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Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
Can you tell me what they do or don't do? What they like or dislike? What kind of activities do you do with them at home to help?
DS is very sensory seeking. He is currently getting OT 2 x's a week but I dont see any progress with his sensory issues, in fact it seems to have gotten worse and is now being accompanied by behavioral changes/issues. The only thing that has changed is his nursery school class has grown in size which means more chaos in the class...something that never seemed to bother him in the past. I am wondering if that has now changed.
I am not sure where I should go from here.
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Posted 11/17/10 4:38 PM  |
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lbelle821
Arghhhhh
Member since 2/06 5285 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
DS is a jumper/flapper. He seeks proprioceptive input.
At home we do deep pressure massage, bean box, cover him with weighted items, squeezes, etc.
When he started OT earlier this year they warned me of it getting worse before it got better and they were right. Supposedly as they worked to increase his body awareness and sensory system it makes the "symptoms" worse until they learn to organize their sensory systems better.
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| Posted 11/17/10 4:57 PM |
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sapphire
LIF Adolescent
Member since 6/06 568 total posts
Name:
Elizabeth
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
My dd is a sensory seeker, in every 'sense" (no pun intended lol). She loves vivid colors, movement (watching things move and moving herself), music/sounds/vibration, tactile input, chewing/crunching/oral motor stimulation etc. She loves to run, jump, climb, swing, crash and spin. She also enjoys reading books calmly or sitting to watch her favorite video/show. She can also sit for hours in the car without complaining, since she observes everything she sees out the window.
My dd seeks vestibular input. We try to go to parks often to swing. slide etc. We have an OT net swing at home, we also have a blow up jumpy house we keep indoors, a blilbo and a sit and spin and therapy balls etc . We do our best to try to work in intraverbal cues when she is doing a vestibular activity (ready set..go... or one two three...or sing familiar songs that include movement...wheels on the bus go 'round and round, if she is on a device that spins her etc. Vestibular activities activate the inner ear (the tiny hairs vibrate), this also stimulates language. Most kids that jump, tend to talk more when they jump. (like the old fashioned jump rope songs). Car rides also give her input. (although we try to avoid traffic jams since stop and go traffic is just irritating to her and me lol)
My dd has proprioceptive dysfunction. She has great difficulty with her motor planning. She often loses her place in space (bumping into things, tripping, not always knowing how to go around something). Sometimes when you go to lay her down (to change her) she panics, since she isn't always aware of where she is in relation to the surface. Brushing/joint compressions/massage, tight hugs, swimming, bathing, jumping, long walks working with play doh, sand, beans, rice etc... help her get this input. I haven't done this yet but I was told to have her wear a long sleeve swim suit (almost like a wet suit) under her clothes. Rolling her up in a blanket and pushing her back and forth is a fun activity. Having her eat crunchy foods/ or bagels that require a lot of chewing. I am hoping to have her OT do a lot more obstacle courses with her. Since going through tunnels helps as well.
The only way to get this much input is to lay out an exact plan/sensory diet. All therapists should include sensory activities. Just really think about the schedule of your day and what activity you can do that can give the "input" (eating, bathing, dressing, playing etc) It could just be as simple as a tight hug or lifting your child off the ground and on to the floor to get across a room (so you end up doing many jumps). I do this a lot to make transitions less stressful.
Prompt therapy is also very effective with proprioceptive issues, since the tactile input helps the motor planning.
Children tend to like predictability and structure so perhaps his classroom setting lost a bit of their set routines while things changed. I would try to have set things scheduled for him as much as possible at home. I really liked the ideas from "The OUT OF SYNC CHILD HAS FUN"
I would also ask your OT to use a session for a family training so they can teach you a few strategies/techniques.
ETA...Epsom Salt Baths help. Not only are they calming but a lot children with SPD have mineral defficiencies...magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) can help with that.
Message edited 11/18/2010 7:06:49 AM.
