SPD Support Forum

Hi,
I'm just after a bit of general opinion here as my daughter is awaiting her assessment with the child development centre, but I feel a bit lost and alone and feel I'm going a bit mad reading so much about what could be bothering my 5 year old. She has Possible sensory issues picked up by school and myself, I'll just list them if that's ok.
-Always pinching her neck, like a comfort habit since birth.
-wouldn't let me pick her up from age 1-4 if I either wore my hair up or had a jumper on
-refused a bottle til she was one and a bit (when everyone else was dropping theirs)
-only wears leggings or a dress WITH leggings. Never jeans. The leggings have to be full length, and only this year finally will she wear shorts (but would rather not) Oh and definitely no labels
-refused knickers until started school and then it was a battle. Will only wear one brand, no frills and never at weekends.
-school shoe shopping eurggh lets not even go there.
-she's always barging into everyone and has to touch everything she passes in a shop (I mean everything)

She has an OCD habit of scratching herself then licking her fingers (up to 240 times an hour) to 'get rid of germs' apparently. She has randomly licked other stuff too, especially at school. Things like the floor, her shoes etc. She hates school and is behind developmentally but is making progress. The school have given her a sensory cushion to sit on and blue tac to occupy her fingers and she's in every possible intervention. She has trouble making friendships and at times talks about killing the whole world. She does obsess about stuff, like right now she talks non stop about Halloween, up to three hours a day planning the same thing over and over.

She is very creative and has a great imagination (and can make up a plausible lie in a heartbeat ?) so I'm not worried about ASD.

I love my daughter but she can either be so loving or so angry and cross at the world and I just want to know how can I help her? Her appointment isn't for another month so if anyone has any advice or just a 'hi' I would appreciate it as it's getting me down right now. Is it possibly SPD or am I grasping at straws.

Thanks in advance
U

Can she like express the things that bother her and why? Maybe having her explain things and understanding the why might help in her treatment? If I were you, before you see the doctor, start making a list of those things so that when you talk to him/her they know the reason behind the behavior. That way, whatever therapy they suggest it will be the most informed. Also, I love Halloween too, it's the best. ^_^ As far as future projections go, use her creativity in a positive way. Get her to like things that involve imagination, like acting, writing, drawing, panting, or theater. Use her passion to guide her into a job that she will win at. She might not be the best when it comes to math or w/e, but figure out what her best is and get her more engaged in that best. You never know how great she can be if focused correctly. I hope this helps. <3

Thank you for your reply. She does have trouble expressing things but I will persevere thank you. I really appreciate the fact all my kids have diverse strengths and I will definitely be encouraging her creative side (I am a writer myself), I just worry more about what's making her so unhappy. I really am just wanting to get that assessment done so I know how to proceed. Today we went past a stuffed bird (ornament in pub, yucky imo lol) and she went up to it and licked its eye! I asked why and she just shrugged her shoulders and said it's because she wanted to. What makes a 5 year old want to do that? Anyway, thank you for responding. It's easy to feel alone in these things.

(06-09-2018, 03:37 PM)Mumx3 Wrote: [ -> ]Thank you for your reply. She does have trouble expressing things but I will persevere thank you. I really appreciate the fact all my kids have diverse strengths and I will definitely be encouraging her creative side (I am a writer myself), I just worry more about what's making her so unhappy. I really am just wanting to get that assessment done so I know how to proceed. Today we went past a stuffed bird (ornament in pub, yucky imo lol) and she went up to it and licked its eye! I asked why and she just shrugged her shoulders and said it's because she wanted to. What makes a 5 year old want to do that? Anyway, thank you for responding. It's easy to feel alone in these things.

Yes it can, sometimes, as an SPD person, it makes you feel like others just don't get you. Maybe too it'd help her to write in journal about how she feels when she gets older and able to do that? So that she can express things to you that she might be unable to express to you verbally. Just make sure she gets that sharing won't get her into trouble, and don't use it as way to discipline her. If you do it will make her feel unable to be honest. It might be another way to reach her.

In my experience my sensory issues are very connected with my OCD. I also am highly imaginative but have ASD so that isn't something I would rule out.