Sensory Issues Related to Focus and Concentration

Sounds like my son - who had me in tears many times as a pre-schooler and in his primary grades. He was the most fidgity kid (still is), he had real trouble concentrating, he was in the bottom 2% of reading ability in 1st grade, his kindergarten teacher would throw her hands up and say "I don't know what's the matter with him" (she was an idiot if you ask me). His first grade teacher told me at the first conference (around this time of year) that I should have medical issues checked out and then rule out ADHD. I asked didn't teachers think that all boys have ADHD? I was in tears when I left that meeting. (His 1st grade teacher was a wondeful wise woman - what a blessing she was!) We had his hearing and vision evaluated by pediatric specialists then I took him to a group affiliated with the local children's hospital (Schneiders on Long Island). Within 40 minutes and a computer test he was able to do on his own, they diagnosed him as ADHD. Here I was in the waiting room of this children's behavioral health office with kids who were really out of control - nasty, some were hitting their parents, etc. I thought the world was collapsing around me - I thought I did something wrong in my pregnancy, in his toddler years, etc.

I took a deep breath and I prayed. I asked God for guidence - do I just throw drugs at my kid? Do I take him to a shrink for the rest of his life? Would he ever learn how to read? A child psychologoist at my church just so happened at this same time to offer a class for parents regarding children's developemental stages, difference in learning styles, etc. This saved my life and my sanity. She said that there are different learning styles - some kids can sit peacefully and learn anything (me, my daughter) others have to touch things while they learn (the Montessori method uses this approach - kids handle a "textured" letter while the learn the sound it makes), other kids have to be in motion while they learn and others do better when they're simply standing up instead of sitting.

My son happens to learn best while he's in motion - and he does well to touch thing also. We learned his letters and sight words while throwing a ball back and forth, when he got the spelling right he'd run a lap around the kitch, living room, dining room. We'd stand up to read sometimes, we'd take turns - he's read one paragraph, I'd read the next. We tried different things to discover what worked best.

Another thing - there are different kind of "intelligences" - schools teach and test for languange and math skills primarily. But some kids are good at music or art, others have amazing people skills, some are great athletes, others are experts at spatial skills (buildling, engineering, etc.) So you need to study your child and figure out what he's interested in and what he excells in - then encourage those things too outside of the school environment.

There's a lot of online resources - but there are also great books - two authors to look for are Mel Levine (A Mind at a Time and others) he also has a website that's a good starting point. Another is Cynthia Tobias - I can't recall the name of her books but also excellent about learning styles.

Many of the most successful people in business, arts, science, politics, etc were kids with ADHD and/or learning "disabilities". My son, now in 6th grade, did learn how to read (YAY!) his special ed teachers were amazing - I worked with them and with him and he still gets special services - he gets classes with an extra teacher to "push in" for help (as oppsed to "pulling out" the kids who need help), he gets resource room 3 days a week - they help him organize his work flow, and he still gets reading - which is called, interestingly enough "multi-sensory reading program". He just got his first report card in middle school and he missed honor roll by less than 1%. What a triumph for him! We are targeting honor roll next quarter. My son is on medication for the ADHD and although he wasn't crazy about it he now knows it helps him focus.

My son's skills are math, spatial perception, athletics and people. The kid has a tough time reading but he's got a huge circle of friends, he can build anything - so we encourage lego, k'nex, etc. he plays sports year round and helps other kids with math. We tell him that he can be an engineer and build bridges or building or he's be a great sales person or any number of things. He has a kind of intelligence and street smarts that is head and shoulders over his sister who is on the honor roll all the time. They are just different kids.

Once you find your boy's special skill and help him address the areas he needs help with you'll see him blossom before your eyes. Talk to his teacher about how he learns best, request testing if he struggles in any areas. You know best - you're his mom, his advocate and his best cheerleader! GO MAMA!

I had my son got a screening at school district before he enter preschool. He met with developmental specialist, speech therapist, child psychologist, etc. They can help you evaluate and figure out what the children needs in all different aspects. Speech, sensory, cognitive, social, etc. If necessary, then they can suggest a therapy in the area that need help.
Every children is special in their own way. Doesn't mean the child has disability or illness, sometimes they just required something different to deal with things. The faster we figure it out, the better the outcome will be.
The older he gets, it will be harder to deal with school works if he find it hard to focus/sit still. Some behaviors cannot be tolerated anymore when the kids get older and in higher grade.
The school psychologist/social worker should be able to give you reference on whom to seek to get him screened. Good luck !