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| Posted 11/18/10 12:43 AM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
Posted by sapphire
My dd is a sensory seeker, in every 'sense" (no pun intended lol). She loves vivid colors, movement (watching things move and moving herself), music/sounds/vibration, tactile input, chewing/crunching/oral motor stimulation etc. She loves to run, jump, climb, swing, crash and spin. She also enjoys reading books calmly or sitting to watch her favorite video/show. She can also sit for hours in the car without complaining, since she observes everything she sees out the window.
My dd seeks vestibular input. We try to go to parks often to swing. slide etc. We have an OT net swing at home, we also have a blow up jumpy house we keep indoors, a blilbo and a sit and spin and therapy balls etc . We do our best to try to work in intraverbal cues when she is doing a vestibular activity (ready set..go... or one two three...or sing familiar songs that include movement...wheels on the bus go 'round and round, if she is on a device that spins her etc. Vestibular activities activate the inner ear (the tiny hairs vibrate), this also stimulates language. Most kids that jump, tend to talk more when they jump. (like the old fashioned jump rope songs). Car rides also give her input. (although we try to avoid traffic jams since stop and go traffic is just irritating to her and me lol)
My dd has proprioceptive dysfunction. She has great difficulty with her motor planning. She often loses her place in space (bumping into things, tripping, not always knowing how to go around something). Sometimes when you go to lay her down (to change her) she panics, since she isn't always aware of where she is in relation to the surface. Brushing/joint compressions/massage, tight hugs, swimming, bathing, jumping, long walks working with play doh, sand, beans, rice etc... help her get this input. I haven't done this yet but I was told to have her wear a long sleeve swim suit (almost like a wet suit) under her clothes. Rolling her up in a blanket and pushing her back and forth is a fun activity. Having her eat crunchy foods/ or bagels that require a lot of chewing. I am hoping to have her OT do a lot more obstacle courses with her. Since going through tunnels helps as well.
The only way to get this much input is to lay out an exact plan/sensory diet. All therapists should include sensory activities. Just really think about the schedule of your day and what activity you can do that can give the "input" (eating, bathing, dressing, playing etc) It could just be as simple as a tight hug or lifting your child off the ground and on to the floor to get across a room (so you end up doing many jumps). I do this a lot to make transitions less stressful.
Prompt therapy is also very effective with proprioceptive issues, since the tactile input helps the motor planning.
Children tend to like predictability and structure so perhaps his classroom setting lost a bit of their set routines while things changed. I would try to have set things scheduled for him as much as possible at home. I really liked the ideas from "The OUT OF SYNC CHILD HAS FUN"
I would also ask your OT to use a session for a family training so they can teach you a few strategies/techniques.
ETA...Epsom Salt Baths help. Not only are they calming but a lot children with SPD have mineral defficiencies...magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) can help with that.
Thank you for such a great response!!! 
I dont feel that his sensory needs are being addressed enough at therapy. They are working so much on fine motor but the sensory is the part that is starting to interfere with his daily routine. He CANNOT keep his hands to himself, bumping into things or people, hitting, pushing, throwing himself on the floor. He plays soccer and he is the only kid that isn't running after the ball to score a goal, is more interested in trying to bump into others and chase his friends. He is not a mean kid and he doestn do it to be meand, I truely think he can't control himself from doing it. And everyday we say "keep your hands to yourself" "no hitting, no pushing" and he knows not to. He tells me "Mommy I can't push or hit my friends today"
everyday I pick him up from school I feel anxiety thinking what are they going to tell me he did today. Some days he's great. The last two days he threw himself on the floor having tantrums. This only started this past summer with this behavioral issues. I dont know how to help him anymore. I dont know if school is too stressful for him (it's a larger class of 17 kids). He now has a SEIT and she said he is such a sweet, nice boy. He plays well with the other kids. He LOVES school. But sometimes he just has these meltdowns.
ETA: I do have the books you recommended and am reading them now and think even more that there are sensory issues. When he was evaluated they thought ADHD (obviously too young too diagnose) but I think it's more sensory related.
