Sensory Issues?

There is a condition that uses sensory integration therapy. Try those words when you look it up. There is also a large spectrum of autism and an offshoot of that called asbergers. It can go from high functioning where you can hardly tell until something happens to show it, to very low functioning.

Sensory Integration Disorder or Dysfunction (SID, also called sensory processing disorder) is a neurological disorder causing difficulties with processing information from the five (vision, auditory, touch, olfaction, and taste), the sense of movement (vestibular system), and/or the positional sense (proprioception). For those with SID, sensory information is sensed, but perceived abnormally. Unlike blindness or deafness, sensory information is received by people with SID; the difference is that information is processed by the brain in an unusual way that may cause distress or confusion.

SID is its own diagnosis, but it can be linked to other neurological conditions, including autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, Developmental Dyspraxia, Tourette syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and speech delays, among many others.

My daughter has been diagnosed with this at 2 in particular she is affected by the positional sense (proprioception). She does not get enough stimulation in deep muscle tissue and so this affects how she feels in her own skin. she just doesn't feel quite right. I am sure you have known someone who hated the feeling of something or didn't like to take thier shoes off in sand or grass because the touch of this made them have an uncomfortable response - this is also a sensory issue. Some kids can't handle a lot of stimulation and some kids can't handle a lack of stimulation - these are all sensory issues and with each one there are strategies to help them function at what we preceive to be the normal level.
Early intervention programs work with children and parents to understand the issues and educate them on how to work with the sensory issue so that by the time they are in school they don't have significant issues or they have strategies that help them work through the issues.

Don't get scared about the link with autism - SID does not mean autism and even if it did it would be better to know now then later - there are many adults and people you probably know walking around with these issues they just don't know it and not every one agrees that it is even an ailment.

I believe it is real because I have seen the results of occupational therapy with my daughter and once you become educated on this you understand that it does make sense. Below are some things you can do

1: READ a fact sheet from The SPD Foundation for a good overview of sensory integration. Note that the site also offers a treatment directory and a listing of parent support groups.

2: TAKE the Sensory Preference Checklist for Adults and get in touch with your own sensory preferences and sensitivities. Think about how these same things might operate, at a more extreme level, in your child.

3: BUY a copy of The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz, an essential parent's resource for understanding and helping your child with Sensory Integration Disorder.

4: JOIN the Sensory Integration Dysfunction e-mail support list to hook up with a large number of parents who are going through the same things you are.

5: check out this link http://specialchildren.about.com/od/sensoryintegration/bb...

I hope this helps - I am sure you daughter will be just fine

J.,

Having a child with sensory issues does not mean your child is autistic. Many autistic children, however, have sensory issues and there's where the confusion is. Having a child diagnosed with sensory issues will allow you to find a wealth of resources to help you address your child's situation and make her thrive. My son was diagnosed with sensory issues at 4 months and it explained his eating and sleeping issues. Once I understood his specific sensory problems I could work with him and understand him so much better (his problems were proprieceptive and he has a high need for sensory input). You can often use their sensory issues to build strengths in your child so having a child with sensory issues is not a bad thing. They are just things you need to be aware of so that you can deal with your child appropriately and help him/her adapt to his/her environment better.

There are great books to buy to help address and understand the problem. The following site lists some good books. I like the Out of Synch Child and Raising a Sensory Smart Child. The best book for you might depend on what sensory issues your child has so just go to a bookstore and go to the area where they are located and browse through them.

at.http://www.comeunity.com/disability/sensory_integration/s...

