The Somatosensory System
Presented by Tracy Stackhouse
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Meet your instructor
Tracy Stackhouse
Tracy Stackhouse is a clinical pediatric occupational therapist who has specialized in working with children, adults, and families affected by fragile x syndrome (FXS) and Fragile X related conditions since the late 1980s. Through this work, first at Children's Hospital in Denver, continuing at the UC Davis MIND Institute,…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Adaptive Somatosensory Functions: What Somatosensation Does for Us
The focus of this chapter is to provide an overview of the adaptive functions of somatosensation, addressing what somatosensation does for us as a core function underlying a multitude of capacities. When there is a disruption in basic somatosensory processing, it is important to determine if the difficulties are related to sensory modulation, sensory discrimination, or a concert of both. This chapter provides an overview of the adaptive functions / last sentence: This introductory chapter helps to frame the core somatosensory adaptive functions.
2. Receptors
In this chapter, the somatosensory receptors are reviewed based on stimulus type and receptor type. These two classic categories allow for different ways of thinking about how somatosensation is processed for different purposes. Knowledge of receptor types allows for careful consideration of treatment modalities and approaches, thus providing the neurological foundation for evidence-based practice.
3. Pathways and Functions
Chapter Three provides a review of the primary pathways and functions of somatosensation, which elucidates the sensory discrimination and sensory modulation structural and functional differences as well as the precision of the nervous system in replicating receptor fields into central detail maps for use. Somatosensation is processed from receptor, through distinct pathways, into discrete adaptive functions that contribute widely to many neurologically based capacities. As such, it is a critical system and often disrupted in individuals with a variety of neurodevelopmental challenges.
4. Assessment of Somatosensory Function With Demonstrations
This final chapter reviews assessment of somatosensation, including both formal / There are standardized and non-standardized versions of tests for the primary somatosensory functions. The classic assessments evaluate sensory discrimination and sensorimotor-related functions. The classic assessments evaluate sensory discrimination and sensory motor related functions. In order to determine sensory modulation qualities, qualitative observation is required. From assessment, keys to treatment are reviewed. The chapter utilizes an Ayres’ Sensory Integration approach and general treatment principals so that assessment and treatment are tied together for best practice use of somatosensation therapeutically.
