What is sensory

integration?

Sensory Integration

Sensory integration is an automatic process completed by our brain to process, integrate, and organise sensory information from the outside world (the environment) and our internal world (the body). We all experience sensation in a unique way and interpret and respond to it differently. Sometimes our brain over- or under-responds to sensory information, or struggles to make sense of it, which makes it hard for us to engage in the activities we want and need to do. Sensory integration is important in everything we do, from looking after ourselves to learning and interacting with others.

We have eight senses: vision, smell, taste, touch, hearing, movement/balance, body awareness and interoception. These senses keep us informed about input coming from outside and inside our bodies. Together these senses give us constant information and feedback about our external and internal environments to support us to feel regulated and participate in the activities that are important to us.

Sensory processing changes after brain injury

Following a brain injury there can be changes in the way sensory information is received and interpreted by the brain. This can lead to people feeling overwhelmed or distracted by sensory information that didn’t bother them prior to the injury, or missing sensory information within the environment. For example, people may feel that they are more sensitive to sounds within the environment, which can make background noise feel distracting and overwhelming. This can make it difficult to engage in everyday activities, such as concentrating on following a recipe while your children are playing in the background. Or people may not respond to sensory information, such as not noticing when somebody enters a room. They may need some sensory information or sensory input to be intensified to help them register and use this and may need support to manage or dampen other sensory inputs to avoid overwhelm.

If a brain injury results in significant changes to the person’s physical abilities, they may not be able to independently move around in the way they did prior to the injury. This can make it harder to access the sensory experiences they need to feel comfortable and regulated, such as if they can no longer actively move their body (vestibular and proprioceptive). This can lead to the persons nervous system becoming dysregulated, leading to changes in behaviour. For example, they may seek sensory experiences to self-stimulate, which could include behaviours that may injure self or others or repetitive behaviours, such as rocking, grabbing, teeth grinding, or banging, that other people may not understand.

How can we help?

Our large team of sensory-trained OTs hold post-graduate qualifications in sensory integration and can assess sensory processing post-brain injury, deliver sensory-based therapy, advise on sensory strategies, provide training and comprehensive reports, and support in creating sensory-friendly environments. We are able to support the person to find activities to meet their sensory needs in new ways, and/or look at ways to return to activities that they previously enjoyed. We are able to support the person across the lifespan to find activities.

Contact us to find out more about our sensory based services and learn how to tailor environments to create sensory-friendly spaces.

Andrea Matthews

  • Andrea has a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Occupational Therapy. She has also completed in-depth postgraduate training in Sensory Integration to achieve Advanced Practitioner of Sensory Integration status.

    Andrea has over 20 years’ experience working in the field of Acquired Brain Injury; her roles have included Rehabilitation Support Worker, Assistant Psychologist, Care Home Management, and Occupational Therapist.

    Andrea founded her Occupational Therapy company in 2014 and supervises the other OTs within the team. She also supervises a number of OTs from other organisations and is a clinical mentor through the Sensory Integration Network, supporting other clinicians during their sensory integration training.

    She works with clients of all ages and is experienced in working with people with acquired brain injuries, sensory processing and integration difficulties, autism, dyspraxia, and trauma histories. She can support clients in the community, their own homes, schools, workplaces.

    Andrea has experience working with case managers and solicitors as part of the litigation process and Expert Witness for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Tribunal.

  • Acquired brain injury, sensory processing and integration difficulties, cognitive rehabilitation, autism, dyspraxia, ADHD, mental health, feeding differences and trauma histories.

  • West Midlands, Worcestershire, Hertfordshire, Shropshire

Director, Occupational Therapist and Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner

Lucie McCoy

Occupational Therapist and Sensory Integration Practitioner

  • Lucie qualified in January 2020 having completed the Occupational Therapy Pre-Registration MSc at Leeds Beckett University with Distinction. She is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

    Lucie provides OT support to a neurological rehabilitation (neuro-rehab) unit in Liverpool, providing holistic occupational therapy for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) and neurological conditions. She also supports clients in the community, working with both adults and children. Lucie supports people in improving their function and engagement in meaningful occupations through a variety of strategies, including upper limb rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation, and functional assessments of activities of daily living, to provide client-centred and measurable outcomes.

  • Acquired Brain Injury and Adults.