An online resource that explains sensory processing issues is:

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/

Although having a child be diagnosed with a sensory integration issue might be scary at first, you'll find that understanding the problems will make life SO much easier for you. You are very lucky you have someone that figured out that's what's causing your daughter's problems. Too many people mistake sensory processing issues as ADD or autism or something else that it is NOT and then prescribe medication, which is not what they need. There are a lot of great occupational therapists out there who can give you the skills you need as a parent to help your child -- especially if you tell them you need help with a sensory issue. Sensory issues are something that will always be with your child, but children learn to adapt to them if you deal with them correctly. I often forget now that my son has issues since he's figured out how to meet his sensory needs in a normal fashion now. Now he stands out with his peers because his cognitive and motor skills are years a head of them. I thought he would always just be the kid that stood out because of his sensory problems. Point is, sensory issues are a challenge for you as a parent and your child, but they will in no way limit them if you address them while they are young.

You're a wonderful Mom, J.--- and I know a bit about sensory issues--- . You are exactly correct that Autism is totally different from sensory issues --- here is my explanation.

Just as some children are so talented in music - but others arent' - and some are 'born athletes' and some, like me -- are NOT --- so some children have trouble coordinating the messages their bodies give them from sensory input( how tight, loose, or rough clothes fit--- how comfortable they are in different kinds of sitting situations - how quickly they need to go from sitting comfortably on the floor - to standing up and walking down the hall--- .

Your lamb may have trouble with this-- just the luck of the draw. The kind of help she needs could come from a physical therapist. What school district does she live in and how old is your daughter?

Blessings,
more later,
J.
aka-- Old Mom

HI J.. I have twin boys and they were premature and had some developmental issues including "sensory" issues. We sought help right away because I knew something was up. My kids would gag and throw up just by touching a noodle or other soft/mushy food and they would freak out about the slightest noise, etc. At 17 months, we took them to an occupational therapist who pointed out several things that she noticed. We moved from CA to Oregon a couple of months later and had the boys evaluated by the early head start services for Multnomah county and they both qualified for free services. We had an OT coming to our home every week for free. After like 3-4 months, their problems practically disappeared. I would strongly encourage you to have your daughter evaluated by the Head Start Program for your county. Since she is 4, she would be considered "Head Start" instead of "early head start." If she qualifies for services, then everything is free. Here is a link for the Head Start program: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/HeadStartOffices

Also, a good friend of mine strongly recommended a book called "The Out of Sync Child." This book deals mostly with sensory integration disorder and may explain it's differences with other neurological disorders. Here is the link to the book on Amazon. Read the parent reviews of this book and that will help you determine whether or not this might be a good book for you to read. Best of luck to you.
http://www.amazon.com/Out-Sync-Child-Recognizing-Integrat...

Ahhhhh....sensory processing. Wheeeeee!

Okay, that's not helpful.

There are the traditional 5 senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell). Our nervous system takes about a bajillion of these signals in every second. Then a certain part of our brain filters out MOST of them...leaving about a thousand...then it shoots those messages to another part of our brain that filters out most of THOSE...leaving maybe 100. Then it shoots it to another part of our brain which decides which of those 100 it wants to send to our consciousness. Let's call them the top 10. And yes. I am making these numbers up. The actual numbers vary WILDLY from moment to moment...but the ratio is about correct.

Things that change make the top 10. Like moving from a warm house into the cold outside. Or stubbing your toe. Or what dinner tastes like.

Now...here is where things get dicey for me to explain...because I'm ADHD.

What I am sensing right this moment:

Feeling:
- The keyboard keys on my fingers...and the way that they're slightly rounded...unless I miss slightly.
- The way the flesh of my palm is folded slightly.
- That my left eye is slightly is slightly dry
- The air against my skin
- The way my lips are touching my teeth
- A vague itch on the side of my nose
- What the inside of my clothes feel like
- That there's still fluid in my right lung, about 1 1/2 inches deep
- The thong of my flip flop on my right foot, because I've shoved my foot forward and haven't bothered to move it, because the pressure againt the thong is interesting feeling.
- The beating of my heart...radiating only about 6 inches
- The blood flowing through some of the major arteries and a few areas of lesser arterioles.
- The temperature of the air
- How my ears are warmer then the rest of my body, probably because they were colder before
- The coldness of the leather on my ankle from the chair
- The way my eyelashes feel when they touch when I blink (kind of a round, bouncy feeling, hard to describe)
- How my hair feels (actually, which direction it's falling from the follicle....in a general way, not from EACH follicle,...and how it feels on the back of my neck, on my ears, and the strands near my face)

