Sensory Problem Question

I will apologize in advance, because I know some won't like my comments. My son also has trouble riding a bike gets overstimulated, and at times has trouble cutting food. I have never seen it as a problem or thought to have him diagnosed with anything. this is just part of his personality and what makes hime unique. He also trouble wearing certain socks because of the fabric. That doesn't mean I am going to take him to therapy. It means I am going to buy him the socks he likes. I will tell you he does great in school (all A's so far and he is in 4th grade). Some of these traits people list as problems are part of being a kid and they will learn over time.

By all means if your child is struggling at school or socially, seek help. Otherwise chalk it up as being part of their personality and don't be too quick to label them.

Good luck in whatever you decide. Enjoy your child for who they are!

1 mom found this helpful

Take a look at Sensory Integration Disorder. My friend's daughter was diagnosed about a year ago at age 9 and now is doing FANTASTIC with OT. If it's not that, and there is more to her, you may want to check out Raising the Spirited Child by Mary K. Spirited kids can have sensory/sensitivity issues too. There's just a different level to it. Good for you trying to find some help!

I am a certified occupational therapy assistant and have three suggestions for you.

First, I would make an appointment with a developmental optometrist. He/She can look at the vision piece and give you suggestions and strategies for home and school. If your pediatrician doesn't know of any, I can get you info on a few.

Second, schedule an evaluation with an occupational therapist who is experienced in sensory integration. You will get a full assessment of your daughters sensory processing as well as suggestions for what you can do at home. You didn't say where you live, but if you send me a message, I can give you suggestions for therapists I might know in your area. Not all therapists are well trained in sensory integration, so you want to make sure you go to someone who is.

Third, if you think she is suffering in school due to the sensory and vision difficulties, you can request a free occupational therapy evaluation through the school. They will also do an assessment of your daughters sensory processing and be able to work with your daughter's teachers and make suggestions for accomodations that can be made in the school environment. Services through the school are provided at no additional cost to you, but are limited to her performance in school only, so sometimes it is beneficial to do both school and private evaluations.

If you have any further questions, feel free to email me at ____@____.com make sure your write Mamasource in the subject so I don't delete it. :)

Hi, D.,

My sons, now grown -- though never finished ;-)!!! -- have had similarly elusive issues. I took them to two genius women. Dr. Deborah Zelinsky is in Northbrook and tests vision in ways I had never seen or heard of (I reported on kids' health for 17 years). She was a huge help with both sons -- one in getting proper vision care and the other in determining that his vision is fine.

We were referred to Debbie by Donalee Markus, in Highland Park, who is TRULY a genius and I wish every kid could have her help! She excels in identifying sensory, developmental and plain old problems and integrating treatment for these with the puzzles and games she designs to work the brain.

I cannot recommend these ladies too highly, D., and I hope you will check them out. I would see Donalee first -- ASAP!!! -- and get Sophie evaluated. She can do the brain exercises at home or in Donalee's after-school homework group. Debbie's website is www.mindeyeconnection.com and Donalee is www.designsforstrongminds.com.

Good luck from Mama S. -- feel free to write me privately if you would like to discuss further -- ____@____.com

D.; My daughter had the same symptoms, sensory, motor skills, visual, social, etc. After many doctors, tests, was diagnosed with NLD (non verbal learning disorder). This is on the pervasive developmental disorder. There are many disorders that fall into this spectrum, and only a specialist will be able to test and diagnosis accurately. There are therapies, info, and lots of help out there. First, contact the school she's in. They'll do testing, required by law, which can take time. But,don't count on the accuracy of their findings, as they don't diagnose. She also needs to have an I.E.P. in place to make accomodations for her, which will help make school easier. Talk to someone at the school today, as her frustrations will just escalate, and she really needs these accomodations now. Take her to a good Pediatric Neurologist or developmental specialist,as this will not go away. Be cautious of anyone who suggests medications. The sooner she is diagnosed and starts therapies, the better the outcome. Contact your pediatrician, as they should be able to give a recommendation and also help in getting her the aid in school. Do not go to Dr. Blondis, U.of C!
Please, email me at ____@____.com, as what you do now can makes all the difference. Not that she has NLD, but go to the website at www.nldline.com and just read some of the info there. Don't self diagnose, as she needs professional help.

www.funbeachcondos.com

Here is a resource that I hope might be helpful for you...

http://www.askdrsears.com/faq/fit14.asp

Best wishes,
J.

