Please help me figure out where to begin

Hi - My DD is 4.5 years old. In almost everyway she is a typically developing child - bright, social, talkative etc. She has no delays that either myself or any of her teachers have notice (i.e. motor skills, lanuage etc.).

However, I have always suspected that she had some level of sensory issue. As a toddler she was very afraid of loud noises, bouncy houses, she liked to spin around in circles and many others. As she has aged she has grown out of most of them, although she still does some small stuff but nothing that has ever interefered with her daily life. At around 2 y.o. she used to pull her hair out as a soothing technique but it slowly decreased. In the past few months I have noticed her doing it more and more an have noticed some thinning out of her hair on one side.

I suspect that the hair pulling is somehow related to her "sensory issues" as it seems to me to be part of the same.

My question is, knowing that sensory issues are not an official diagnosis for EI, and considering that she likely has no delays is it even worth it to get an evaluation? She is almost 5 - so I don't even know if she ages out. SHould I just see a private psychologist? can they diagnose that or do I have to see an OT?

I feel kind of lost in this process and don't know where to begin.

Sorry, this is so long and thanks in advance

Re: Please help me figure out where to begin

At age 4.5, she is eligible for an evaluation under CPSE. If you want, you could request an evaluation with an OT who specializes in sensory issues, and just see what they say.

ed: Evaluations are not necessarily unpleasant experiences for the kids. Especially OT evals - they include lots of manipulatives, and most times the kids think they are playing. At worst, you have information to arm yourself with, if you decide to see someone privately.

I definitely recomend reading The Out of Sync Child also! Great book!!

Message edited 9/9/2011 8:00:50 PM.

Re: Please help me figure out where to begin

At the CPSE level it's really hard to obtain OT services that are strictly "sensory". Usually a child has to have motor planning or small muscle delays to get OT. However, the OT eval can be challenging. And sometimes, the evaluators do whatever they can to have the child score poorly on the 'testing'. Sensory gyms are really great places, so if you could somehow get your dd to qualify, it could only be an asset to her.

It never hurts to ask for the eval, and to get a sensory experienced OT's input.

Not sure where you live but there is an incredible OT out of plainview "All About Kids", he may do CPSE evals. I was also really happy with the evaluator from Marion Salomon who did my dd's CPSE eval. I believe he works out of their sensory gym as well. FM me if you would like their names. If you are in south nassau, I also know someone really great.

You can also read the Out of Sync Child and the other recommended sensory books out there, and come up with different ways to give your child the input she is craving, in more appropriate forms.

All of us have sensory issues, and children have even more because their neurological system is still immature. It's a matter of teaching your child to be able to identify what sets her hair pulling off, and finding ways together to come up with a different "soothing" method.

Message edited 9/9/2011 3:19:37 PM.

Re: Please help me figure out where to begin

Thanks all. How do I get the process started? Do I just call the school district? and then I choose an evaluation center?

Re: Please help me figure out where to begin

First you call the school district's CPSE committee. You will probably need to register DC in the school district if she is not already registered. After that, I had a meeting with the CPSE Coordinator and told him what my concerns were--if the sensory issues are inhibiting are development in some way or are making it difficult for her to function in the classroom, I would go with examples. The CPSE Committee is primarily concerned with making sure your child can function in the classroom setting, it's a little different than EI where the overall concern is for the child's development (at home and in school). It sounds daunting, but once you get the ball rolling, it's not that hard, just a lot of paperwork. The school will need to complete any evaluations within a certain time period, I believe it is 30 days.

After that, you would have evaluations, probably an OT and the school district may request others as well. If you think you don't have enough to base requests for an evaluation on, you could see a developmental pediatrician or a neurologist, but honestly, some of the best doctors have long time frames for appts. We had to wait about 6 months until DS had his, and by then, he had already had the evaluation through the school district.

Out of Sync Child is a really good book, definitely take a look in the meantime. Good luck!

Re: Please help me figure out where to begin

You need to call your CPSE in your SD.

Not all evaluations are made by agencies. Some SD do their own evals.