SENSORY INPUT: The streams of neural impulses flowing from the sense receptors (of SEVEN SENSORY SYSTEMS) in the body to the spinal cord and brain.

SENSORY INTEGRATION: The organization of SEVEN sensory channels to the brain for purposeful use. The "use" may be a perception of the body or the world, or an adaptive response, or a learning process. Through sensory integration, the many parts of the nervous system work together so that a person can interact with the environment and people effectively and experience satisfaction and a sense of success.

SENSORY INTEGRATION AND PRAXIS TESTS (SIPT): A series of tests, published in 1989, designed to assess the status of sensory integration and praxis (motor planning) in children ages 4 through8 years old. The SIPT is a revised and updated version of the original SCSIT. ). One way to test for dysfunction, but only limited to children of a certain age and without language disorders.

SENSORY INTEGRATIVE DYSFUNCTION: An irregularity or disorder in brain function that makes it difficult to integrate sensory input effectively. Sensory integrative dysfunction may be present in motor, learning, social/emotional, speech/language or attention disorders. SI dysfunction can be present in many different diagnostic problems: learning disabilities, autism, neurological disorders, seizures, neglect, drug exposures, etc. Also referred to as SENSORY PROCESSING DYSFUNCTION.

SENSORY AVOIDANT: Behavior that suggests the person has developed coping strategies to prevent an assault to their nervous of the sensory channel that is not processed well.

SENSORY SEEKING: Behavior that suggests the person’s brain is driving him/her towards activities rich in the sensory input that is most disorganized. Sensory seeking is very common with attention deficit and hyperactivity.

SENSORY PROFILE: Standardized and non-standardized methods of ‘sorting’ out sensory-based behaviors. These extensive questionnaires assist the therapist and the parents toward their efforts as “sensory detectives” for their child.

SOMATOSENSORY: Body sensations that are based on both tactile and proprioceptive information.