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+--- Thread: New... some advice please (/thread-809.html)
New... some advice please - mshanson3121 - 11-24-2012
Hi, I just found this group! So glad I have. This will be wordy, I'm sorry, but I have so many questions.
I'm a SAHM to a 5 year old boy who was diagnosed with SPD a couple months ago. We're still waiting for his OT to start, though they did his full sensory profile.
I'll admit... I go back and forth. Some days I can see it, and it's hard, and then I'll be talking to someone else, trying to explain things, and they make me feel like, "Oh all boys do that! All kids have fears!" and then I think we're overreacting.
He has so many issues, but so many people look at just pieces here and there and think, "So what? My son doesn't like having his hair washed either!" or "Meh, my son's loud too!".
We got his profile results back and I'd like to share them and get some input if I can, these were his areas of difficulty:
Auditory Processing - definite more, Visual Processing - probable more, Vestibular Processing - definite more, Tactile Processing - definite more, Multisensory Processing - probable more, Oral Processing - probable more
Sensory Processing related to Endurance/Tone - probable more, Modulation of Movement Affecting Activity Level - probable more,
Modulation of Visual input affecting Emotional Responses & Activity Level - probable more
Emotional/Social Responses - probable more
Then his 9 Classification scores were:
Sensory Seeking = probable more, Emotionally Reactive - probable more, Low Endurance/Tone - probable more, Oral Sensitivity - probable more, Inattention/Distractibility - definite more, Sedentary - definite more
Then his Quadrant scores were:
Registration, Seeking, Sensitivity, Avoiding - all were definite more.
So what does all of that mean? What's the difference between the classification scores and quadrants? How can you be seeking and avoiding at the same time? He seems to have a lot of areas that are problems... and yet, most people don't see it.
RE: New... some advice please - Jaffa - 11-25-2012
I don't understand the scoring, my OT just explained where he had problems and what we need to do for my 6 yr old son. I live in the UK and didn't get results like this.
My son looks for all the world like other kids, people don't realise he has SPD except he lives life in the fastest and noisiest lane there is. Oh and the instant lane. My sons school have never seen him have a meltdown but he has them regularly at home with me. At first I thought it was me that was the problem but its where he feels safe to be able to pour it out.
Don't get hung up on other people its tiring and they don't live with him. It's not the single items that makes him dx with SPD but the multiple things together.
You have to learn to have a thick skin too when people comment on your parenting skills, which they feel they have a right to do. But we know its not that and they have probably never encountered a child with SPD either.
Sorry couldn't help you in deciphering your dx but only thing I can say is that some things can cross over from one to another.
RE: New... some advice please - mshanson3121 - 11-25-2012
Thanks. It's funny, I even said that to my friend, "I was told it's not the fact that he doesn't like having his hair washed, or the fact that he doesn't like loud noises that mean he has SPD, it's all the issues combined."
It's true, on playdates, you'd never know anything's wrong with my son to look at him, he looks like any other normal, busy boy. But like you said it's when you spend the day at home with him and see how he has to turn off the washer and dryer before he'll pee (because of the noise), how he's constantly stomping when he walks, how he rocks when he sits, when I'm homeschooling him and the way he's constantly distracted, how he can't sit still, how he refuses to wear jeans, has to feel the inside of his pants before he puts them on to make sure they're soft enough, how he turns his socks inside out before he wears them, how he won't touch his food until it's almost cold, how loud he can get, the meltdowns he has most days when we leave the house that I babysit at after school (doesn't transition well) etc... and forget about trying to get him in a public washroom. It doesn't happen.
Thankfully, we're learning his triggers, so we're able to avoid quite a few meltdowns (he went at least 2 weeks without washing his hair while we tried to figure out a way he could do it without a meltdown), but they still happen - mostly during transitions, and when he's overtired, or overstimulated. He doesn't handle "busyness" well, so when we've had a weekend where we're on the go alot, Mondays are BAD days. In fact, we stayed home from church today because the past couple days have been really rough.
RE: New... some advice please - LAC1961 - 11-26-2012
I don't understand the scoring either. I asked the OT point blank, "What is her diagnosis that you're reporting to the insurance company?" She gave me a copy of the insurance report, which stated dyspraxia. Then after I had time to read the report and process it, I asked her to explain at the next visit how she arrived at dyspraxia, which she wrote clearly for me on a slip of paper.
It's great that you are figuring out his triggers. The one thing that always works with our daughter when we need her to do something she usually has a fit about is heavy work. She used to have a fit about getting her hair and teeth brushed. If we do something involving movement or lifting before bed time routine, it usually goes off without a hitch. Sometimes I'm amazed at how great she is with getting her hair and teeth brushed when I think about how it was a year ago.
If you're into reading, I'd recommend Growing an In-Sync Child. It has a lot of practical things that will address sensory issues and help your child adapt to his sensory problems. Glad you joined us!
RE: New... some advice please - heather40 - 11-26-2012
I definately don't understand the scoring, but the scoring isn't going to help your child, you will. So putting that aside it is for you to do what you need to. My son will not wear demin either, things have to be soft, he doens't like finger nails or toes nails cut. I get it all the time " he is just being a boy' WAHTEVER! His teacher told me that his issues with his clothes is probably because he is in 3rd grade and it becomes a fashion issue. WHATEVER AGAIN! I was like are you kidding, do you see how my kid comes to school. SHoelaces are always out of shoes because they will not stay exactly even, pockets are hanging out, won't let me brush his hair so it is always messed up. FIgure out the triggers, watch for clues to help you. If you can catch a meltdown before it happens that's a good thing, I was told by an OT once they get to that it takes a long time to get back on track. most people don't see these issues with my son either. Then they think you are nuts, well whatever, I know my kid and please explain to me why he has to wear headphones in a loud situation! DUH!!! Ugh, the heck with the other people. You do what you know and what you know your child needs!
RE: New... some advice please - Jaffa - 12-01-2012
We had a lot of problems with the hair washing and cutting. I rub his head with my fingertips quite hard to de sensitive him before washing and cutting. He does a lot better after I have done it. It's trial and error with these kiddos so whatever works for you, do it.
We have the socks and shoe problem and layers are a problem too and at the moment in the uk it is freezing.
RE: New... some advice please - LAC1961 - 12-03-2012
We've been doing Therapeutic Listening Therapy and it is making a difference. It was not covered by insurance, but we got a $100 discount because our OT ordered it for us, so it was $375, including the headphones. I'm glad we did it. In two weeks we have to fill out a symptom questionnaire to see what areas of her symptoms have improved, so I'm not sure exactly what's improving, but I notice she's not touching everything in site as she used to, she's singing all the time--and not out of key as she used to, she's more relaxed and laughing a lot more, she's putting a lot less inedible things in her mouth and usually will choose her chewelry over improper things, and (this may sound wierd) her rhythm has improved. She was never able to clap along properly to a song, and yesterday she was keeping time with the beat. She's not sensory defensive, so I don't know if it would help with that, but it's worth asking your OT about.
RE: New... some advice please - heather40 - 12-03-2012
That is really cool! My x just got insurance so I am going to get back on the therapy bandwagon for my son!!!! I am going to look into that!!!! I am so glad it is working for you!