Can anyone tell me anything about sensory issues?

[mamamunchkin]

I'm just curious.

[StillJulie]

THere were some great threads and resources on the old ezboard forum... Hopefully someone can repost some to get you started...

I think there's a book called the Out of Sync Child...

You can always google sensory integration disorder (I think that's what it's called.)

[Kinsa]

That's a pretty broad request. :lol:

Is there a specific question that you would like to have answered?

I can try to put it into a nutshell for you, but if you really want to get into the nuts-n-bolts, you should read the SPD bible, "The Out-of-Sync Child".

Basically, there are two manifestations of the same issue. One is sensory-seeking, and the other is sensory-avoiding. A child who is sensory-seeking is the one who slams himself into the wall, who puts things into his mouth all the time, who likes to stare into bright lights and patterns, who seems loud all the time, etc. A sensory-avoiding child is the opposite. A sensory-avoiding child doesn't like movement and gets motion sickness often, avoids bright lights and loud sounds, usually has speech delays and is very sensitive to tastes and textures (usually appears that they are very finicky eaters), etc. Sometimes there are quirky things about the SA child, like tags on shirts really bother him, or the seams on the toes of the socks, etc.

You will know a sensory child because they seem "quirky" compared to other kids, either they are "too much" of something (loud, movements, etc) or they are "not enough" of something (doesn't like crowds, doesn't like the playground, etc.)

Usually premature babies have SPD in some form because they were born before their sensory system was fully developed. There also seems to be a genetic component to it. (Parents who were quirky kids tend to have quirky children themselves.)

I have children with SPD. My 11yo twins are sensory-avoiding, I believe due to their premature birth. My 9yo is sensory seeking, as is my 4yo. (They have been diagnosed as such - it isn't just a "mom" diagnosis.) My 7yo and my 1yo are "normal".

So ask away if you have any more specific questions about it. I'll try to help.

[mamamunchkin]

Thanks Kinsa... I was just wondering. Maybe I'll have to look into that book while Im at work.

[FabTXMomma]

Another excellent book is Sensational Kids by Lucy Jane Miller.
Out of Sync Child is by Carol Stock-Kranowitz, who does the foreword in Sensational Kids.

Connor has some sensory integration issues due to his autism. Autism is a neurologically based disorder so his "wiring" is very different from typical. So he has both sensory seeking and sensory avoiding behaviors, depending on the type of sensation and sometimes the day of the week.

Ms. Miller's book discusses the 3 different kinds of sensory integration problems and the sub-types of those. Here they are in chart format: http://www.spdnetwork.org/aboutspd/defining.html

That site is a good one for searching for information. Ms. Miller's book is excellent b/c it talks not only about symptoms, but also about getting a diagnosis and what to expect from therapy.

If you have any more questions, please let us know and I'm sure there are a few of us here who will be happy to take a crack at it.

[mommyof2monkeys+princess]

We have the sensory bible also "The Out of Sync Child" LOL

It was a HUGE eye opener for us. DS is termed a sensory seeker and has many ADHD tendency but they are moreso sensory related than anything else. He now has occupational therapy which was well worth the cost. We can now work on his academics at school (he has learning disabilities also we think and struggles). However, before OT he has so many behavioral issues it was hard to even get him to function in a classroom enviroment.

For him one of the original biggest indicators was that he didn't get dizzy on the tire swing. There are also more but the ranges are so different the book is really the best place to start.

Tammy

[sharonka]

when you can literally see him completely shut down...it is when it is too loud and too much is happening at once...makes youth retreats trying for him. This weekend they are going to an all night event and dh and i decided it wouldn't work for him....