I have a 17 y.o. daughter who has been diagnosed with SPD. She was born 16.5 weeks prematurely, before her nerve endings were coated which has led to this.

Now that I know more about SPD, I can see signs of this when she was younger, but didn't know. Because we educated our children at home, she didn't suffer from some of the traditional things that children do in classroom situations.

However, once she entered her mid-teens, eating in restaurants became unbearable. Touches, certain foods, textures, noises, etc all became intolerable to her. I began to do more research. Which led me to SPD. I began having her take fish oil supplements, which helped to a degree, and she began using ear plugs (or stuffing her ears with kleenexes) when we'd eat out, but those weren't sufficient.

I found the SPD email loop, from where this forum originated, and sought help from you. YOU all were so helpful. You helped me understand how she must be feeling. When she became stressed and overwhelmed, she felt as if bugs were crawling over her body, her heart races, her stomach feels badly, and so many other things happen.

Last summer, I found an OT who specialized in SPD....my daughter has found some ways of coping and regulating herself. It's not perfect yet, but she is doing so much better.

I know there are other teens out there...
and I'm sure there are other moms out there with preemies, as well.

If I can be of help, I'm here.