I'm fifteen years old and a freshman in highschool. From a very young age, I've had sensory issues. I didn't walk or talk till I was around 2 to 2 1/2. I went to OT from pre to third grade. I was okay. Till around seventh grade when I began having severe headaches, are there links between the two??

My main question: my mother always talks about how I am sensory defensive. Are SPD and sensory defensiveness the same thing?

If not, what are the differences?

Thanks for your help!

Ask any other questions to help you gage what may be going on...

Sensory Defensiveness is a subset of SPD.

Headaches can be associated with hypersensitivities in that the sensory issues cause headaches in some of us (like me).

What types of headaches are you having?

Mainly tension, occasional migraines. I went to a clinic for about ten weeks. I just finished my treatment last week.

Both tension headaches and migraines are associated with my SPD, along with other triggers.

I have chronic tension headaches because of the constant overloading of senses. Migraine triggers include some sensory triggers (cigarette smoke is the easiest way to give me a migraine, along with most other things that put toxins in the air), as well as some non-sensory triggers (like hunger, dehydration, or stress).

Thanks so much!

So my tension headaches could be a result of my SD, that's very good to know.

One other question I just thought of. What causes SPD and other sensory issues?

You said the headaches started in 7th grade. It is very common for headaches to start triggering regularly with Puberty.

(04-30-2012, 04:05 AM)beck7422 Wrote: You said the headaches started in 7th grade. It is very common for headaches to start triggering regularly with Puberty.

That makes a lot of sense! Thanks

My headaches didn't start until high school. But I know where you are coming from. When I get even some what overloaded, I get tension headaches that are so bad I sometimes cry. If you are allowed a time out when you feel a headache coming on, it can really help to decrease the sensory overload and return your body back to normal. I hope you get to feeling better. I know it can be tough. Good luck!

Right, that is something worth point out.

If you're having issues with tension headaches, do whatever you can to get rid of the muscle tension completely, not just the pain. Tension headaches can turn into your body basically having muscle tension because of having muscle tension, and the constant headaches that come with that are far more frustrating than even just the common headaches.

If you're being able to recognize it now, solve it now, its better than not solving it early (and thus really good that you recognized the connection to the sensory stuff).

Thanks so much for that info!!

A question semi related to it all. I've always had bad muscle tone and am not strong at all, I can't do pullups and my high jump numbers are almost zero. Anyhow related?? Also

We're doing sword fighting in my acting class right now and I can't figure out how to control my hand and get my arms and legs to do what I want them to. This is related to the muscle tone stuff too, I think...