Bridging the gap: Sensory integration and mental health in pediatrics

Children with sensory modulation and regulation challenges often experience difficulties that affect their mental health. These challenges are frequently referred to as emotional dysregulation, and they can include anxiety, depression, impulse control difficulties, mood disturbances, and other behavioral issues. These challenges are not limited to a specific setting but affect children across various environments, including schools, homes, community spaces, and unconventional settings, such as teletherapy. We can also see these challenges across neurodivergent diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), etc. Occupational therapy, as a holistic profession, is ideally suited to address these issues, using evidence-based, sensory-focused, and behavioral-based strategies to promote self-regulation and support mental health among all children.