Does Anyone Have Experience with Sensory Processing Disorder?

I am a pediatric PT; Request an order/prescription for OT eval/treat from you pediatrician. Sounds like a good possibility and the treatments can be VERY beneficial/successful!!!! I would definitely go the OT route before even considering medication. A good pediatric OT will use a play-based approach and will give you suggestions as to how to help your daughter at home too. Unfortunately, I don't know of anyone specific near where you live. Also, a pediatric OT who is also trained in "Therapeutic Listening" would be a GREAT benefit (this is another tool in sensory treatment and we have seen tremendous success with it when families are compliant). Good Luck! On a side note--we have also had success with kids with true ADHD and getting them to be able to successfully decrease their meds!!!

1 mom found this helpful

LOL! If you have a good repoire with Ped then you could push child's "button" at next visit :-)

But more to the point is to A) show them the check list and list on paper the specific concerns AND how it's affecting development (DD won't allow us to brush her teeth- she bites- I have tried water, toothpaste with no flavor and with strong flavor
B) Ask Ped for a referral to Developemtnal Pediatrician- located at Children's Hospitals, usually; and or a formal consult with OT
C) IF Ped just isn't coorperating then call local school district and ask for phone # to get a prescreen for Kindergarten/Early childhood services. This can "weed out" also if there are SPD concerns.

You can do C in addition to A&B or by itself; but medical goals from medical professionals are different than education goals including development. School will only assist with skills that help child learn, not necessarily function at peer level.

I won't claim to be anything close to an expert on this subject, but I wanted to share with you some things in a book I'm reading called Last Child in the Woods by Robert Louv. He states that nature has a calming effect on children. Children today have almost lost touch with nature due to all the activities they're in and the fear of nature that's put into us by the media, etc. We also hear so much about how TV, computer and video games, especially for our young ones, contribute to some of these disorders. There are a multitude of reasons for this and almost everyone has a different opinion, but I just wanted to let you know that there may be some other solutions to consider rather than just seeking help from a pediatrician or other medical professional. I wish you all the best with figuring this out.

Take her to an OT at Therapy Place. It's expensive but it's totally worth it. They know a lot about sensory integration disorder.

Hi H.:

I have a couple good books that will help you get educated. The first is Sensory Integration and the Child by A. Jean Ayres. The second may be hard to find, but it Diagnostic Manual for Infancy and Early Childhood by ICDL-DMIC (Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders).

I was able to pinpoint my son's characteristics using these books. I then went to my doctor and said that I would like a referred to an Occupational Therapist with emphasis on Sensory Disorders. Make sure you talk to an OT with this specialty.

My doctor has been very good about any additional therapy or testing that I have requested. But, if you run into a doctor that either does not believe in sensory issues or is unwilling to at least give you a referral, I'd look for a different doctor.

We have learned many different strategies with only a couple visits with an OT. My son falls under Active, Sensory Seeking behavior. When he is crazy, we can have him play with playdoh for a few minutes and it calms him down for quite a while.

So, don't let the doctor stand in the way of your education and in helping your child. And, don't let them blindly label her as ADD and put her on medication. There are so many alternatives to check out before you should go that route.

Best of luck!

S.

I don't have any personal experience, but have heard of this place. Perhaps they would be able to give you an accurate diagnosis?

http://www.parknicollet.com/alexandercenter/

Good luck,
S.

Hi.
It most certainly sounds like she has this. my son has it too. your local school district should be able to test her. Where do you live? i know of a great. INCREDIBLE place to get her treated. it is in Lino lakes, almost Blaine.

I have heard that you have major concerns if your child has sensory processing disorder. My son would fit all of those things described above, but he is simply spirited and does not have SPD. If you are truly concerned, ask your doctor why he/she doesn't think your child has this disorder; if you don't agree, ask your OT friend where to go from there. For my son, we just plan to spend a little more time and effort working through those things. We spent a TON of time trying to teach him to calm himself enough to sleep. He has a heavy blanket. He chooses his own shoes at the store. We work with him on comfortable clothes: my mother in law gave us a pair of scratchy cheap cotton pants; I didn't make him wear them. He hates being even a tiny bit wet on his clothes (like even from washing hands--he changes immediately or gets very upset), so we work not to get wet--and wear lots of short sleeves. He doesn't like how 3/4 length sleeves feel. On and on...but someone once told me that my kid FUNCTIONS and that kids with sensory processing disorder can't. I dont' know if that's accurate, but it's what I've heard.

Most medical doctors aren't really trained in how to detect this. You need to go to someone who IS trained. My oldest son since about the age of two had been super active to the point of driving me nuts. Wouldn't stay on task if his life depended on it. Asked his doctor is he might be ADHD and all is doctor told me is that he was just being a typical little boy and not to worry about it. By the time he was in Head Start there was a diffinate problem. It was his Head Start teacher who finally put a finger on it and got the school district involved. Between her, the special ed teachers from the school and the schools psychiatrist, they determined that He was ADHD and told me to go and see one of the doctors at our mental health clinic. After he read the reports, he shook his head and asked me how long had I noticed this behavior, I told him and that's when he told me about the fact that 90% of regular doctors don't see this as being a problem. Since your daughter will be entering school soon, ask the school district to test her before she reaches the classroom.
If she's as bad as you say she is, once she get into a classroom setting, she'll get worse because of all the new stimuli that she'll be bombarded with. So please get her in and have her tested and no she's not to young. Things that you can do at home in the mean time, watch how much sugar, products that contain MSG (mono sodium glutamate) and red dye of any kind she ingests. Limit her sugar intake (candy and ice cream) and cut the other three out of her diet. You'll have to become a really educated label reader. You'll find that this will help but to a only to a point.
My oldest is now 17 and is still having a hard time with this. He's to the point that they're running out of drug options for him. He won't be able to hold down a job, at least not for very long because he can't stay on task. He'll end up having to apply for SSI because of this. He also won't be able to live on his own because he is too flighty and will have to have someone there to remind him what bills have to be paid before he can spend any of the money that comes in on himself. It's not only a lifestyle change for him but also for me.

H., a consideration before medication is involved to to connect with a holistic medicine person. I know of someone who is able to help some autistic children with sensory issues by doing what they do. I also know that he has helped a little boy eat better. He is Dr. Purdy in Madison. The other thing to possibly consider before medication is essential oils. Dont ignore these avenues until you talk to them or try them.
If you want more info please feel free to email me.
deb

you always have the option of getting more opinions...in which i would do...

Sounds like you've gotten some great advise. I second those who mention an evaluation by a developmental pediatrician and an OT. Our son who has SPD has been in OT for 1 1/2 years and made amazing progress. Good luck to you!!