Question
Are there any contraindications or negative consequences of implementing the wrong sensory strategy for a child?
Answer
I think that this is a great question as we never want to force a sensory strategy on a child. For example if a child does not like sticky things, you would not want to put their hands in a pile of goop. It can be really affect how they respond to you. That being said, I do not think that there is one specific contraindication for a diagnosis or treatment method.
We need to try to encourage strong relationship engagement. Sometimes a parent can get a child to try something before we can and vice versa. It depends upon the relationship. It is also very important to watch a child's responses and facial expressions in response to a treatment. If they are scared or crying, you many not be introducing them to the correct thing.
I do think that it takes a trained occupational therapist to really know and understand what is going on with a child, what sensory subtypes they are are displaying and what is the best form of treatment for them.
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