SPD Support Forum

Hello Parents, Educators and Therapists,

My name is Yvonne. My kids are recently diagnosis with SPD.
My son is 5 and my daughter is 3. We are working with an OT and a SLP.
My son was diagnosis with speech delay and we started him with speech therapy at age 3 then recently started him with an OT. My daughter started the same time as my son with an OT. They are opposite side of the SPD spectrum. My son is hypersensitive and my daughter is sensory seeking.

My son is good with puzzles and puzzle solving games and he may have photographic memory. My daughter is good with languages, she speaks English, Cantonese and French. She associate people with languages.

I always knew there was something about them I couldn't put my fingers on. After reading Raising a Sensory Smart Child by Biel and Peske, I finally feel right in place with them. I was crying with joy of finally understanding my kids for the first time. I am sure all the parents here felt the same way with an AH HAA moment.

If SPD is hereditary, my husband and I may have SPD too, I am trying to figure that out myself. Some of the things that immediately I can tell you about is my sensitivity to smell. Anything that is made artificial especially for cosmetics I can't stand and I one time I had it really bad I got chills and induced vomit, I avoid perfume and I would hold my breathe til I turn blue if I need to. I do not wear makeup for that reason. And I definitely have a high tolerance for pain. I went through labor and birth without pain killers. The nurses and doctors were amazed hee hee. The pain has to be long and strong enough to make me want to see a doctor and I did end up in the ER the summer of 2000 after two months of on and off pain to have an ovarian cyst remove the next day. And after the surgery I can tolerate the pain too. I didn't even take my vicodin. And I am very clumsy til this day. I do not like music, but I love art and design. I am a graphic designer and a photographer.

We are currently in Los Angeles and will be moving to Hong Kong at the end of May.
I do not know what the future will hold, but I have many hopes.

Thank you for reading

Sincerely,
Yvonne

Hi, Yvonne!! Welcome! That's great that you've gotten a diagnosis for your kids at a young age! The earlier the better! I'm amazed at your daughter! That's so wonderful that she has a knack for languages!

My two sons are opposite too. Older son (10) is more avoider/defensive and younger is more sensory seeker. My younger (6) is more mild and hasn't officially been diagnosed since it hasn't been interfering with his school work. Though I'm thinking about getting him diagnosed this summer, just in case he needs services later.

My older was diagnosed in 2008, but it's just been in the last year or so that I've been finding out about my own SPD tendencies. I also have a high tolerance for pain and delivered without any pain killers (luckily short labors, only about 6 hours for each). But otherwise mine seems to be auditory, everything seems to be too loud and certain sounds make me want to get out of my skin. I've been clumsy my whole life.

Good luck with your move to Hong Kong! That'll be a big change! Is it a temporary move or permanent? My husband and I visited friends there in 1999, before we had children. We were able to visit Beijing while we were there too. We usually try to blend in and not stand out as tourists, but that wasn't possible there. China is so different from everywhere we've been before. But amazing culture! Hopefully you'll be able to find way to continue therapies with your kids while you're in HK.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Thank you Lynn!
Thank you Angela!

My mom always commented on my girl how she tippy toes and never sit still for more than 5 minutes.
Both of them needs a lot of exercise to cancel out what they have. Is it the same with your 2 sons? Running and stomping up and down the stairs works for both. Right now I am trying to find more sensory diet that they can both do together. My son has low muscle tone and if he could he will do everything lying down. At their preschool, one of their teachers teaches yoga and they both enjoyed it very much. I started yoga last March. I will continue that with them. They are so flexible they can do the hardest moves with ease.

I have family in Hong Kong. I haven't really live there for the past 30 years. So it is going to be interesting. My husband will finally learn Chinese! He is a French born Chinese.

6 hours labor for your first baby! Wow! 12 hours for my first one and 4 hours for my second. They were both pretty big babies, 8 lbs 5 oz and 8 lbs 14 oz.

Hi Yvonne. Welcome! Your children are lucky to have a diagnosis so young. You are a good mom. I am sensory defensive myself. I only recently (within the past year) learned exactly what was wrong with me. I, too, discovered SPD by reading a book. My sons grew up with sensory issues. They are grown now and doing pretty well. I can't help wonder what it would have been like for them, and for me, if we had known about SPD while they were growing up.
All this talk about natural childbirth. I delivered natural as well, with a midwife both times. I wouldn't do it any other way. Veeeerrrrryyyy long labor with my first, just a few hours with the second. But I wouldn't consider myself tolerant to pain. I delivered without anesthesia because I felt it would be safer for all concerned. Preparing for deliver, and delivery taught me alot about focus, acceptance and the power of guided meditation. Both times, I had someone talk me through it, it was very helpful.