Question for those with sensory-seekers

DS does not have a sensory disorder but he is occasionally a sensory seeker, if that makes sense. He mouths objects, likes to rough house, loves to be on the swing, and jump ALOT. A couple of months ago I noticed him walking on his tip-toes occasionally but that has since stopped. Something I notice since we brough the baby home was he like to bump into me, nothing else, just me. At first I thought it was an attention thing and still do in a way, but also thing its part of his sensory seeking.

What does your OT do with your child if they get EI? What do you do with them at home?

I am not sure my OT is addressing his sensory seeking. She does give him a vibrating toy and sensory ball, etc. to play with inbetween activities she does with him but most of what she does is for motor skills which to be honest, IMO DS doesnt need. She told me the other day he doesnt press hard enough with a crayon so for example in therapy yesterday, she had him use big plastic tweezers to pick pom poms up. Great that he can do this but I am not as worried about DS pressing hard with a crayon as I am about his sensory seeking

Re: Question for those with sensory-seekers

I sent you FM

Re: Question for those with sensory-seekers

I am not an OT (or a parent), but I am an autism consultant, so I see this a lot. OTs can only work on certain skills that help the child access their environment, so that is probably why she is working on the motor skills. The sensory piece is usually kind of an extra piece...though, for many kids, it is super important and interfering in their lives.

So, I would ask her to do an assessment and create a sensory diet for him. Kids who are sensory seeking can be either over or under stimulated and are trying to get their system to an even level. The type of input that helps to do that depends on the child. For a lot of the students I work with, deep pressure is helpful (weighted vest or blanket, squeezes, being rolled up in a big mat, massages, etc.), while others need to jump, run, bounce, etc. But, like I said, she will need to look at your son's specific needs to figure out what would be helpful for him. Then, you can use those things with him during regular intervals throughout the day.

I hope that helps! I just decided to check out this board since I work with special needs kids for a living....not trying to invade!

Re: Question for those with sensory-seekers

My son is a sensory seeker. We bought a mini trampoline, and we do a lot of deep pressure massages, we roll him in a blanket really tight, and he LOVES it.

Re: Question for those with sensory-seekers

I am also reading this board becasue I work with kiddies adn was just curious to read..... I'm an OT and I agree with the previous poster who said she would talk to the OT to see what you might be able to do with your DC at home at intervals throughotu the day to keep his system "just right" so to speak.

Every child is different - so like others have mentioned, your DC might benefit most from a trampline, or bear hugs or LOTS of different things.

The key is to provide the sensory input at pretty consistent intervals throughout the day....

Re: Question for those with sensory-seekers

My daycare provider had mentioned that my DS might be a sensory seeker, but how do you know if he is a sensory seeker or just a typical toddler? I am confused by the sensory aspect - don't most toddlers like rough housing or jumping or being on the swing? I am confused by what makes these actions an issue.

Re: Question for those with sensory-seekers

My DD is not labeled a sensory seeker because for the most part she is an avoider but we have discovered that she probably does seek movement but because she gets hurt so often avoids it to great lengths so in therapy she does a lot of swinging, animal walks, bouncing, ramp sliding, etc.
She feels safe in her OT room so she is like a different child in there. She can get her energy out in an environment that is safe for her. She loves crashing and falling onto the beanbags for soft mats because she knows it won't hurt vs falling off the swingset at home or down the steps, etc.
Not sure if that helps you at all.

Re: Question for those with sensory-seekers

You can ask about a brushing protocol as well.
I do brushing 3x/day on both my kids. My son is a seeker for sure even at 11 months he is labeled already.

Re: Question for those with sensory-seekers

DD was labeled a sensory seeker as well, although after a few months of OT, we are told she no longer needs it. Things they did with her were swinging, wrapping her up in tight blankets, putting a weighted vest on her, brushing, putting shaving cream all over her hands and letting her mush it, "dopping her" (safely of course) into a bean bag chair, bouncing on a yoga ball, putting her stomach down on a yoga ball and rolling it, letting her lay stomach down on a little scooter and moving with her hands.....