Seeing (while looking solely at the screen, without taking my eyes off of it):
- The screen
- The keyboard
- My dog
- The cords under the desk
- The windows behind and to my left
- Cars driving on the road out that window
- The ripples of light and shadow that get cast when the cars drive under the street lights.
- Ditto when the wind blows the magnolia outside.
- Colors from my sons artwork vaguely off to the left
- The way that they light and shadows are contrasting
- My eyelashes
- My nose
- My cheeks

Hearing is an equally long list, although RIGHT this MOMENT smell and taste are pretty short.

So this is dicey...because

A) I'm in a darkened, quiet room in my house, curled up writing this response (aka NOTHING else is going on)so the "list" is really MUCH shorter then it would usually be...plus I condensed it anyway. I took off about half for sake of space, and just did general headings...not all the details that go along with each. For example...I can feel about 10 things that have to do with how my pants feel...and that's only a PART of feeling my clothes.

- and -

B) Because *I'M TOLD* most people don't notice all those things all the time. At least, not without thinking about it.

People with ADHD, do. All the time. And we're a step or two down from people with REAL sensory stuff going on...because while we NOTICE all of it...people with sensory issues have mental and emotional reactions to those stimuli.

I can imagine, of course. Drinking alcohol gets rid of about 75% of my awareness of the world. Medications designed for ADHD get rid of about 99.99 percent (all the color and laughter and magic goes out of the world...everything seems to lose it's life and sparkle). On the opposite side of the spectrum: Many many years ago (back when god was a boy) I learned from hallucinogens that I'm only aware of maybe 1% of the sensory information that my brain is usually filtering out. Yowza.

So people with "sensory stuff", have something gone wrong with the processing, distribution, identification, or the emotional reactions tied to what makes the top 10. (Just for example...very few people enjoy pain...we have an emotional reaction tied to pain, and it's usually "Noooooooo!" or %$!#*@^!!. People who get serotonin happy from pain are true Masochists. Most of us, not so much. Same token, most of us who LIKE the flavor of a cheese like it cubed, shredded, melted...but a fairly common sensory thing it tied to food texture. Cubed cheese = WONDERFUL...same cheese shredded=liquid fire/or dog poop/or sandpaper. ADHD people notice the texture and play around with it in their mouths/fingers, sensory issue people can literally have a different physiological reaction to each texture. Most normal people: eat the cheese.)

Now, that "gone wrong" thing (especially in children), can just be the brain LEARNING how to processes, separate, distinguish, discard, pass on, & react. In fact, that's usually the case.

All of us can relate. Who hasn't suddenly felt overwhelmed at some point in their lives? Sensory overload, on a mild scale merely produces uncomfortable fear/nausea/panic. In the extreme form...it can shut our bodies off. Think electrical torture. That's a stronger form of sensory overload. It's what a lot of autistic kids/adults have to deal with. Certain impulses (like, say from cubed cheese) send the same message to the brain as holding onto a fork and sticking it in a socket.

If your daughter's therapist says she has sensory stuff going on...it's probably in the milder form (unless she's had seizures or seizure like attacks?),...and it's PROBABLY something she'll "outgrow". AKA, learn to cope with what her brain doesn't learn to filter. So, too, she could ALSO just be lucky and be ADHD...and just doesn't know what to do with all of that information yet. All that info IS one reason why so many ADHD folk are artists, scientists, or in medicine. We're born observers. Heck. We can't STOP.

There are a TON of coping mechanisms for sensory issues. I will refer you back to your therapist for some good books on the subject.

:)

Hoping this wasn't another kind of overload,
Z.