It sounds like she does have sensory issues. I have 2 children, both with sensory issues, but each is different. Sensory issues can change over time. My son sounds similar to your daughter; it used to be feeding/eating and touch were his main issues; now it is the environment and auditory stuff, but he has improved tremendously. Of course, he's been in occupational therapy since 18 months, and he is now 6. Make an appointment with a qualified OT who is trained in sensory processing disorders. He or she will evaluate your daughter, and should start therapy and give you/her a sensory diet and/or other recommendations.

Not all pediatricians are up to date on this disorder; nor are all the schools. (I'm also a teacher) The school may not do anything at all; OT is an "add-on" service at schools in Illinois. This means only kids with an IEP for something else (speech, LD, etc.) can get OT at school. There are also some really good books out there. One I've read that has been helpful in problem-solving is Raising a Senory-Smart Child by Biel and Peske. There are many others as well, but I would make OT a priority. Good luck, and feel free to contact me if you have further questions.

I don't know where you are located by the Rainbow Center in Aurora (right by the outlet mall) has occupational therapists that specialize in sensory problems. They offer free screenings (15-20 min) to discuss your concerns (and meet your child) and figure out if a full evaluation may be warranted. They are also a good source of advice for strategies that might help your daughter too. The phone number is ###-###-#### if you are interested.

She really need to see a sensory therapist. where do you live goole one. They do not just grow up of it. have her evaluated and tell them everything even if it may not be strange. Aso do you have the book or get it from the library it is called ,"The Out of Sync Child". try to read before her eval to so you can tell them things she does that the books shares. Good luck and good job wanting ot get help! It is going to make a difference. Go to one of those therapy places that do strange things like the spinning and some autisum sensory stuff, it helps and makes the worldof a difference my son is living prooF!
Please let me now if you need help finding a place i can help lead you, J.

Yup, time to talk with an OT and PT. My son has some sensory issues and they have affected his large motor skills. By doing nothing and trying to ride it out things only compound and get worse. In my son's case, it is so strange how a the little sensory issues he has has affected him in so many ways.

I would highly, highly recommend Easter Seals in Villa Park. They are hard to get into but the least they could do is an evaluation. There is another Easter Seals in Naperville but do not know much about that facility. Unless you need a referral from your pediatrician I would skip making an appointment with him/her and then mention to him you're receiving services at another time. Our pediatrician gave use the run around for about 9 months (reassuring us he'll grow out of it) and it makes me mad thinking that was 9 months we could have been treated!

Does your daughter also have trouble holding a pencil? Suffer from poor handwriting? Trouble sitting in a chair? If so you may be able to get the OT at your school involved. At my son's school, if there isn't anything physical keeping you from preforming at school then they won't help.

I too recommend reading a Raising a Senory-Smart Child by Biel and Peske as well as The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz.

Good luck!

May be a good idea to have her evaluated by and occupational therapist. Lutheran General has a childrens hospital that does this. Also, Brad Jones ###-###-####)in Northbrook is a wonderful OT. In addition, your school district should be able to do an evaluation and provide services free of charge. I suggest an independet eval as well as the schoold dist since the schools perspective is only how it affect your daughters ability to perfom in school. Outside evals will look at how her daily life is affected. does not seem like a good idea to "wait it out" since it may not resolve on it's own and if not, will only be harder to work with later.

Sorry to be abrupt but I have my daughters OT appt in 15 min. She is 2 1/2 yrs olds and has struggled with simialar sensory issues ( hands, eating, noise) her whole life. Good luck....

B.

Your daughter needs help. Her issues will not go away on their own. You need to contact the school and get her some testing. She is entitled to services at school. You need to be proactive and vigilant. School only gets harder.