Message edited 11/18/2010 11:54:23 AM.
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| Posted 11/18/10 11:53 AM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
My other question is who makes this diagnosis?
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| Posted 11/18/10 12:08 PM |
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sapphire
LIF Adolescent
Member since 6/06 568 total posts
Name:
Elizabeth
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
I don't think there is a true "diagnosis" as yet since SPD is not in the DSM-IV (I could be mistaken though). However, when you read those spd checklists, you can easily see if your child is dealing with this or not. It's truly the only thing that 'sat right with me". So many other 'diagnosis" do not "fit" my DD. Ask your OT for the "infant/toddler" sensory profile. It's a questionaire of 50 questions relating to general processing, auditory processing, visual processing, tactile processing, vestibular processing and oral sensory processing.
I am in the same boat as you with OT. My OT has been working on fine motor skills and not "obstacle courses" or the therapy balls she suggested I purchase etc. See if your coordinator will allow your OT sessions in a sensory gym.
Hitting and pushing and even things like biting are almost always related to sensory input. There is a pleasurable input to their system when they bump, crash, push etc.. Maybe prior to the game you can give him a lot proprioceptive input.
I am going to FM you later with more info. I am just learning about this myself but I have been reading and speaking to a lot of people.
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| Posted 11/18/10 12:32 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
My son is a runner and crasher. He loves bouncing, jumping, swings and slides.
Our OT does both fine motor activities and works with him on his sensory seeking stuff. We have a therapy ball for him to bounce on, but I also bounce him on my lap. The OT said to let him run when he wants - it's good to get out his excess energy and gives him the input he is seeking. I try to take him to the park when I can for the swings and slide. I am thinking about getting a trampoline for my house, because I think he would love it.
He also likes car rides and riding in the shopping cart at the store - he will actually ask me on the weekends if he can go for a ride in the shopping cart.
One challenge we have is hitting. I think much of the time he hits just to get the input he is seeking, and isn't really aggressive, but I am not sure the other kids at daycare (or the teachers) always understand that.
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| Posted 11/18/10 1:02 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
Posted by sapphire
I don't think there is a true "diagnosis" as yet since SPD is not in the DSM-IV (I could be mistaken though). However, when you read those spd checklists, you can easily see if your child is dealing with this or not. It's truly the only thing that 'sat right with me". So many other 'diagnosis" do not "fit" my DD. Ask your OT for the "infant/toddler" sensory profile. It's a questionaire of 50 questions relating to general processing, auditory processing, visual processing, tactile processing, vestibular processing and oral sensory processing.
I am in the same boat as you with OT. My OT has been working on fine motor skills and not "obstacle courses" or the therapy balls she suggested I purchase etc. See if your coordinator will allow your OT sessions in a sensory gym.
Hitting and pushing and even things like biting are almost always related to sensory input. There is a pleasurable input to their system when they bump, crash, push etc.. Maybe prior to the game you can give him a lot proprioceptive input.
I am going to FM you later with more info. I am just learning about this myself but I have been reading and speaking to a lot of people.
I spoke with his SEIT and OT today and all agreed we need to work on sensory input. I told them at this point I am more concerned about his sensory issues than him being able to color in the lines.
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| Posted 11/18/10 3:56 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
Posted by dpli
My son is a runner and crasher. He loves bouncing, jumping, swings and slides.
Our OT does both fine motor activities and works with him on his sensory seeking stuff. We have a therapy ball for him to bounce on, but I also bounce him on my lap. The OT said to let him run when he wants - it's good to get out his excess energy and gives him the input he is seeking. I try to take him to the park when I can for the swings and slide. I am thinking about getting a trampoline for my house, because I think he would love it.
He also likes car rides and riding in the shopping cart at the store - he will actually ask me on the weekends if he can go for a ride in the shopping cart.
One challenge we have is hitting. I think much of the time he hits just to get the input he is seeking, and isn't really aggressive, but I am not sure the other kids at daycare (or the teachers) always understand that.