While I don't have personal experience here, I read the blog of a woman who does, and highly recommend it! Not just for people whose children have sensory issues, but for any woman who wants to feel like she is not alone in the challenge of raising a precocious preschooler! She has a way with words and is refreshingly honest.

http://blogs.babycenter.com/momformation/category/very-vi...

Best wishes,
K.

I highly suggest testing her for food allergies and intolerances. My recomendation would be to go through enterolab.com.
I have a friend whose 4 yo daughter had extreme anxiety issues and they ried everything they knew to help her to cope. After some investigation into gut issues and food intolerances, they had her tested. After taking her of of gluten and dairy she is a completely different child.

Anotherfriend has a daughter who was diagnosed as borderline autistic, with "sensory issues" she did not have the anxiety issues that oyu describe but she had difficulty in social situations, being overstimulated caused big breakdowns for her. After having her tested and taking her off the offending foods she is able to function and relate so much better.

My own daughter benefitted greatly from changes in diet.

Doctors and counselors do not often relate how the gut affects every other part of the body. If the gut is damaged and unable to absorb nutrients properly then the brain is not getting fed and that affects brain function.

When the gut is healthy the brain can be healthy. Because of the extreme deterioration in the American diet, there are more and more people suffering from food intolerances and deteriorating gut health and unfortunately, the link between gut and brain health is not very well studied or dealt with in the medica community.

Your daughters issues may be as simple as removing dairy, corn, and or gluten from her diet.

Hi J.,

From what I know and have read Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID, also called sensory processing disorder) is its own diagnosis, but it can be linked to other neurological conditions, including autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, Developmental Dyspraxia, Tourette syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and speech delays, among many others. And of course anxiety. What I think her therapist may be leaning towards is that your daughter FIRST has SID and as a result and secondary condition has anxiety. if you read up on SID you can see how a child who has it would would end up with anxiety. In most cases their they don't process senses normally thus their senses are over loaded. Put your self in a room, turn on the TV, the radio, the fan, a blender, etc. See how you react and pay close attn to how your senses escalate. Are you getting irritated? Headache? Sweating? Want to run out of the room, etc? Even if its just a little (then multiply that by 1,000,000 and thats your daughter). If you can tolerate it and it's just annoying think of that ability as a coping mechanism to filter outside stimulation.......... then recognize that specific ability is something your daughter DOESN'T have. Would be hard, huh?

If I were you I would call UW Childrens. Find a specialist who is all but an expert in the field of SID and have them evaluate your daughter. There is no cure but there are several strategies of therapy to help cope with it. Which doesn't sound prommising but it's the same as with any disorder (depression, panic disorder, anxiety, etc.) those people aren't necessarily cured, they just end up w/the coping mechanisms through therapy to function with the condition so that THEY'RE running their life......... rather than the condition running it.

I wish you luck. I went through this w/my sister. Her daughter was the same way. Unfortunately 15 yrs ago I don't think this diagnosis was available and she was diagnosed with all sorts of different things (from being a difficulat child, depression, bipolar, you name it) on and off every drug and then also in a special boarding school for children with emotional issues. If this diagnosis had been made when it was firs recognized (age 2) therapy approach may have been different for her and things 15 yrs later (now) could be different for her.

Find an EXPERT. UW is the place to start.

I wish you luck!!!

L.

Another great resources is there is a "talk show" on Blog talk radio that is named Sensory Nanny. She addresses sensory intergration concerns.

Hi J.,

I am in no way an expert on this issue but the sensory thing could be a gift of sorts such as, she could grow up to be a very empathetic person. Another thought is that certain colors, sounds or textures reminds her of a good or bad event in her life.If it is autism, it covers a very broad range of symptoms and she could possibly have Ausbergers and be a highly functioning autistic person when she grows up. Chances are too that she even could grow out if this. All in all you've already gotten some very wise information from some other people on this site. On the information your counselor gives you, if you're unsure of what they are saying you can always get a second opinion. The counselor should also be very thorough in what she tells you, giving you back up information, etc. So make sure you're satisfied with that relationship. My prayers to Alyssa and you! L.

