| Where we End and the World Begins by Teri Allen, OTR We end and the world begins at our skin. One of the primary functions of our skin is to provide us with information about the world we come into contact with through our sense of touch. Seven and a half weeks after conception, the fetus begins to make crude responses to touch. At birth, the sense of touch is well developed compared to vision and hearing. Babies and young children seem to want to touch everything! They are really trying to get a multi sensory view of their world; taking what their other senses are telling them and comparing it to their more developed sense of touch. I observed a child being reprimanded by her Mother for “touching” an object of interest. The child defended her behavior with the reply, “I’m looking at it!” Indeed she was. She was verifying what her vision told her through her sense of touch. Our skin is our largest sense organ with over 15 million receptor cells. These cells help us identify heat, cold, light touch, pressure, sharp, dull, texture and pain. The receptor cells are intricately arranged to enable precise localization of a sensation. Our brain organizes, prioritizes and makes sense of the messages from these cells. It forms highly detailed topographical maps of the skin’s surface as a result of the sensory input we receive. Without these sensory maps its difficult to navigate in the world and to precisely move our own body. Depriving infants and young children of touch can have profound and lasting effects. Deprivation can interfere with the ability to regulate bodily functions and immune functions. Infants in orphanages have failed to thrive when they did not get enough handling and cuddling from their care givers. Touch deprivation also causes psychological responses such as helplessness, confusion, and sadness. Some children’s brains do not process touch correctly. They may exhibit some of the same symptoms we see in children who are deprived of touch. Following are some of the questions that help therapists identify these children. Even one or two positive answers to these questions may indicate a problem. ■ Was he a difficult baby to calm? ■ Does or did he object to being touch or cuddled? ■ Does he dislike being touched unexpectedly? ■ Does he strongly protest having face or hair washed? ■ Is he easily irritated or enraged when touched by playmates or siblings? ■ Does he prefer certain textures of clothing or food? ■ Does he touch to excess? ■ Does he overreact to pain or seem almost unaware of it? ■ Is he clumsy or accident prone? So what does this mean to us as parents and care givers? It means that hugs and kisses are as important as good nutrition. We are not spoiling a crying baby by holding and rocking him, but providing the touch input his brain needs to develop its potential. We need to pay close attention to what our children are telling us about their preferences for touch. Because touch has such a profound impact on the developing child, it is important to identify problems early and seek professional help. There are Occupational and Physical Therapists who have intensive training in treating these children. Listed below are excellent resources, if you wish to do more reading on this subject. Also listed is an organization that can help you locate a qualified therapist in your geographic region. Sensory Integration and the Child Author: Dr. A. Jean Ayres Published by: Western Psychological The Many Facets of Touch Edited by: Catherine Caldwell Brown Published by: Johnson and Johnson Sensibilities This book is available for purchase at our office To locate a therapist in your geographic area, go to our website, www.helpingyourchild.com and look for the link to Sensory Processing Disorder Network |
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