Definitions Gallery

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Ability to Screen Input

Ability to Screen Input: The ability to register sensory stimuli but to choose to

ignore it.

Having a conversation in a restaurant when there is a lot of background noise
Looking forward while walking in a line and ignoring other commotion in the sidewalk
Allowing someone to lean on you but not be distracted by this touch while listening during circle time

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Auditory

Auditory: The sense of sound

Hearing or not hearing sounds
Registering sound
Knowing where the sound comes from
Giving meaning to the sound
Controlling one's voice level

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Behavior

Behavior: Behavior is fed by our ability to process a variety of sensory stimuli. Behavior is at the top of the developmental hierarchy, thus many skills such as good sensory processing, mature reflexes and good coordination must be in place to support optimal behavior.

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Directionality

Directionality: The ability to know left and right and to use them in relation to your own body and your environment.

Visualizing directions
Following directions from point A to point B
Reading a map
Following choreographed movements

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Gustatory

Gustatory: The sense of taste

Eating food
Liking flavors or not
Tolerating different textures of foods

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Ocular Motor Control

Ocular Motor Control: Muscular control and coordination of both eyes working

together in all directions and smoothly.

Visually scanning a page with both eyes focused on the same target
Following the motion of others in one's environment
Shifting focus from the wall to your notebook

The ability to control one’s body in different positions. Sitting in a chair or at circle time Stabilizing body during gross motor activities

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Postural Security

Postural Security: The ability to control one’s body in different positions.

Sitting in a chair or at circle time
Stabilizing body during gross motor activities

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Reflex Maturity

Reflex Maturity: Reflexes are automatic movements that occur when one is

stimulated by touch or a specific motion. These automatic movements are present in infancy in order to get the body moving but one gains voluntary control over the

movements at an expected pace. Reflexes mature during toddlerhood except those

needed for long-term personal protection. Immature or under-integrated reflexes can cause learning difficulties.

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Visual

Visual: The sense of sight including acuity and recognition of things in our

environment

Needing glasses vs. not needing glasses
Tolerating light
Recognizing shapes
Finding things in busy visual environment

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Academic Learning

Academic learning the skills of life are at the top of the developmental pyramid.

If the foundational skills of sensory processing, reflex maturity, cross-lateral brain processing and other skills are not fully developed or supported, then learning may be a challenge. Addressing the underlying developmental needs will greatly support successful long-term learning and confidence.

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Auditory Language Skills

Auditory Language skills: Connecting sounds together to mean something.

Early language used in communication
Reading
Reading comprehension
Following directions

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Body Scheme

Body Scheme: Ability to relate to one's self.

Knowing one's arm as different from a neighbors arm
Knowing where to stand in line
Related to dressing oneself

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Executive Function Skills

EF:

Sustained attention
Task initiation
Planning and prioritizing
Organization
Emotional control o Flexibility
Response inhibition
Time management
Goal oriented persistence
Working memory
Metacognition

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Laterality

Laterality: Having an innate sense of one’s body and knowing the difference between your left and right side. Being able to use one side upon request with thinking about it.

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Olfactory

Olfactory: The sense of smell

Smelling food being cooked
Smelling bad odors

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Attention Center Functions

The ability to attend to ones’ environment, social partners, and learning materials (including other executive function skills).

Never consider attention difficulties in isolation. Other neurodevelopmental needs must be well developed in order to support good attention. Lower level skills/development (strength, coordination, sensory processing, health, etc.) MUST be addressed before an isolated diagnosis of ADD/ADHD and/or medications should be considered.

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Awareness of two sides of the body

Awareness of Two Sides of Body: Knowing that we have two sides of the body and

using them together.

Lacing beads
Doing jumping jacks
Writing
Learning left from right
Bilateral Coordination is the ability to use the two sides of the body together.

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Daily Living Activities

Daily Living Activities: Self-care skills for everyday living.

Dressing
Grooming
Home management skills
Work skills
Cooking/eating

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Eye-Hand Coordination

Eye-hand coordination: Using the hand (foot) in combination with the visual system

to complete a motor task.

Catching
Throwing
Kicking
Bicycle riding
Drawing
Getting dressed

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Motor Planning

Motor Planning: The ability to mentally plan a series of physical actions and follow

through with the plan.

Going through an obstacle course
Writing out one's name
Sequencing the steps to…
Putting away personal belongings or getting dressed

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Postural Adjustment

Postural Adjustment: Higher level postural control specific to a gross motor task

including strength, endurance and flexibility.

Sitting in various positions and environments for a long time
Following a movement class

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Proprioception

Proprioception: Knowing where one’s body is in space.

Standing in line
Sitting in circle time
Controlling body force in sports

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Reading Disorder

Reading Disorder: Having difficulty acquiring the skills of reading including:,developing strong letter-sound correspondence (phoneme awareness, phonics, rapid recall) reading fluency, and reading comprehension.

Reading disorders can be visually-based or auditory-based or both. Underlying reflexes must also be mature in order to support efficient reading skills.