Sensory Integration Disorder 3 1/2 YO

Hi M. K - I feel for you. My youngest has processing issues as well as tremors in his hands. Have you had a chance to Google SID? You will find tons of stuff out there. According to your profile you live on the west side of Washington. You should be able to tap into many really good resources for your family as well as your daughter. Ask your dr or hospital or school if they knows of a local parent support group (for parents with kids with special needs/disabilities) in your area. You will benefit so much from this added connection plus they will be a wonderful resource for local services!

I do have a few questions: 1) how is her speech/language? Is it typical for her age or is she a little behind. If she is also ask for a referral to an SLP that specializes in kids. Many kids this age act out because they lack the speech/language skills to properly communicate. 2) do you have private insurance or is she on Medicaid? Depending on what you have can change the options you have.
3) have you asked your peditrician for a referral to an occupational therapist (OT) who KNOWS about sensory issues and make an appointment! The OT can even help with official evaluations too. 4) in the info from the dr did it include anything about IBI (goes by several different names depending on where you are)? This type of service/help works with the child & family to help with their behavior and teaches them how better to respond. Many of these trained staff will come to your home.

Some ideas: Keep a journal of her behavior (dates, time, what lead up to a problem/tantrum, etc). Also start to keep tract of what she is eating & drinking. You might even find a trigger with her diet that helps to push her into tantrum. Some kids also have underlying medical or allergy issues that a journal like this will help uncover. All of this will help you and help her doctors/specialists. Plus this journal will give you an outlet for your feelings/frustrations in a positive/productive way. Use a highlighter (different colors for different things) to do a quick check for important things for quick reference.

The BIGGEST piece of advice that I can give is take a BIG breath & realize that it is OK that your beloved child is not "typical/normal"! None of us are "normal" (:>). You will find out that your daughter just learns a little differently and that is OK. The wonderful thing with finding out how kids learn early will be an asset in the long run. Just remember one day at a time, you will make it!

A website that might help with ideas: (this is for Idaho but it might help) http://www.idahocdhd.org/dnn/idhelp/
as well as all the Google sites under SID

Take Care & you will make it!

My son has this(amongst other things)and I know in our case removing milk from his diet has helped greatly. He hates to be confined so holding tight during a tantrum isn't something we can do either. What we do is find things that help soothe him. Try this with your daughter. Finding things that help to calm her or distract her or even prevent the tantrum. My son throws numerous tantrums throughout the day so I don't have a fix for how to curb them completely but I do know that changes in diet, sleep, alone time, play time and the like have all had profound impacts on his ability that day to deal. Babycenter is a good site, Yahoo has an SID group which is also nice and while I realize your little one is not autistic or on the ASD but http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/default.asp is a great site with wonderfully supportive people many of which whose children also do have SID/SPD and have great insight. Best of luck and know that your child is fine and will be fine even if they don't fit into society's view of what it is to be normal.

Hi M. K,

Although my child does not have sensory issues, I do have a lot of experience treating children with sensory issues as a special education teacher.

It sounds like you are on the right track. Here are some thoughts off the top of my head. There are several good books specifically about SI. I loaned mine out so I don't have the titles handy. Most have very concrete suggestions in them. I have found that occupational thereapist are most knowledgeable about this area. You might check with your local school district on their early intervention services. Your child may or may not qualify, but it is worth checking. Also, don't be afraid to check materials written for children with autism and ADHD. Just find the section on sensory integration and ignore the other parts.

Think of all the senses (and include vestibular which refers to movement). Then observe your child to see what areas she is most senitive. Basically a person with SI isn't able to process sensory information in a normal way.It litterally can be painful and the tantruming is most likely a response to that painful overwhelming feeling. You will have to learn in which areas your child is sensitive. It may sometimes mean she needs more input and sometimes she needs less. Also schedule regualr times in your day for sensory time once you figure out what works for you. Don't wait for a tantrum. But it is also helpful to have a cool down routine. Many kids thrive on seeing the routine in a visual format using icons or pictures. It is also good to practice the routine when they are calm. It might be blowing out an immaginary candle, squeezing the palms together, deep breathing, going to a quiet place, etc.

Things that we have found helpful int eh school environment include:
Weighted vests and blankets (check out saltoftheearth.com)
any heavy work such as hauling books, gardening, pushing a wheelbarrow (try to make it functional and fun for the kid)
exercise of any kind
sucking (on straws or other objects)
try different textures of food
stretch bag
try different kinds of lighting
plastic sliverware may be better than metal
swinging
rolling a therapy ball over the child
brushing therapy (you would need to be trained by an OT)
Jumping and wall push ups

Please know that there are a lot of resources out there and this is really something that you really can assist your daughter in developing coping strategies. One of the positives is that she will in the process gain a better sense of self awareness and know her own strengths and weaknesses. She can learn what works for her. How Does Your Engine Run is a great resource for teaching kids how to regulate their own body. There are so many things you will learn and I wish I could write it all, but have a toddler hanging on me. Feel free to e-mail me if you have other specific questions.

C.

PS Think of the label as way to open doors for more resources.

I understand. I have two children. One with the disorder, one without. My daughter is now a thriving 13 year old with a 504 plan at her local school. Here was our path for her:

Rosemary White clinic: evaluation, OT therapy

Dr. Glass: pediatric neurologist: extensive evaluation report, especially necessary when she enters the public school system so you can get the 504 plan or an IEP to support her in that environment.

Dr. Boucher: Environmental Doctor in bellevue. We did a metal toxicity test. Vaccines often exacerbate their behavior. Instead of Dr. Boucher's approach we went to

An naturopath/acupuncturist: she prescribed a homeopathic med to remove the metal toxins.

Dr. Baker: homeopathic doctor: He does classical homeopathy and he definitely helped to find my daughter's constitution and eased her anxieties. Takes time and patience but it works.

On a personal note: The occupational therapists at Rosemary White's clinic are amazing. They will encourage your child to break through a personal barrier - easier than us. In the meantime, work within your child's environmental needs until you have the support you need. This SID can be very depressing, frustrating and confusing for us parents. I needed support of friends to help me through the early stages of this behavior discovery. The good news is that your child is 3 1/2 and with your continued support and various doctors and therapist, your child will begin to shed some of the disorder as she develops. SOmetimes it can shift or be combined with anxiety, ADD or aspergers syndrome but that is totally OK. This is manageable once you get your team of health care people together. Best of luck to you and I wish you ease and peace as you find solutions and care in this process.

A. L.

Try taking all electronics out of her bedroom and pay attention to how much time she spends using or playing near them. Children are extremely sensitive to electro magnetic fields which can cause the symptoms you describe, You can check on this website to hear Tamara Mariea speak about her work with children. Just click under the second DVD to access more information and then look under CD's for Tamara's name. Good luck!

Here is the site: http://protectkidsfrom.emf411.com

Dear M. K,

I have two daughters, Johanna who is almost 5 and Macia who is 3 1/2. Both have Sensory Issues and have since infancy.

First, I want to encourage you - this is not likely to remain as difficult as it is now. With therapy, as you learn how to help her, and as she matures and learns how to help herself, things will get better and easier. Also, as her brain develops new connections in therapy, she will likely begin to be less sensitive, and build tolerance, for some of the stimuli that is around her. There might be a few rough patches or backtracking, but for the most part, its only going to get easier! ;-)

The best resource I can suggest is a book called "The Out of Sync Child". It's got textbook level information about all the possible variations of this disorder, yet its in a language that isn't too hard to read and has many suggestions. It's written for parents. In some of the sensory areas, you'll likely recognize where your child is and maybe try some of the suggestions while waiting to see a therapist.

Also - about the holding tight. The truth is that MOST SPD kids do better with the tight holding/high pressure. However, some kids are the opposite. If your daughter is reacting negatively, try it in another fashion - like a weighted blanket instead of a strong hug. If that doesn't get a more positive response, she is likely one of the ones that doesn't do well with the high pressure.

My younger daughter, when she has a tantrum or can't fall asleep, will respond to me patting her on the back. However, it has to be hard, more like pounding her on the back - but it will lull her into a calm, almost sleepy state. My older daughter doesn't react to that at all. I'd be willing to bet, just by you being the mom, you are already doing a number of things that help, unconsciously.

The other thing that helps at our house is motion that affects the vestibular system (see out of sync child). Putting my children on anything that bounces, swings, etc. helps their brains to organize and changes behavior miraculously. My older daughter has a speech delay. Stopped learning new words at 18 months. A year later (before SPD diagnosis) we went to stay at her grandparents. They had a swing-set in the backyard and she learned to count to ten in two days whereas she didn't even know the words 1-10 before (she barely got off the swing during that time - their brains crave what they need to organize). If we do it first thing in the morning, behavior is better all day long (easier said than done - we live in an apartment LOL).

There is a lot of research going on. A couple of things I mean to look into (that have been highly recommended to me) are "Brain Gym" exercises and the Tomatis program.

Don't worry about the "label". Just keep people on a need to know basis (and that doesn't need to include the lady in the supermarket giving you an evil eye cause of your child's tantrum). In all honesty, she will likely get to a point where she is tolerant of sensory and/or has learned enough skills to manage it, that she will not need a therapist and the label can go into oblivion. ;-)

Sorry, I practically wrote you a book here.. but I understand the heartache and how much you likely crave info to help your beautiful daughter. I wish you luck and I know things will get better!!

Jenn

Hello, My name is R. and I am grandma Tutu to my 4 grandchildren. My oldest grandson has ADHD, and my second grandson, 3 1/2, was first labeled with sensory integration issues and speech delay at about 18 months. By 2 years he had regressed to little or no speech, little eye contact, and self-stimulation behaviors.

It is funny how having a diagnosis helps. Only recently they have labeled my grandson with high functioning autism. At least you don't feel crazy once you have a label. Contrary to what out gut was telling us, we wanted to believe Brody was just slow. Once stepping out of denial and acknowledging there are obstacles, you can then begin to blunder forward. However then what? How do we help our kids?

It is quite a journey. I feel whether ADHD, autism, sensory issues, or some other combination thereof, these special kids are like canaries in the goldmine. They are trying to warn is that something in our environment and way of being is terribly off. You and I can sort to hear one sound at a time. They hear them all on high volume simultaneously.

Each one of these special kids have their own quirks and needs.Many pediatricians have little training in this area, even though 1 out of every 60 kids today are eventually diagnosed on the spectrum. Some still treat it as a psychological disorder. More and more are recgognizing that there are many other factors that influence the behaviors, like toxins, mercury, food allergies, etc.

I can only share what has helped us so far.

If your daughter does not like being held tight, try getting her a weighted vest (try www.funandfunction.com)

Read about the influence of diet. We have put Brody on a GF/CF (gluten free/casein free) diet. He is allergic to dairy and eggs. He is a completely different kids when he goes off his diet. He literally goes crazy!

Being three comes with behaviorial challenges even with a typical kid, but kids with sensory issues become easily overloaded. Try to minimize the stimulation in the environment.Also be mindful that our cleaning products, etc, have many toxing that kids react to. First just notice what is happening around her before she flips into a tantrum.Many are coming to believe that the gut of these kids is very sensitive, so they absorb things into their system, can't excrete them in the same way typical kids can, and then have these bizarre reactions. Keep in mind they are doing the best they can to make sense of their world. As best you can, celebrate obviously when she is doing appropriate behavior. Point our when she is doing what you want. I know you have to intervene when she or someone else is in danger, but as best you can show little emotion about transgressions and redirect her as best you can. We figured out that what Brody is after is the reaction. If he gets more of a reaction when doing something right that when he does something wrong, he gets more of the connection he is seeking by behaving.

Read some of Jenny McCarthy's work. A new book of her's is out. Although your child may not be autistic, what she writes about will speak to kids like your daughter and my ADHD grandson. I believe all of these things have a common ground and just present themselves in a different form. A valuable website with a great forum is: http://www.talkaboutcuringautism.org/ Also,on that site is a list of what are called DAN doctors who take a biomedical approach to this. Many of them have special needs kids of their own.

Not to overwhelm you, but those are a few of the things that come to mind, actually what comes to my heart, because I know this journey can feel overwhelming, especially at first. Find support, especially if you do not (yet) have a family that understands. Let me know if I can help you in any other ways.

In Joy,
R.

Hi, My grandson has Sensory Integration Disorder ( I work with people with disabilities) and I have found some great resources at Hastings (bookstore)- related to play time at home. Things you can do that will be like therapy for her to supplement what an Occupational Therapist would do to help her. It has taken my daughter a lot of time and energy just to get him identified and served as well. (he is 3 1/2). Each child with this disorder can have different aspects of it and where in the "senses" of their being it is affected. There is help... be hopeful. I went to a conference last year, where this was a major topic of discussion. Keep in mind... once your child starts regular therapy sessions.. it takes time. They can actually desensitize them in certain areas and help them live an average life. My grandson covers his ears at certain sounds, is calmed by certain touches (like strong tickling, a rough tree trunk, sand (beach or sandbox), water, etc. Other touches or fabrics drive him to screaming. Go to Google and type in the disorder... research, research, research. I imagine you can find support groups if you type that in as well. There are lots of books you can read up on and they will help you discover what works and doesn't work to help your daughter. This wears you down, I'm sure.. because I know it wears my daughter down... but there is hope. Keep that foremost in your mind and heart. Your child will need your support at home to be a strong supplement from the professionals that will help her as well. Take care, C.

been there!! still am. It gets better w/time and therapy. we also removed gluten...that was the big key for us.
please feel free to email me off group if that is faster for you ____@____.com that may be faster for those quick questions.
even though our son hated being held during a tantrum that is what his body needed. I ended up making him a lyca body bag and hammock....he loves them and they really calm him.

lots you can do and there is hope...he is learning to handle his own processing needs.

M.

I am a former first grade teacher and have worked with children like your daughter. If I was your daughter's teacher, I would would ask you: Does she have her own room? If not I highly recommend that she has her own room.

I would make her room as simple and plain as possible. Take out most of the toys. Have one or two special toys in there, but no more. That is the rule and keep to it. Put the rest in a toy box out side the room so she can have access to them.

Keep her room in dim light. Have one light for reading. Take posters down. Make this room her haven. Teach her to go to her room when she is out of control to find peace and quiet.

Walk her quietly without emotion to her room. One parent should even stay in this room at first if you can stay without being mad.

Remember this room is her haven. I she comes out and is still out of control put her back in. I know it is hard to stay calm, but you must do so.

Also swimming might help. It will require her to organize her right left-right left brain function. That and the feel of the water on her skin will help her organize some of her sensory disorders.

I am adopting 2 girls, 2 1/2 yrs and 3 1/2 yrs. I've had the older one since 7 mos. and her baby sister since birth. Both have sensory integration disorder.

My girls are equal parts sensory-seeking and sensory-avoidant. Older one has to have her feet covered, younger one can't wear clothing... neither will potty train because they enjoy the wet sensation. Can't touch the hair of the younger one, older one needs to be touched everywhere, all the time.

Both have episodes like you describe (we call them "meltdowns"), but the older is worse. She is self-injurious, beats her head on the floor, bites herself until she leaves bruises and claws at her skin until it bleeds. Younger one doesn't bite self but beats head and heels.

Like your daughter, ours resist close holding during meltdowns. In fact, it increases the intensity of the meltdown.

My girls have a half-brother, who is being adopted by a family in another state. He, too, has sensory integration disorder. He will be 5 this month.

The brother has had a lot of success with either a weighted or snugly-fitting neoprene vest. It's worn for short intervals during the day, and the added sensory stimulation decreases his dangerous sensory-seeking meltdowns. You need to see a pediatrician (but preferably a developmental specialist) to get a prescription, referral and fitting for one. My older girl has an appointment with her developmental specialist coming up for that very thing.

There is a contact link on my website, http://TheGonzoMama.com... please feel free to contact me. Our daughters are similarly aged. It would be nice to have a sounding board, yes? I can tell you about the services our girls are receiving, and their therapists and therapies.

Please go visit Dr Taylor, I thin i recommended hi to your last time, but I think it's really important that you see himis number is ###-###-#### & you have to ask for his shift, he's very affordible & a great doctor. Good luck.

I am not sure where you are located, but I know that there is at least one support group in the greater Seattle/Eastside area. I was at Children's Therapy of Woodinville yesterday (my son goes there for PT) and they had a notice on their board about a support group for parents of children with senory processing disorders. I wish now that I had paid more attention! I am thinking that it was somehow connected with the UW, but I may be remembering a different flyer. I am sure that you could call the clinic and ask.
I would also call your school district. You never know what they have available through their preschool program. Since your daughter is 3, she will qualify for services if you can get her on an IEP. She might be able to go to a district run preschool staffed with people who are trained to work with children like your daughter (free of charge). Good luck in finding some support through this. It is often a relief to know what is going on, but the waiting for help can be agony.

My son was diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder/Dysfunction when he was 4. I spent years trying to figure out why his behavior was the way it was. I was sure at first it was me and I wasn't doing what was necessary to ensure my child was being raised right. I realized it wasn't me, although I had to learn new ways to handle things due to the situation. For example, I couldn't raise my voice at my son, he would shudder and start to cry. It was because he couldn't handle the loudness of my voice. I had to learn how to talk with him in such a way that he would understand, but wouldn't freak him out. When he would have his episodes, I would try to give him a bear hug to hold him, realizing that wasn't the best method...I learned to give him space and ignore his tantrums. Eventually he calmed down. In our apartment, I had to keep most of the lights off and make sure he wasn't overstimulated by too much t.v. or radio. It took a lot. For us, I will say that having him in to see a Behavioral Health Therapist helped so much. It gave us a better insight as to what we were to expect. I made sure as well, that before he started school, I discussed with his teacher, principal, and counselor what his condition was and worked with them to find creative ways to help out with any behavioral issues he might encounter. I also had to talk with his daycare to make sure they understood too. Since I've done this, his behavior has improved greatly. We still have our moments, but they are far and in between. I'm sorry I don't have any resources available. I live in an area where they don't have much for this kind of disorder. But, have faith, with love, patience, and determination...you and your child with endure through this. :D

The best advice I can give you, as the mother of an autistic child with sensory processing issues, is to get a referral from your pediatrician to an occupational therapist. They are traind to help you and your child learn to deal with sensory issues. Good luck!

I seriously love Blog talk radio. its online talk radio shows, there is one that is called Sensory nanny. She is great! She has great ideas and when she is doing a live show you can call in with your questions.

Don't despair, M. K --- there are resources - and there is every reason to expect that your bright llittle lamb will do fine ( every child I've EVER met with sensory issues was also very smart- they just seem to go together.

Give her as much practical help as you can-
1. be sure that clothing is really comfortable- tags, seams, zippers and other fastenings that are part of kids clothes can drive kids nuts who have sensory issues

2. If it is hard for her to sit through a meal- consider whether ---at home-- she could be allowed to STAND at the table - some children with sensory issues would rather- and if it doesn't bother your family- it might make things happier ( your call- if that seems odd and awful to you- it likely wouldnt be worth even trying)

3. Try to watch her and find activities --- or sitting situations--- that really work for her--- a swing??? If she loves, loves, loves swinging ( a lot of sensory kids do) consider an indoor hammock --- and IKEA has a soft, cloth indoor swing that some kids totally love ---

More later ( I'm a retired special ed teacher -- preschool)=-- and I miss my guys SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much

Blessings,
J. - aka - old Mom

I would recommend reading the book "The Out of Sync Child".

M.

Hello M. K! I can see that you are very concerned for you child. Having a label is not easy to deal with. I have a 14 yr old son who was originally diagnosed with Sensory Defensivness. I do believe that is similar. We had some very trying moments when he was young however i want to let you know that simply due to the label doesn't mean he's not normal. He is attending his last year of middle school (only one class does he recieve assistance and is not interated) and he is keeping up a 3.0 GPA. He has many plans for the future, one of which is going to University!
He know has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum. Until i got these diagnosis i was at a loss as what to do. I did what i thought was right and ignored the stares that i would get sometimes when he was so angry and also started using alot of sign language. I had much help from "The out of sinc child". I believed that sound and smell were the biggest triggers for him and when i gave him is answer in what he perceived was a non confrontational manner he was more able to cope.
Please don't loose hope! Keep breathing and know that there are others around.
Mamasita

I am not sure where you are located, but in Corvallis there isa place called OLD MILL. They can evaluate your child and send you in the right direction for support groups and help. Its a non profit organization that is for families and children. I have a niece tahtis autistic and has sensory issues. I am sorry to say I really dont have any suggestions for you, especially since each child has different triggers. I know my niece has a thing about putting her hands in her mouth and she too has horrible meltdowns. I know they had to let her know ahead of time taht they were leaving, she had to get out of the tub, etc. They would tell her about 10 min before, then again five, again a few min before. They also have to keep her on a very structured schedual and keep it posted so she can see it (daily sched was done in pictures) and after each task a marker would be moved. I really wish I had more ideas for you!! I feel for you and your family, it is very stressful, work together and support each other!!

Hi,

I feel for you. I don't know if this will help but I would suggest getting this book from the library and having a read. Maybe something in here might click and say hey that's what I'm going through but it might not with the sensory issues but you never know.

I totally believe in Homeopathy and though it's not for everyone it's made a huge difference in my life and my 4 year old's life. I know a great homeopath if you decide to pursue any of this.

http://www.ragefreekids.com/

Good luck.

D.

If I were you I'd be EXTREMELY wary of any diagnosis given after the pedicatrican viewed a video tape and would get a second and/or third opinion.

It is a pity that these days extreme ill behavior in children and in adults are diagnosed as a syndrome or condition which typically involves pharmaceuticals (one has to wonder who discovered these 'syndromes' and 'disorders'...the doctors or the companies that make the drugs to treat them). There could be numerous reasons why your child has these tantrums and not all of them are based on a physical or mental cause. I know it's difficult to look to ourselves when we see issues with our children's behavior but I'd suggest you seek out some parenting information or maybe even classes. Children don't come with instruction manuals and figuring out how to best parent each child, because each is unique, in a way that the child will exhibit reasonable behavior is difficult even for experienced parents. It may very well be that this is a phase and that there are things that you can do as a parent to end the phase within a reasonable period of time. Children need structure through discipline and when they don't have that they tend to make their own rules which often involve going pretty much overboard and out of control with expressing their anger... Discipline seems to have become a dirty word these days but it's simply defining age appropriate acceptable behaviors for your child and through consistency creating reasonable and easily understood consequences for our childrens behavior. I know that kids aren't dogs but they are both mentally and emotionally equal in that if they don't have consistent discipline for unwanted behaviors provided in a calm assertive manner by someone in a leadership role that they respect they can get quite aggressive. With children just as it is with dogs it's never too late and it can be easily rectified by beginning to be consistent in a calm assertive manner providing rules, boundaries and limitations plus consequences. Now don't fly off the handle...I don't even know you and have no idea what sort of discipline practices you have in your home...I'm just venturing a guess as to ONE of the possibilities.

Living in a country that has a 'syndrome' or 'disorder' for everything it seems if I were a young parent today (I'm a grandma and my kids are all grown up BUT I'm in no way 'old fashioned'!) I wouldn't be so quick to accept diagnosis of syndromes or disorders from my doctor and would put a lot more research (on the internet or at the library) on the syndrom or disorder my child is said to have as well as on the behavior my child is exhibiting. When I think of how many kids out there who are on some sort of pharmaceutical, complete with lovely side-affects, that probably shouldn't be due to a diagnosed syndrome, condition or disorder it boggles the mind. It is truly sad...

When our son was in third grade the teachers grew concerned about him because he refused to do the school work. He was NEVER a discipline problem in class, he got along with all of his classmates, he paid attention in class and he always passed his written tests...he just wouldn't do the homework or the classwork. So they wanted to have him tested for ADD. I refused because the only symptom he had was that he wasn't doing well in school as far as the school work was concerned. I knew that once they tested him he most likely would've been diagnosed with a condition or symdrome (for which there is no 'lab' test but only the opinion of so-called 'experts') and would've been treated accordingly by all of his future teachers. I wasn't going to have my 'perfectly NORMAL' child who just didn't want to do the school work labeled with something like ADD (by the way by some professional people ADD is the most over-diagnosed and the most incorrectly diagnosed disorder and is used as a catchall for any kid who has behavior issues-it's much easier to give a kid a drug than to ask his parent to change their parenting habits). That was when he was in third grade. He's 27 now and even though he never took to school work he's a 'normal' 27-year-old with a wife and child working for a living. By the way even though he didn't do the school work and got very poor grades when he was a sophomore in high school he tested at college sophomore level on his annual tests.

We are each unique individuals who each have our own strengths and weaknesses. You've identified your childs' weak area already with her extreme behavior. I wouldn't be so quick to accept a diagnosis of a syndrome or disorder and treat it with drugs. By all means pursue testing by qualified physicians but don't make any serious decision about 'treatment' for your child until you've exhausted all research avenues.

That's just my opinion. Good Luck!

Regards,
C.

Searching for SID online and getting books such as "The Out of Sync Child" will help until you can see an occupational therapist. Most of these resources will help you assess which sensory issues are affecting your child. This is the starting point since how you deal with your child will depend on her specific sensory issue. Finding a good occupational therapist and teachers that understand how to deal with children with sensory issues. It might help others to offer you advice on good OTs if you state where you live. It does get better with good help!

Some good things to try with your daughter:
-always turn socks inside out.
-cut off all tags.
-have a few select, pre"approved" outfits for her because clothing can be a big deal.
-always evaluate a situtation in terms of sight(brighness), sound (loudness), and tactile (itchy, ect), smell(mild fragrance.)
-she might really enjoy rice tubs and corn tubs and a "slippery" oatmeal bath.
-slowly introduct play-dough, ect.
-anticipate difficult situtions with mud, fingerpaint, storytime at the library, ect.
-I would find an early childhood development center that specializes in tactile disorders and provides free service, have your ped. refer your family and get started.
Good luck~!
K.