Has your child been formally diagnosed? My son has sensory-processing disorder. There is a ton of help out there. Start with school and if you need more resources there are several therapy places out there. My son went to Communications Clubhouse this summer.
Good Luck

My boys also have sensory problems. My oldest has Asperger's syndrome, and my youngest has not been diagnosed on the spectrum yet, but I anticipate he will.

School is definitely a place to start,but as another poster mentioned, OT cannot stand alone so it can get tricky. Also, her problems must affect her academic performance in school. I would definitely look into getting some accomodations for her vision issues through the school to start with. Maybe the OT can follow.

As far as private occupational therapists, we have one we absolutely love. His name is Manny Herrera (Manny O.T.& Associates) and he's in Volo (near Fox Lake in NW suburbs). We travel from Highland Park to see him, and he's worth the drive. He's amazing with the kids and has really helped me understand my kids' struggles so I can help them cope. My kids look forward to going every week. He doesn't have a website, but you can google "Manny O.T." and click on the first entry (Health Professionals website) to see his profile/insurance info, etc.

If Volo is just too out of the way, we've also had a good experience with Cawn Krantz & Associates in Northbrook (we only switched because they don't file with insurance and it was too pricey with out of network costs). Have also heard good things about Beth Osten & Associates in Skokie and Therapediatrics in Vernon Hills (they may have other locations as well).

Good luck! If you need to talk/vent, feel free to send me a message.

Hey D.,
I don't think its ever too late to get her tested. I know that you can get a referral from your doc. to have her seen at Children's Memorial. That's what I did for our son. It did take a while to get in, but it was worth it. The doctor's name is Dana Brazidmus (spelling is probably off), and she is a developmental pediatrician.
I highly doubt these issues will just go away. She needs help. Chicago Public Schools can also do testing on her as well. Just call your local school, tell them the issues you're having and ask how you might go about having an IEP (individualized education plan)staffing set up for her. At that appointment a whole team will meet with her (and you), to do testing and determine whether or not she is elibible for services. If she goes to private school, I believe that CPS can still offer services, you would just have to bring her, rather than having the services provided during the school day. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. We went through the whole process with our son and I'm so glad that we did. There have been great changes in just one year!
blessings,
J.

I am a preschool director and it sounds like it might be helpful to have an evaluation done. Sensory processing is something that affects many people. Through work with OT and PT it is helpful for a person with this to learn how to compensate for it.
I recently met an OT in Naperville that she herself grew up with sensory processing issues. Her contact information is ____@____.com will provide a free evaluation and you can go from there. Good Luck! We want every child feel successful!

Hi D.,
Have you ever considered occupational therapy? We just received this for our daughter through early intervention and it helped us a lot. I've heard others say the same thing. Have you read up on this and learned why your daughter does what she does? I just finished reading Raising a Sensory Smart Child by Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peske and it made a lot of sense to me. I thought it was really helpful. I also recently joined a meetup group for parents with kids with sensory issues. I think I could offer you some more suggestions as well - email me at ____@____.com if you'd like to chat.

K.

Hi D......I would get her to another doctor or even two concerning her eye problem. Peripheral vision loss is sometimes a degenerative situation and I would think she needs to be monitored...perhaps treated from time to time if in fact not continiously medicated...cannot say for sure...not enough info? Is the retina simply malformed? What is the prognossis? Anyway...I have known a few kids who were simply put.."differant"...from the norm. One such child developed MS later on in life. Early on he had little red flags that were indicators of something...but testing at the time could not specifically reveal his situation. Personally..I would have her evaluated.....if for nothing else to seperate the physical from possible mental problems she might actually be manifesting. She might be a candidate for medication......although it is I admit hard to picture a 9 year old on meds.....some kids in fact need medication and do quite well after the situation has been properly evaluated. Yes...I think testing is in order. ADD comes to mind. My 18 year old neice is ADD......she just enrolled at San Francisco state last month.....she requires twice the time for studies...but we know what her problem is...as a result...the problem was dealt with...BUT...it took lots of testing...and time. Now...she is a better than average student...and medication free! You NEED to find a few GOOD doctors....after she is evaluated those doctors will simply appear......there are forces in this world that protect children.....I think she will be fine. There are support groups...u just need to getr her evaluated..............by more than one doctor. After you find out the truth...and you will.....everything else from then on will be a cake walk! Regards Jack in Chicago PS she will be fine!

