Reflection

Reflections on making this blog and learning about Sensory Stimulation, the SCBU, and the OT role:
When I first started this blog I thought that Sensory Stimulation was just the same as Sensory Integration and although it does have similar concepts around the just right challenge and sensory diet, it is in fact different. I was so convinced that it was the same thing that initially my first few posts were all about Sensory Integration. It wasn’t until I ran into one of my Lecturers in the Library and managed to ask her a question about it that I found out they are not the same things. She explained to me that SI is for once you have identified the child as having a sensory disorder of some kind and that it would not be appropriate to use this on newborn babies as:
1. You take a while to form a diagnosis so placing one on a new born is not ethical, and
2. Babies get overwhelmed very easily as sensory sensations are all new to them. So using the SI approach where you try and engage as many sensory systems as possible in order to achieve neuroplasticity, is not really possible.
She then went on to further explain that Sensory Stimulation is more along the lines of doing like trying to regulate sleep patterns by turning the lights on and off at various times, providing physical contact with family to establish connection, and helping with the skills necessary for feeding. Upon Reflection I should have conducted better research before going on a completely different tangent. Luckily for me I am experienced in using a blog as have learnt how to use one through my course and could go back and edit all my posts so that they best suited the aim of this blog which was to identify Sensory Stimulation not Sensory Integration.
From doing this Blog I can see the benefits of Sensory Stimulation and how it will be of great aid for the Baby and their family. Through trying to find Youtube videos for my blog I saw how traumatic it can be for parents whose child is in SCBU and I definitely understand the need for OTs, as we are trained to be able to help support family and provide education so that they will be prepared for their ultimate goal which is getting baby home. My research leads me to conclude that SCBU wards should have an OT as part of their team if they don’t already, as well as that Sensory Stimulation should continue to be used with infants in the SCBU ward as it can really help their development as well as helping parents needs.