SPD Support Forum

Hello,
New to the forum -- just reaching out to see if anyone out there has the same situation as my wife and I.....our nearly 11 year old daughter has been diagnosed with PDD/Sensory Processing Disorder/Anxiety -- she has always had issues with food textures, clothing for sure....but also has episodes (we are in a stretch right now) of her going into panic attacks/tantrums over things being dirty. Often times she will target it at her little brother, that his feet are dirty, then anything he touches is then "dirty" -- she complains, when around or in contact with these things, that she feels a stabbing pain in her belly region. Tantrums are uncontrollable, and it very much interferes with our families' day to day. It is as if my wife and I can do nothing right to help her. Hoping that someone has some solutions to a similar issue you have gone through. She has been in OT previously, and we are working on getting that started again.

Sincerely,
BB

I have a 13 year old son with clothing issues etc, he was diagnosed many years ago and was in OT also. This summer when he hit 13 and puberty starting, things have been much more intense and also seeing anxiety. He went back to OT and a re-evaluation and it sounds like SPD issues can get a lot worse once puberty hits. I feel for you, it is not easy and I just want you to know that other parents are also dealing with similar issues. I am hoping OT will help my son find some coping skills so that he can function better during the day without extreme outbursts as it is affecting his self esteem in a big way.

Yes, we were wondering if puberty, at least the very early stages of it, were contributing. She also has alot of anxiety over things at school, since with her SPD, clothing is an issue, and worrying about "getting in trouble" because she is pushing the dress code.

I understand the clothing issues. My son's school does not have a uniform, he has been wearing the same pants/sweater/flip flops to school for the 2nd week in a row now. I encourage him to at least put on a different shirt, but he is not budging. The one positive is that there are no more angry meltdowns in the morning, but I know long term it is not a good solution. Is it possible for your daughter's school to make a special accommodation on the dress code for her? It might take some stress off your daughter if she knows she won't get in trouble. After all, I tell myself, they are there to learn..and if wearing a certain item of clothing helps them learn better/less distracted/bothered then it should be ok

I too can relate with the clothing issue. My daughter is 11 and was diagnosed when she was 8. We have noticed that when her anxieties are heightened her tolerance to clothing is less. She wears the same type of pants and tops daily and if she can avoid socks and shoes she will ! Her school has a uniform and we have been battling with them for ages to be more understanding when it comes to our daughter wearing the school tie. They have finally agreed to allow her to wear it loosely and not tucked in but it causes our daughter a huge amount of stress daily. Some schools are more tolerant than others, but I find a lack of understanding or lack of knowledge to SPD creates many problems.