Integrating IM into Interventions for SPD and Dyspraxia

Sensory processing is how the brain takes in information from the body and the environment, organizes that information and then produces an adaptive response (a motor response, an attentional response, an emotional regulation response) to that information.

Dyspraxia, often thought of as motor planning, involves difficulty coordinating cognitive planning and sequencing to execute skilled motor actions. Jean Ayres, PhD, was the occupational therapist who pioneered this theory and developed the formalized evaluation process and child-directed therapeutic intervention to address these areas. Many of the underlying senses involved with sensory processing and praxis problems can be addressed with the Interactive Metronome. Using rhythm and timing inherent to IM activities can serve as a complementary intervention to classical sensory integration therapy.