  • North West.

Hollie Rawson

Occupational Therapist and Sensory Integration Practitioner

  • In 2013 I qualified with an MSc in Occupational Therapy and have gone on to complete post-graduate training to become a Sensory Integration Practitioner. I also have a degree in psychology. Prior to working for

    Creative OT I worked for a private healthcare provider, where over the years I worked up to Head Occupational Therapist working directly with patients and overseeing the provision of OT across three units with people with a range of needs including mental health issues, brain injury, learning disability, neurodiversity and sensory processing differences. My role also included supervision of other occupational therapists and service development and extensive multidisciplinary working. Before qualifying as an occupational therapist I worked in special education, in family support, as a teaching assistant and in a research capacity. I was part of the team that devised the original Engagement Model for special education curriculum and children with complex learning difficulties and disabilities.

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  • South Birmingham

Becky Smith

Occupational Therapist and Sensory Integration Practitioner

  • Becky qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2009 with an MSc in Health Through Occupation from the University of Brighton.  She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT).  She has a BSc in Psychology which was gained in 2004.

    Becky has specialised in neurological rehabilitation and to broaden her knowledge in her specialist area has completed a post-graduate certificate in neurological rehabilitation at Coventry University. Becky is currently in the process of completing her Sensory Integration training to become a Practitioner of Sensory Integration.

    She is highly skilled and carries a diverse case load, specialising in neurological rehabilitation, and works with clients who have a traumatic brain injury and other neurological conditions including stroke and cerebral palsy. Becky has worked within mental health settings, as well as adults and children with learning difficulties. She has also completed seating assessments and equipment assessments, communicating closely with companies to establish the best outcome for the client.

  • Acquired Brain Injury, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Sensory Processing and Integration difficulties, Adults and Children.

  • West Midlands, Worcestershire, North Midlands and Herefordshire.

Sheryl Powers

Occupational Therapy Team Lead and Sensory Integration Practitioner

  • Sheryl qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2011 with a first class degree in Occupational Therapy Bsc (Hons) from Coventry University. As well as adult and paediatric experience, together with her previous management of NHS services, Sheryl is currently in the process of completing her Sensory Integration training to become a Practitioner of Sensory Integration.

    Sheryl has experience of working in neurological rehabilitation, trauma, and orthopaedics. She has experience in assessing and treating individuals with a range of deficits including fine and gross motor skills, community living skills, activities of daily living, sensory processing and executive functioning skills.

  • Acquired Brain Injury, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Sensory Processing and Integration difficulties, Adults and Children.

  • East Midlands, North Midlands and Buckinghamshire.

Hannah Gent

Associate Occupational Therapist and Sensory Integration Practitioner

  • Hannah qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2010, gaining a BSc (Hons) degree in Occupational Therapy from Sheffield Hallam University. She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). She has 9 years post graduate experience working in the NHS, as well as experience working within the private sector as a community based Occupational Therapist.

    She has worked with children and young adults within neurorehabilitation services and has worked with adults within trauma and orthopaedics, oncology services and general medicine, including people with brain injuries and neurological conditions.

  • Hannah qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2010, gaining a BSc (Hons) degree in Occupational Therapy from Sheffield Hallam University. She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). She has 9 years post graduate experience working in the NHS, as well as experience working within the private sector as a community based Occupational Therapist.

    She has worked with children and young adults within neurorehabilitation services and has worked with adults within trauma and orthopaedics, oncology services and general medicine, including people with brain injuries and neurological conditions.

  • North Midlands, East Midlands and Sheffield.

Marie Taylor

Associate Occupational Therapist and Sensory Integration Practitioner

  • I qualified with an BSc in Occupational Therapy in 1998.  Although I have worked with adults, my main experience is with children. I worked as an NHS Advanced Occupational Therapist (band 7) in Warwickshire’s Integrated Disability Team for children for 23 years and was responsible for managing a diverse caseload of children 0 – 19years with a variety of difficulties. I now work as an independent associate Occupational Therapist for a number of companies as well as for myself.  I started working for Neuro rehab group in December 2023.

    I maintain a high level of professional development and clinical supervision.  I am a trained Bobath Therapist and have experience of working with children with complex neurological needs and equipment needs. I have completed my training in Ayres Sensory Integration.

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  • Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire