I have read a few articles online about sensory processing disorder and it's symptoms. I'm thinking there is a chance my 8 yr old could have this. I realize he has to be diagnosed by a real doc (OT with sensory disorder specialty). However, just wondering how many other moms have children w/this..and was it hard to get diagnosed by a doc?? How long did it take for you to know your child had this? My son just turned 8...and up until know..I just thought he was real sensitive to certain things. It doesn't affect his academics but affects things like social stuff. Many of the symptoms he has..I've always thought..well a lot of kids don't like that. He has sensitivities to: bright sun light, sounds (he doesn't like school recess, doesn't like gym class or music class), has touch sensitivity (doesn't wear his backpack on his pack..ever..he holds it by the handle and carries it around school like that), hates me cutting his toenails, giving him a shampoo, and hates his hair being cut. He doesn't like wearing costumes, has trouble fastening buttons on his jeans. He can play with his brother for LONG periods of time and be "normal" like being loud, running around/etc..but then sometimes he covered is ears and just wants complete quiet. He has gross motor issues in gym but more importantly has meltdown/crying episodes in gym/music class. He says it's because he's scared to try new things in gym. He doesn't like to sing or do the "motions" in music. Perhaps these are other things typical for SPD? though they aren't standard symptoms? Thank you in advance.
Certainly sounds like SPD in my opinion. My son was diagnosed when he was little and is 8 now and doing good after going through a couple years of therapy. We worked with Diana Britt an ot in Arlington. Below is the website for her practice. She also does listening therapy that really helped my son. He would become overstimulated and hyper in loud situations. And cover his ears a lot like when using the hand dryer in the bathrooms
That DOES sound like SPD, every single thing you describe.
My own son has almost every symptom you list -- it's eerie for me to read your post.
The good news is that OT helps a lot. A good OT can very gently desensitize kids to sensory triggers, and can also help a lot with motor strength and coordination.
Really, the only thing I want to clarify is that an OT is not a doctor. What you need to do is schedule an appointment with a neurodevelopmental specialist, and then get a referral to an OT.
And again, you really could be describing my son, though a lot of his issues have diminished, thanks to OT. Send me a message if you want to "talk" about these things in more detail.
My son has SPD with ADHD. It is my understanding that SPD is not a "Stand Alone Diagnosis" it typically is coupled with another neurological disorder. My son was blessed with ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) and our OT brought it up to us, we read "The Out of Sync Child" and "The Out of Sync Child Has Fun" to gain a stronger understanding of SPD. The official diagnosis came when we began seeing his Developmental Pedi just this past year - we were more focused on the initial diagnosis. We knew he had sensory issues, but we did not know what was the cause of everything else. The entire process from interventions to diagnosis was from 2.5 to 6. Now, part of the delays are that the doctors that can officially diagnose children with these types of afflictions often take 6-12 months to get into and more than one appointment to fully diagnose. Yes, that is 6months to wait for the initial visit and another 6 months for the next and typically by then you are closer to a diagnosis - but not always. It sounds to me like you have an accurate handle on the SPD issue, at least recognizing it's there - now you need to get a medical diagnosis.
Chances are school is not going to be able to speed the process along unless he is failing, at least that was my son's school's "party line" - then I got really pushy. It does not hurt to ask them to do an evaluation of your child, you can do so formally IN WRITING. They can not diagnose, but you may be able to find some help there - even if it is just a direction and some small interventions. Many of my brick walls with the school have been due to "official diagnosis" issues - since my son was young and they are also hesitant to run with too many labels too young.
All I can give you is my personal experiences - from your post I would agree with your direction of SPD. I am also going to say be prepared for further diagnosis, extended diagnosis time while determining all your son's afflictions and do YOUR research. I suggest you align yourself with a doctor who's school of thought/research etc. is proven, backed up by data and aligns with your own. Ex: for my family medication is not the first choice, interventions and positive support are. Our Developmental Pedi respects, understands and nurtures that while always giving us up to date information on medicines so we can make educated choices should the need arise. I like that he keeps us up to date on changes, new medications and research based on the medications he uses with out saying "Medicate Today." He also armed us with a positive rewards program that has changed our house! Together, we agreed to allow the school's 504/BIT plans to take effect, and work or fail - then revisit his needs mid school year. So far, my son is benefiting from interventions - this doctor is a win for us. We had a doctor that was a pill pusher and kicked us out of her office when we declined to heavily medicate our 4yr old - NOT for us.
Regarding meltdowns, they are a typical sign of an overstimulated child. When a child has so many sensory inputs, especially an SPD child, that they can not process them all at once they begin to shut down in a way as an attempt to shut it all out. Overstimulation is often the reason toddlers and babies get cranky and fussy right? Well, with SPD Kids, that never really goes away and their cranky and fussy is record breaking. One of the things my son's school does for him currently is taking him on frequent motor breaks. What this means for my son right now is a walk out of the classroom (5min total twice a day) to the gym where it is darkened (half lights on), quiet and bland and he is allowed to run it all out and create a blank slate of stimulation for himself. In that he also gets the adult one on one attention he craves and needs. There he can discuss any issues he may be having or successes he wants to share. He has two Special Ed teachers, the Principal and myself when I am on campus (I volunteer on campus) available to him for said breaks and he likes the variety. This WORKS for us. We also use these as a transition after a major event in school, Fire Drills, Half Day Field Trips, Visitor to the Classroom for an event - anything that might disrupt the classroom's typical routine. In addition, if he is afraid to try new things something that many SPD kids are afraid of, being "Teacher's Helper" may help here. So, being the Gym Teacher's clipboard holder and sticker passer IF he completes xyz activity might be a positive direction. IF you suggest this I am going to say that the first 5 times this is done the activity be something he CAN and WILL do to make the "helper" part a positive experience and something he wants to do. Once this is in place slowly add things he is less comfortable with and I do mean SLOWLY. Make it a do the 5 jumping jacks and try to jump the rope once. If he holds the jump rope that counts as trying. Step by step and the goal is that he will be able to participate in 25% of gym by the end of the year if now he is participating in 0%. Same things in art, music etc. Sometimes special one on one styled, teacher's helper incentives etc. are good tools. My son's classmates ALL understand that my son has a few extra needs and no one seems to mind that he goes on breaks, has a rocking chair for circle time/morning meeting and is "Teacher's Helper" more often than they are. I think they all see that the day is better when those things happen.