Hi J., I work with people with disabilities. You might want to google, sensory Integration disorder. It could be that the counselor is referring too. You will find alot of information on it.
My own grandson has this and he is not autistic either. Certain sounds, sights, touches, tastes, etc. (we have 5 senses) could be irritating to her or too much for her to process with everything else.
Certain textures could cause her anxiety, certain tastes, certain things she sees.
Each person with this is different in how they react. An occupational therapist could probably diagnose this if your daughter went to one. They work with people with sensory integration problems. That means people who don't process what they are sensing.
My grandson covers his ears when certain sounds or too many sounds are coming at him. He has to run and move around alot in open spaces, because he is unable to place himself in the large space. He doesn't react much to certain hot and cold sensations. The touch of sand or a rough tree attracts him and makes him calm. Swinging or rocking in a rocking chair also calms him.
Skin is the biggest organ of our body. When my grandson is in water, he has to have it up to his neck. He will hold still and just savor the feeling. He has to be bundled in tight at night- feels safe and won't hardly move all night. He needs to be tickled often, because he can feel that and it actually calms him.
You need to find some on-line checklists of what sensory integration disorder can look like to see if you think that is a probability for your daughter. If you think it is, you need to get her in to see an occupational therapist for some professional help.
They can help a child with this. It takes time, but usually works over a period of time. There are also some great books and resources I found at Hastings that gives my daughter some suggestions for at home- play time and such. I wish you and your daughter well. C.

My son has ASP (sensory prossing Dysfunction) there are a lot of books adressing this issue and support groups as well, I moderate a couple if you would like that information. but first maybe try reading the out of sync child, thisd is a leading book on the topic also they have a checklist to see if your child might fall into this.
good luck.

also try googling sensory processing dysfunction that will give you a more direct information.

Try googling "Sensory Integration Disorder" and see if this sounds like your daughter. And you should contact Early Intervention in your county to have her evaluated b/c she may qualify for free services. Do it now before she starts kindergarten. Also, Autism Spectrum Disorder covers a huge range of conditions, features, so some kids seem really different from each other but both have ASD.

I'm not quite sure why the counselor wasn't more specific, maybe because you need a second opinion. From the sounds of it though, sounds like Sensory Integration Disorder/Dysfunction or Aspergers Syndrome. My son is 5 and was diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder this last year. My son isn't autistic either. It is something, that I've learned, with a little bit of help and work, you both can work with it. My son would become really irate and behave awkwardly if we were in a place with too much stimulation. I couldn't even raise my voice too much with him because he would shudder and start to cry. I had to learn what I could and couldn't do around him. I enrolled my son into a behavioral specialist just to ensure that we received a proper diagnosis. I would look into this and see. If you have any more questions...feel free to ask! :D Good luck.

Lots of kids have sensory issues without being autistic or having other serious problems. Both of my daughters have SPD (sensory processing disorder) and mild speech delays.

You should contact an Occupational Therapist (a pediatric one preferably) and have an evaluation done. That way you can confirm and also get some ideas on what to do.

Here is a helpful website: http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-proces...

Also, I highly recommend the book "Out of Sync Child" as it will help you to understand more about sensory issues and what might help your child.

You may find that former discipline issues or problems your daughter has had improve or intensify based on the sensory input she's getting. If she does have a sensory issue, this knowledge can be key to parenting her! Good luck!!