You don't say if she is having any trouble with her schoolwork but I would bet she is and it will get worse as she gets older. Talk to her teacher and your school psychologist to see if she qualifies for testing for Occupational Therapy. If not, I would check into your insurance to see if it is covered. In many cases, an OT can provide therapy to help with sensory processing and modifying any tasks if necessary. It may be via direct therapy &/or home programs. I worked as a school based OT for many years and have seen how sensory based treatment can benefit a child. Good luck!

I would ask for the school district to test her to see if she is eligible for special education services. My guess is that she has asperger's syndrome. My son was diagnosed at 10 with AS. He has poor fine and gross motor skills (he has a hard time writing, throwing a ball, riding a bike, learned to tie his shoes in 2nd grade) & he only likes to wear sweat pants (jeans don't feel right). AS kids like to study a subject and learn everthing there is about that subject - they become experts in that subject - that is why AS is called the "little professor syndrome".

AS is also know for poor social skills - they don't know to play well with other children. They will talk non-stop to an adult - by kids like to talk back and forth and they don't do well with verbal reciprocity. They do better taking tests in a separate room that is quiet - they don't like the noisy distractions in the regular classroom

Talk with your special ed. teachers, speech pathologists - they know about AS. Read books by Tony Atwood - he is an expert in the field.

My son did very well in school with accomodations and is now in college.
M. in Elk Grove Village

There is help! Please email me privately and I will put you in touch with my friend whose son has similar issues. I have watched him grow over the years, and make incredible progress. ____@____.com - thanks, R.

D., I wonder if your daughter's school has suggested she be tested. Concerning the vision, there is an excellent low vision clinic at the Chicago Lighthouse, 1850 W. Roosevelt Road, ###-###-####. They have a number of satellite clinics in case going to the south side is too far. They also have a special school for multiply disabled children. Although your daughter may function better than these children, you may wish to talk with the director of the program, Mary Zabelski. I have worked in the field of blindness and vision impairment for more than 35 years and am blind myself. I now teach at the Hadley School for the Blind, a distance learning school based in Winnetka. Please feel free to write off list if you would like.
____@____.com
S.

Have you tried finding a good occupational therapist and putting her in occupational therapy? Occupational therapists are very familiar with sensory processing disorder and can work with your daughter to dramatically improve these issues. Ask for someone who specializes in these issues.

I know you got a lot of responses, but I just wanted to add one more. My daughter Sophia has the same issues. She gets OT at our local Eater Seals. It helps a ton!! I would check into getting her re-evaluated. Our school district was absolutley NO HELP AT ALL!!

Hi D.,

I think the first thing I would do is talk to your child's teacher(s) and set up a meeting with the school social worker. Whether or not your daughter winds up being tested or having accommodations made for her in the classroom, the social worker may be helpful in providing some strategies for her. To me, it also sound like some of the issues are motor/motor planning issues (and not necessarily sensory issues). Either way, it might be a good idea to get the school's occupational therapist involved.

It's possible that these are things that your daughter will eventually grow out of, but she may need a little help along the way. I would take advantage of the resources in school to help your daughter (and you) manage.

All the best,
R., MSW

D.,
I have 2 sons with sensory issues, one has autism and the other does not. My suggestion would be to find a developmental pediatrician and discuss your fears etc. with them. Did your daughter have OT or sensory integration therapy when she was younger? Sounds like she needs it now. Hang in there! My thought is always seek help now and not wait, that way you will find a problem and be able to address it or your have peace of mind that nothing is wrong. Good luck!!

D. L.

Hi D. Talk with your daughter's pediatrican about this he/she should be about to help you. Since you 've work at a school before ask them about what special accomodations that the school system may have for her.