrument) was developed in 2002 by Winnie Dunn and Catana Brown. Sensory Intelligence is knowing your sensory profile and its impact on your world. Annemarie used her background, knowledge, experience and research results to position a tool for adult learning and development on these principles.

I heard that one has 7 senses; is that true?

That is correct. We have 5 “visible” senses: we can hear, see, touch, smell and taste. We also have 2 “hidden” senses, which relate to movement of the body. We have firstly the vestibular sense, complicated little organs that are located in both ears and give us feedback on where we are in space. They can be seen as the “GPS” of our body. Secondly, we have the proprioceptive sense, which gives feedback to the body via the muscles and joints. It is a bit like the “body sense” and orients us to move without having to rely on other senses. These 7 senses are continually passing information received from the environment to the brain. This information gets filtered along the way as the brain cannot attend to all of it; if it tried, it would fry! It is designed to tune out the irrelevant stuff while responding or attending to that which is relevant. This fine tune balance relies on your neurological thresholds and then decides how much reaches the brain (for action) and how much gets filtered (ignored) along the way.

Why are you training parents and teachers?

My mission has been to demystify the sensory integration process for parents and teachers. Although the therapeutic intervention process done by occupational therapists is a high level, complicated and scientific process, use of these principles for home and school are imperative. Also when a parent and teacher are empowered with regards to knowledge, insight and use of the strategies, the therapeutic process, parent-child relationship and teacher-child relationship benefit. It was also when I started working with parents and teachers that I realised how much we as the occupational therapy community have to offer with regards to simplistic, powerful and effective strategies. As a parent I am also acutely aware of the responsibilities, difficulties and joys that parenting entails. Our workshops are interactive and a platform where discussions and sharing are strongly encouraged.

Does it mean that I will only benefit as a parent or teacher when I have children with special needs or sensory processing disorders (SPD)?

No, our workshops are about general principles that can be applied by any parent or teacher. It is understanding the primitive neuroscience process by which children focus, learn, show emotion and relate. I obviously live sensory intelligence and manage my two sons based on their sensory needs while considering my own and my husband’s sensory triggers simultaneously. I know which son need which type of sport, when do they need a break, when can I push and when a breakdown in relationship occur, I can also track it back to the occurrence of sensory overload. Any parent and/or teacher for any child can benefit. If your child have special needs and has difficulty with emotion, attention and behaviour, your benefit will be exponentially far greater.

Do you still have a clinic where you work with children?

No, I don’t. There is too much to do with regards to training and I have shifted my focus into empowering others and demystifying this amazing tool. I work with a strong network of occupational therapists, health care professionals and other related professions and some of them still have clinical practises.

Do I have a sensory intelligence score that needs to improve?

No, your sensory intelligence is not a set score that needs to improve but rather your level of insight into this powerful process by which the brain are fundamentally driven.

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