Jenn

Think of your 5 senses. She could have issues with touching things, eating, sounds, sight, and smells. If you are in Oregon call Northwest Reginal ESD. The number for my area (Washington Co.) is ###-###-####. If you are not in my county hopefully they can direct you to the correct one.
Tell them you have been told by a counciler that she has sensory issues and would like an evaluation. These people are great! My son sees them for speech. The cost is free. You will just have to travel to there site for the evaluation most likely. Hopefully they can help you. Oh, they may not be open this week. They close classes for 2 weeks at Spring Break time. I think the offices are open.
Good Luck

Well, this is definitely one of those issues that is best figured out with professionals rather than on the net. However, I can tell you that there are several childhood neurological and psychological syndromes/disorders other than ASD (autism spectrum disorder) that involve sensory integration issues. In fact, one is just that. And remember, autism is a spectrum, and there are kids on the spectrum that are VERY mild all the way to EXTEMELY severe. It doesn't look the same in every kid. For your daughters issues, some of her anxiety could be due to the fact that she's having trouble processing and integrating the info around her, tactile and otherwise. There are therapies available for this will good outcomes. If your daughter is seeing a masters level counselor, get a referral child psychologists or pediatric psychiatrist who should consider all these factors and come up with a good treatment.

good luck, i'm sure it will work out!

J., my son is not autistic either, he has seen a variety of different specialist for his speech delay and a behavior therapist told me that she knows he is not autistic because he is cleaver but mentioned to me that he might have Asberger's which, as I understand it, a type of sensory issue. Asbergers (sp?) is a minor form of autism but the autism scale is so broad that two autistic children when next to each other might not even act the same way. My son didn't like his arms to be uncovered, I told the therapist that he had a hard time transitioning from winter clothes to summer clothes, that he wanted his shorts to cover his legs and long sleeves on, which is why the therapist thought he may bit a little "asbergery". Often these children are bothered by tags, textures, etc. So maybe try googling Asberger's Syndrome and see if that is what you are looking for.

Good Luck!

Check out the book, Raising a Spirited Child. This should give you some ideas and resources! Good Luck.

Sensory issues could mean a number of things and shame on that counselor for not telling you. Call him up and tell him to define them for you.

In my mind (as a teacher) it means she gets overloaded with too much sound, sight, movement, etc. And it happens much sooner that with other children.

I, if I was your teacher, would suggest you make her room quiet, and simple. Remove most of the toys. Keep the rest outside in a toy box, available for her to have if she wants. Take down decorations. Keep the light not to bright. Have one light for reading. No music. This needs to be her haven from too much input.

Teach her to go there when she is overwhelmed by "sensory issues".

Further, talk to the teacher and tell her/him what the counselor has told you. Ask her/him what she/he can do (with your help) to make a "haven" for her in the classroom.

Then you need to find somebody to teach your daughter some meditation or calming down techniques. It is one thing to diagnose what is wrong and another to teach how the cure or how to manage. If your counselor can't do that, ask for a referral.

Good luck. This is manageable, with time and work. It is good that you caught it now.

It is called Sensory intergration. You can google that. My little boy has it.Sometimes he is overly sensitive to how his socks feel and wants to take them off. Other times he wants to be covered in pillows and have someone lay on him. His brain processes things a little differently but it is not autism. Have the therapist explain it to you better.Swimming is an exercise that is great for this because it uses all the senses,nerve endings.Good luck!

P. C.

Hi J.,

You must be worried about your daughter. It's good that you're getting counseling and you should definitely ask your counselor what he or she means, exactly, by sensory issues. This counselor may or may not be qualified to diagnose that. It may be something you can look into further. In the mean time, this may sound hippie dippy, but I've tried Bach's flower remedies and they actually work well for me. You could get some Rescue Remedy for kids or Rescue Remedy Pastilles at a natural grocery store and use them when your daughter has an anxiety attack to see if it helps calm her down.

J.,

I have a nephew with a sensory issue. He goes to therapy and sometimes has to be "pushed" or brushed with one of those little fingernail scrubbers that the hospital gives you to brush a newborn's hair/head.

I'm not sure what all the therapy is, but it really helps him. Get her diagnosed with what specifically is wrong, the get her in the right therapy (physical, occupational, etc.).