I hope, if you read all of this - I know posts like this can become overwhelming - you can take at least one helpful tidbit. I can only speak to my personal experiences with facts and full knowledge, and can only hope to help. This was and still is a good starter website for me ... maybe it too can help you.
It's not just social situations that these symptoms affect, mom, it's living life in an easy way. You are very smart to get him some help.
Instead of expecting the doctor to diagnose him, you need to research occupational therapists who specialize is sensory integration/processing disorder AND can work with older children. This is a masters level study, and it's my opinion that you need someone who has actually worked for a while and with many children.
You would first get an evaluation from the OT. Your insurance may say you need the ped to give you a referral. I'd do research myself on the OT's in your area, find out which ones have good experience with a child your age, find out if they are in your insurance group, and THEN ask your pediatrician for the referral. Don't stop asking until you get it. The insurance company should pay for the evaluation, and you go from there.
Hopefully you'll get a good amount of OT sessions for your son through insurance. If you have to pay a portion of it, it's money SO worth well spent to make his life easier. I promise that at some point, it WILL affect his academics. But it's a lot harder to help him, the older he gets. Get cracking NOW to get him help before he gets any older...
Good luck!
Just throwing my 2 cents in quickly -
Yes, I agree with the others in saying that your son does sound like he has sensory issues. My son did too. I ready Out of Sync child and in there she says, "Early intervention can make a world of difference". My son was diagnosed at age 2 and had OT and PT for about a year. I asked his therapist what a "world of difference meant" and she said that early intervention can actually remap the brain functions. This is what happened with my son. He is essentially 99% cured of all his problems. He still doesn't really like to ride a bike, but if that is the only thing left that we have to deal with - it's heaven.
Early intervention also means intervention by age 3 or 4. I asked our therapist what happens after age 3 or 4 and she said that they then start teaching coping skills for the child to deal with the issues.
Please do get help, you and your son will be happier for it. Just FYI, my son ONLY had sensory processing disorder. He did not have anything else. No other underlying neurological disorders.
I've written other posts about this topic if you want to go and search some of my other, longer answers. I'm out of time now and can't dig into this.
Good luck!
L.
SPD is not an "official" medical diagnosis at this time, although it's become much more accepted. And, yes, your son sounds like he has some sensory issues. Most peds can't diagnose it, although they could probably recommend an OT for you to work with.
And a kiddo can have SPD without the other stuff attached (ADHD, Asperger's, ...). (I'm pretty sure my daughter is in this camp.) It's just that SPD is often found with other issues.
For us, there is an ebb and flow with how my daughter is dealing with her sensory issues. Some days she's pretty good (and can even wear socks!) while others she can't get any clothes on her body without throwing a fit. And to confuse it even more, kiddos can be sensory-seeking or sensory-averse (i.e., your kiddo) or a combo of both (my kiddo). We saw an OT for about a year, which mostly seemed to help with gross body movement issues. We still have the clothing issues. ugh.
Good luck!
Sensory issues tend to come along with other issues, in other words not a stand alone diagnosis. My son's psychiatrist diagnosed the big one, the school assessed the sensory issues.
Find a pediatric psychiatrist or neurologist to figure out exactly what is going on.
I'm sorry to hear that you've gone through this for so long without answers, but now you have a starting place. I encourage you to contact Dr. Mike Rios in Grapevine. He's a well respected Developmental Pediatrician and I was able to get both my boy's evaluated and diagnosed within a month of contacting his practice (just this past September).
I also encourage you to read, The Out of Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz, as suggested by another parent.
Just to prepare you, SPD does go hand in hand with many neurological disorders and you may walk out with another diagnosis. Dr. Rios did diagnose both of my boys with SPD, but also each child had another underlying neurological disorder.
www.developmentalpediatricstexas.com
Blessings on your journey and know that knowledge and understanding is the best thing you can do to help your child.
There have been tremendous advances in epigenetics, which is the "packaging" around the genetic material. Genetics is a "given" but genes are affected in their switching on/off by everything from environmental influences to illnesses to foods (especially additives and GMOs and processing, but also low nutrient content of our fresh foods) to lifestyle choices. Getting genes to express themselves properly can be done through natural means, according to research. In my work, we've seen so many kids with SPD, ADD/ADHD, autism/Asperger's, gross and fine motor issues, PDD and many other issues make 180 degree turns in just 2-8 weeks. Therapy (various types) can help, and IEPs and so on can still be in place for as long as they are needed.
Your son has a whole range of behaviors and issues that sound like the kids we work with. There can be a lot of variety among different kids, so the fact that one kid has Issue X and another has Issue Y doesn't preclude the same diagnosis or conclusion. And the age of "onset" or recognition varies too. I think there is a lot you can do to help him that might have a lot of positive effects. If you want info on the science of epigenetics, I can direct you.