Yes, get him evaluated by a Developmental Pediatrician because you are stabbing in the dark about what the cause of his problem is and you truly need to know, one way or another, what all the issues are and get appropriate treatment for them. I get the feeling that you are trying to avoid the other possible conclusion here, but know that sensory issues are most often comorbid with other issues too, so chances are that you are not wrong, but chances are also that you are not completly right. In any case, treating a child with clincical levels of distrcatablity is not a DIY project, and you need to know for certain if your son falls into this category. An evaluation will tell you for sure, because his behavior and processing skills will be measured in relation to a huge number of kids his age, so you will not need to guess any more.

You can find Developmental Pediatricians at Children's hospitals. This doctor will include an evaluation with an Occupational Therapist if your son needs that included.

It is a very common statement on this site to say "my child can concentrate when they like something" but I would like to challenge you to think about that for a minute. Maybe he only likes the things that he can concentrate on? Maybe, he his skills are in tact for the things that he can concentrate on, and maybe, the things you see him concentrating on do not require the processing skill that is effected...many parents say "my child cannot be ADHD because they can sit and watch a movie just fine" That is a flawed argument, watching a movie does not require the active kind of processing skills that are ususally an issue. I am not saying ADHD, I am saying that you should go into the evaluation just telling the Doctor what you see (distractablity that is consistant in different enviornments) and not ask for your son to be evaluated for something in particular, let the doctor know what you see and tell you what it is.

Do not attempt an occupational therapy plan alone, it should only be done with a diagnosis, and a treatment plan under the supervision and direction of an occupational therapist.

M.

I work in special ed, and one of my students this year has Sensory Processing Disorder. This is a serious disability. You can't self-diagnose things like SPD, ADD, etc. Direct your concerns to your child's doctor and get a referral to a neurologist or developmental pediatrician. Once you have a correct diagnosis, you can implement the corrrect tools. We have many things that we do with the student who has SPD - he gets occupational therapy, he has frequent sensory breaks, he has fidgets, gum, chair band, vibrating tool, etc, as well as a behavioral plan.
Good luck. You may also want to read The Out of Sync Child.

Does he sit at the table and eat or does he eat on the run? He needs to learn to sit for gradually longer periods of time. Have him sit at the table and color or draw a picture for 5 minutes and increase it minute by minute when he is able to sit without being reminded or told to. Its a kid thing, they are full of energy and need to be trained to sit quietly, just like puppies.

You may want to see if your library has a book called "The Out-of-Sync Child."

My son had some sensory issues that disappeared after certain steps we took (long story). Before that, though, he seemed really content with a little 1 pound wrist (or ankle) weight. We also had a weighted blanket for awhile but didn't really need it.

In my (mom) experience sensory kids tend to be sensory "seekers" or "avoiders." I would seek out a good occupational therapist for advice. Sensory issues can really affect school life.

Good luck to you guys!

As long as he responds, let it go for right now. Just keep a close eye on
how he progresses.

My son is eight years old and diagnosed with PDD (autistic spectrum disorder) and ADD. I am not saying your child has either but after seeing several specialists and going to several hospitals with my son (who sounds alot like yours) he has recently been diagnosed with APD (auditory processing disorder) and is receiving "listening therapy" and doing much better. It all has to do with their "sensory issues" and "motor planning issues". So my suggection would be to contact a pediatric neuro-developmental specialist and ask for your son to be tested for APD. I do not believe in drugs (not that there is anything wrong with it but it is not my first choice) and would suggest therapy as an alternative option. It is not a "quick fix" but I do believe that is gives them the tools needed to progess naturally. Best of luck!

You certainly have your hands full! And you are right inseeing a correlation between distractibility and sensory issues. Now let's take it one step deeper and we find that a person who has those symptoms and a some of the following symptoms may have not spent enough time integating the primitive refex Spinal Galant:

Figeting
Bedwetting
Poor memory
Ticklish back
Doesn't like tight pants around waist
Problems reading and near focussing

The Spinal Galant reflex appears in utero and usually integrates about 6 months. If the developmental stage is worked on long enough these symptoms do not appear.

The good news is that anyone can integrate this primitive reflex at any time. It takes just a few minutes a day doing a simple physical exercise. You can google primitive reflexes and Spinal Galant to learn more.

Good luck!

K. Johnson, MS Ed
www.pyramidofpotential.com