Hope this helps,
Melissa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_Integration_Dysfunction
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/

I am not sure what Sensory Issues are but maybe she is a very sensitive person in nature. Feeling the loss of her dad and him not being involved with her life, may have created a feeling of loss and fear. Reassuring her of her value and your unconditional love to calm her fears. To find the time in your day to really connect with her. To take the spiritual time for yourself to be present and offer her your presence, means you have to centered and at peace. Yoga, meditation, self help groups help you find your presence, and return it is a great gift to your children. I was a single mother of five children and I had to find time to center myself and in turn so i could offer them the best of what i had. I know how hard it is and how stretch you can get. It takes time and patience not only with yourself and your children, but it is well worth the time and effort. Don't forget it is a dedication to yourself that in turns feeds your family.
Good luck! I am always very proud of single mother's who strive to provide the best for their kids! You go girl take God's hand and walk through life learning and growing, blossoming! Your girls will be so proud of you and mentor that in their lives!

Hi J.. It is very real the sensory issues and there are books on it. I wish I could tell you more because my child's preschool teacher is a wiz with this...her son has it and he is now around 17...there is a website to start and I think it has a book resource page.

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/index.html

good luck-I will keep looking and see if I can get the name of this great book for you-I do know once you start reading there are lots of solutions and things you can do everyday to make things better.

Hi J.,
I found a description on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_Integration_Dysfunction. Autism is only one of many disabilities associated with SID, and often there are no associated disabilities. Therapy is stated as the best approach for treating this condition, so you are on the right track. My suggestion is to continue looking for information, and also request a detailed diagnosis from her therapist, or a referal to rule out anything else.
Good luck to you!
G.

Some kids react very strongly to external stimuli... aka as "sensory issues". Your counselor should have really made sure that you understood what this meant when she told you that & freaked you out. I would go see someone else. It perfectly normal for some kids to be so sensitive, but anxiety can be rough. I would suggest homeopathy...it can help wonderfully for situations like this...dr. palmeri is a nauturopath that helped our son with his anxiety. Email me for a number if you'd like to see her and good luck.

Hi J.,
My daughter does have autism and has sensory issues. Sensory issues can be things like sounds, smells, textures of food or clothing. Things we might never even be bothered by are bothing kids with sensory issues. For instance, I can not take my daughter to winco at all. She will flip out. It is too loud, to many things going on for her to process. Another thing when she was younger were socks. Those darn creases in the toes! Smells of certain places, food, perfume, etc may be bothersome to them. I know you could probably good sensory processing disorder. That might help. I know these things can be tough and if you need anyone to talk to feel free to email me...
B.

Hi, J.--
Good for you that you are trying to arm yourself with as much information as possible. That shows what a good mom you are. I don't have a lot of experience myself with sensory issues, but I have a child with some mild sensory issues and a friend whose son also has sensory issues. I just wanted to share that my friend's son is working with some therapists and has made some great gains. He still has some days with major overload, but it could be that, by the time he reaches school, he will have overcome most of them. He has a brother who does not have any sensory issues so it doesn't mean that every child in the family will get them. I would ask the counselor for more information on the specifics of your daughter's diagnosis. Is she suggesting that your child has ADHD or ...?

Best of luck and hugs to you! Please let us know any updates and take care.

My son has sensory issues, he is diagnosed with autism but his initial dx was sensory processing disorder. In our case sounds, lights, temperature, sense of body relation are a few of his issues. Perhaps your daughter becomes overwhelmed in a busy situation and thus is easily overly stimulated. You didn't give examples of situations you've had to leave but if this is the case you're doing the best you can by removing her from them. Pay attention to how you daughter interacts in various situations. What calms her? What stresses her? Identifying her triggers is something to start with. There are various therapies that can be used but it is all in relation to what your child's needs are. It is very individualized and no two children are exactly alike so what may work for one may not work for another. If you have any questions or would like to talk I'm all ears.