My son is the same on all points.
Over the summer when he was about 3 1/2 is when he started with the aggression, something we are having a very hard time with  I feel like all I say all day is "keep your hands to yourself" "no pushing" "no hitting" And he truely doesnt do it to be mean...it's almost like he HAS to do it almost like a compulsion.
I just feel liek I dont know how to help him enough. I never wanted him to be "that" kid and I feel like he is turning into "that" kid, KWIM??? He truely loves school and his SEIT says he does play well with the other kids...it's just that occasional need to bear hug, push or hit someone. We are going to work with the OT to see if there is soemthing else we can do with him at school to curb his need to do it.
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| Posted 11/18/10 3:59 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
Posted by lbelle821
DS is a jumper/flapper. He seeks proprioceptive input.
At home we do deep pressure massage, bean box, cover him with weighted items, squeezes, etc.
When he started OT earlier this year they warned me of it getting worse before it got better and they were right. Supposedly as they worked to increase his body awareness and sensory system it makes the "symptoms" worse until they learn to organize their sensory systems better.
How often does he jump and flap? DS goes back and forth with the jumping in place and hand flapping when he's excited. He didnt do it for months and all of a sudden the past few weeks I have noticed it again.
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| Posted 11/18/10 4:01 PM |
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lbelle821
Arghhhhh
Member since 2/06 5285 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
Posted by jellybean1420
Posted by lbelle821
DS is a jumper/flapper. He seeks proprioceptive input.
At home we do deep pressure massage, bean box, cover him with weighted items, squeezes, etc.
When he started OT earlier this year they warned me of it getting worse before it got better and they were right. Supposedly as they worked to increase his body awareness and sensory system it makes the "symptoms" worse until they learn to organize their sensory systems better.
How often does he jump and flap? DS goes back and forth with the jumping in place and hand flapping when he's excited. He didnt do it for months and all of a sudden the past few weeks I have noticed it again.
It's usually when he's excited and it seems he doesn't know how to organize that feeling. When he does it I usually either squeeze him or rub his shoulder. Or I tell him to clap his hands. Or tell him to squeeze his hands together. So it still gives him that same input but in a more "socially acceptable" manner.
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| Posted 11/18/10 4:07 PM |
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
He CANNOT keep his hands to himself, bumping into things or people, hitting, pushing, throwing himself on the floor. He plays soccer and he is the only kid that isn't running after the ball to score a goal, is more interested in trying to bump into others and chase his friends. He is not a mean kid and he doestn do it to be meand, I truely think he can't control himself from doing it. And everyday we say "keep your hands to yourself" "no hitting, no pushing" and he knows not to. He tells me "Mommy I can't push or hit my friends today"
everyday I pick him up from school I feel anxiety thinking what are they going to tell me he did today. Some days he's great.
I dont know if school is too stressful for him (it's a larger class of 17 kids).
When he was evaluated they thought ADHD (obviously too young too diagnose) but I think it's more sensory related.
This is us exactly!!! Lance has such trouble keeping his hands to himself. He's not mean at all, he just can't control himself.
When he was younger he would throw himself into people, or on the floor, non stop running around. Luckily he stopped with that, and the tantrums.
Most of the issues improved with age but he still has a lot of impulse control issues. Some days he's fine, everything is great, then others he's a mess.
I'm not sure if it's sensory, but I'm leaning towards ADHD. The SEIT tells me that he doesn't have sensory issues or ADHD, it's all behavior issues. I really don't know, it's hard to believe, but whatever.
The one thing I can tell you is that school helps BUT 17 kids is a lot, even for a typical child IMO. The smaller the class, the better.
Also he feeds off of negative behavior, so if another kid gets out of the circle, so does my son. If someone plays rough, my son becomes Mike Tyson. So I try to keep him in a well behaved class. Last year I had to move him for this reason, and he did so much better.
It's all about finding the right placement and the right teacher, IMHO. That's the only thing that has helped us. We get very few services.
