What is Assistive Technology and How Can You Use It?
Assistive technology (AT) is anything that helps a person function in their daily lives. Perhaps technology isn’t immediately associated with therapies such as occupational, physical, and speech therapy, but it is in fact a core part of helping people, both young and old, live their most functional lives.
Assistive technology doesn’t need to be technologically advanced or even mechanical to be considered AT. It can be really simple like sound-blocking headphones to help prevent overstimulation in loud environments or a pencil grip to help with hand positioning during writing. On the other hand, AT can be an advanced piece of technology like an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) tablet or program that helps a nonverbal child communicate.
Using Technology to Help Your Child with Sensory Processing
Sensory processing, sometimes called sensory integration, is something that everyone does on a daily basis. It’s basically taking in and processing all of the sensory input from the environment. This can be sounds, colors, smells, textures, sensations, etc.
Some children have Sensory Processing Disorder where they have trouble processing the sensory input they receive from the environment. This may be an oversensitivity to things such as sounds, smells, and textures, or it may be a lack of sensitivity where there is a lack of response or engagement with the environment. However, most people have some sort of sensory sensitivity. For example, a lot of people have trouble focusing in loud environments, or hate sounds like nails on a chalkboard. Therefore, using technology to help with overstimulation isn’t only for children with sensory processing issues. This can be used by anybody at any age.
If your child has trouble focusing, is overstimulated before bed or leaving for school, or struggles with certain sensitivities, you can utilize assistive technology. This could be an app with exercises to help a child receive the sensory input they need to calm down, such as Brainworks or Sensory Treat.
You can even go a step further and create a Multisensory Environment (MSE) which is a space modified to create calm, productive surroundings. The type of MSE depends on your child and what they respond best to. For example, a space can be created with dimmable lights, a bean bag chair, a weighted blanket, and a white noise machine. There could be limited decorations to prevent distractions. Environments can play a huge role in a child’s functionality and productivity, especially if overstimulation is common. If MSEs are effective for the child, they can be advocated for in other environments such as schools.
How is Assistive Technology a Part of Therapy?
Therapists use assistive technology regularly to help a child meet treatment goals. Physical therapists might recommend orthotics. Speech therapists can use apps and videos to encourage the learning of vocabulary and language. Occupational therapists can provide ideas on how to help calm your child down, such as using calming sounds or music, weighted blankets, lava lamps, fidget toys, etc.
Therapists are also there to help problem-solve with any assistive devices or systems, such as how to help acquire and customize them, assist with any technical issues, and actually incorporate the device throughout therapy.
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Goodrich, Beth and Eileen Garza. “Occupational Therapy’s Role with Providing Assistive Technology Devices and Services,” AOTA, accessed 17 June 2022, https://www.aota.org/-/media/corporate/files/aboutot/professionals/whatisot/rdp/facts/at-fact-sheet.pdf.
Piller, A., Del Pilar Saa, M., Tremino, I., Koester, A. C., & Duker, L. S. “Using technology to enhance sensory-based interventions,” SIS Quarterly Practice Connections. 6, no. 1 (2021), 2–4. https://www.aota.org/publications/sis-quarterly/sensory-integration-processing-sis/sipsis-2-21/