About Sensory Stories?
What are Sensory Stories?
Sensory Stories teach children with autism and over-responsive sensory modulation to successfully
engage in social activities within the home, school, and community. Sensory Stories comprise
30 individual stories about daily activities. These Sensory Stories instruct the
child to use calming sensory strategies in order to deal with the unpleasant sensory
aspects of that particular situation. When read on a regular basis, Sensory Stories
assist the child in developing effective routines to manage the sensory experiences
surrounding typical daily activities.
Consider a child who is over-responsive to sights, sounds, touch, smell, and movement.
Going to the cafeteria in school can be an overwhelming and unpleasant experience.
The many sights, the movement of the children, the smells of the food, the loud
noises, and the texture of the food in the child’s mouth can all add up to an inner
feeling of chaos. The child may be unable to cope with the enormity of the sensations
and thus respond with a variety of negative behaviors. The Cafeteria Sensory Story
would teach the child to use a number of strategies during the routine of going
to the cafeteria. By using calming sensory strategies such as doing self-imposed
hugs, wearing a heavy fanny pack, and wiping the mouth firmly with a napkin, the
child learn ways to successfully manage the situation and participate fully in the
experience. The authors have included key sensory strategies within each story for
the child to employ. The sensory strategies have been specifically selected due
to the calming sensory input that the child can receive as a result of using the
strategy. The sensory strategies are designed to be used by the child; thereby he
or she is equipped with the necessary tools to manage an unpleasant situation. Through
reading the story on a regular basis, the child learns an effective routine that
provides calming sensory input and allows the child to successfully participate
in the experience.
What is Over-Responsive Sensory Modulation?
Over-responsive sensory modulation is a sensory processing disorder in children in which typical
everyday sensations are perceived as very unpleasant for the child. Sensory experiences
that are acceptable to most individuals may be perceived as extremely uncomfortable,
painful, or overwhelming for the individual with over-responsive sensory modulation.
Children with over-responsive sensory modulation thus often have difficulty participating
fully in daily activities. The child may participate minimally, exhibit negative
behaviors during the activity, or shun participation altogether. Unpleasant sensations
may involve touch, movement, smells, sounds, sights, and tastes.
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What are the key features?
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- Sensory Strategies
As a form of sensory therapy or autism therapy, Sensory Stories use specifically designed sensory strategies to assist the child
in managing the unpleasant sensations that are associated with certain activities.
The sensory strategies provide the child with calming sensory input through deep
touch pressure, active resistance to movement, and slow linear movement. The strategies
are based on sensory integrative theory. Sensory strategies are infused throughout
the entire sequence of the activity so that the child can receive calming sensory
input at the start of the activity, during the course of the activity, and at the
conclusion of the activity.
- Self-implementation of Strategies
The child employs the sensory strategy him or herself, thereby allowing the child
to take control of the situation. The child can apply the sensory input with the
necessary magnitude that is beneficial for his or her unique sensory system.
- Self choice
The child is given an option to employ the strategy in the context of the activity.
The wording of the story with statements such as “I can” or “I might” or “I like
to” provides the child with a sense of control over the situation.
- Environmental modification
The unpleasant aspects of the activity in the context of the environment have been
analyzed. In many situations, the child is provided with suggestions to modify the
environment to improve success during the activity.
A unique feature of Sensory Stories is the customization process that allows the
user to format each Sensory Story for the individual needs of the child. Through
an exchange list of sensory strategies, the user may select alternative sensory
strategies to insert into the story. The user is also given the option of modifying
the text, inserting digital photos, or decorating the story once it is printed.
- Socially acceptable strategies
The strategies in Sensory Stories have been specifically selected due to their socially
acceptable nature. The sensory strategies can be readily employed in public places
without drawing undo attention to the child.
- Line drawings
Simple line drawing depict the activity sequence. The child is given a simple visual
image to enhance comprehension in addition to the story’s wording. Since children
have many different learning styles, Sensory Stories allow the child to not only
hear the story but also to see the visual images, see the words, and experience
the sensory strategies.
- Tapping the innate desire of children
The authors believe that children have an innate desire to participate in daily
activities. Due to their unique sensory processing difficulties, the child is unable
to successfully participate in these daily activities. By giving the child sensory
strategies, the child is equipped with key activities to make the experience much
- Improving awareness
Sensory Stories have been instrumental in increasing the understanding of both adults
and children on issues of sensory processing. Adults have reported greater understanding
as to how specific activities might be unpleasant for the child. Children have had
an ‘aha’ experience through the realization that other children might feel similarly
about a daily activity. Sensory Stories have also opened the dialogue between families
and other individuals, i.e. the dentist, the hair stylist, the bus driver, the cafeteria
worker, the teacher.
Technology opens the door for many exciting possibilities that are otherwise unavailable.
Using our online customization tool you can tailor a Sensory Story to meet the specific
needs of each case. You can re-order pages, change strategies and even write your
own sensory story text on each page. Save your stories for re-use and further customization.
The flexibility and versatility of customized Sensory Stories is ideal for individual
practitioners or multi-case groups. Additionally, Sensory Stories can be read to
the child on the computer screen, thereby capitalizing on children’s interest in
technology. Lastly, for the computer savvy child, he or she can assist in the customization
process on the computer screen.
Who benefits from Sensory Stories?
Sensory Stories are designed for children with Sensory Processing Disorder, specifically,
over-responsive sensory modulation. Sensory stories are beneficial for children
who have difficulty participating in daily life events due to the sensory nature
of the events. The authors’ research indicated that children between the ages of
5 and 7 benefited the most from the Sensory Stories. Through the customization process,
the stories can be simplified for younger children or made more sophisticated for
the older child.