Good luck. 
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| Posted 11/18/10 5:24 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
Posted by KerriSteve
Also he feeds off of negative behavior, so if another kid gets out of the circle, so does my son. If someone plays rough, my son becomes Mike Tyson. So I try to keep him in a well behaved class. Last year I had to move him for this reason, and he did so much better.
 DH has called TJ "Iron Mike" on occasion. Same things if the kids around him start rough housing, forget it, it's like a free for all. Very hard to calm him down after that.
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| Posted 11/18/10 5:39 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
Posted by KerriSteve
I'm not sure if it's sensory, but I'm leaning towards ADHD. The SEIT tells me that he doesn't have sensory issues or ADHD, it's all behavior issues. I really don't know, it's hard to believe, but whatever.
I hope you don't mind me jumping in here, but this comment jumped out at me.
I sometimes get different feedback from the OT and the special ed teachers. What the OT sometimes sees as sensory issues, the special ed teachers may see as behavioral. I think as a parent, you know your own child best and I try to observe the behavior when he is only with us, in addition to when he is with them.
In our case, we do have some things that I think are behavior related, but I think that the OT is much better versed in the sensory stuff, so I find myself looking to her more often for guidance on a lot of things. JMO.
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| Posted 11/19/10 2:24 PM |
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
Posted by dpli
Posted by KerriSteve
I'm not sure if it's sensory, but I'm leaning towards ADHD. The SEIT tells me that he doesn't have sensory issues or ADHD, it's all behavior issues. I really don't know, it's hard to believe, but whatever.
I hope you don't mind me jumping in here, but this comment jumped out at me.
I sometimes get different feedback from the OT and the special ed teachers. What the OT sometimes sees as sensory issues, the special ed teachers may see as behavioral. I think as a parent, you know your own child best and I try to observe the behavior when he is only with us, in addition to when he is with them.
In our case, we do have some things that I think are behavior related, but I think that the OT is much better versed in the sensory stuff, so I find myself looking to her more often for guidance on a lot of things. JMO.
The answer to this is really this.... In order to determine if it is truly sensory is to have someone analyze the behavior and see if it has a sensory function, versus another function....
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| Posted 11/20/10 6:26 PM |
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Re: Moms of kids with SPD or sensory issues
Posted by lipglossjunky73
Posted by dpli
Posted by KerriSteve
I'm not sure if it's sensory, but I'm leaning towards ADHD. The SEIT tells me that he doesn't have sensory issues or ADHD, it's all behavior issues. I really don't know, it's hard to believe, but whatever.
I hope you don't mind me jumping in here, but this comment jumped out at me.
I sometimes get different feedback from the OT and the special ed teachers. What the OT sometimes sees as sensory issues, the special ed teachers may see as behavioral. I think as a parent, you know your own child best and I try to observe the behavior when he is only with us, in addition to when he is with them.
In our case, we do have some things that I think are behavior related, but I think that the OT is much better versed in the sensory stuff, so I find myself looking to her more often for guidance on a lot of things. JMO.
The answer to this is really this.... In order to determine if it is truly sensory is to have someone analyze the behavior and see if it has a sensory function, versus another function....
I don't mind. He's had OT evals, he doesn't qualify. They never gave me too much feedback honestly... Basically he's a sensory seeker but very mild.
He had psychological evals, (2 ADOS, 1 IQ test) always falls within normal range as well, even for behavior and attention.
It's bizarre, he's a mystery man. 
ETA: His SEIT thinks that it is a behavior issue stemming from his language issues. His receptive language is in the 55th percentile, but expressive is still in the 5th percentile. Although, he talks, he talks all the time... It's the back and forth conversation that he has trouble with. It's developing, but slowly, and his instincts are always hands before words. Does that make sense?
Jellybean- Sorry if I hijacked your post.
Message edited 11/20/2010 8:24:11 PM.
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| Posted 11/20/10 7:06 PM |
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