Re:sensory processing disorder

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

Oh I feel your pain! My 5 year old " typical " son seems to have more sensory

issues than my

2.9 yo son with verbal apraxia, SPD, dyspraxia and hypotonia! When my 5 year old

was 3,

he was horrible. Very clingy, hated to be in crowds, and sounds set him off. He

did much

better with 1:1 attention from kids and adults. He had been in a preschool type

setting

since he was 2, but he didn't particularly enjoy it. Holidays and Birthdays were

a disaster.

We always have his birthday at home with just immediate family and only 1 other

child,

plus his little brother. We always spend X-Mas Eve with my hubbys huge Italian

family...ugh! Most the time we would bring the presents home for him to open

later. Way

too much activity going on for him to enjoy it...or me for that matter!! We even

held him

back from Kindergarden this past year, not because of academics (he tested very

high),

but because of all his other issues. I have to say it was the best decision! He

is so much

better now. This Christmas he had a wonderful time (though it was with family he

knows

very well by now!). He still doesn't enjoy going to parties or places with lot's

of kids or

commotion. He is definitely a " homebody " and would prefer to play with his

special needs

brother! He doesn't like music.... " it hurts my ears mommy " . Some teachers just

said " he is

immature " , but I believe it is his personality. We put him in individual sports

(karate,

swimming) where he thrives. But I asked him if he wanted to play team soccer and

I got a

loud " NO! " from him. I have learned to just try and work with his " needs " . My

younger son

has in home ABA therapy and I have parent teaching therapist they make me work

with....I

am always asking her more questions about my typical son!

Unfortunately, with our EI, the child has to have more than a 33% delay, so he

wouldn't

have qualified for any therapies. Maybe you could contact an OT and see what

they think.

The only thing that seems to work for me is to try and work around his

quirkiness and try

and avoid situations I know he will have an issue with. Which is nice when it

comes to

birthdays, since I hate throwing them and attending them! I send the child a

little gift card

and my regrets (which I usually blame on my younger special needs child's

therapies!)

Shhhh ;-)

By the way, my hubby worked X-Mas Eve and I still lugged the kids to my in-laws

by

myself. It totally sucked! For once my older son did pretty well, but my little

guy had a

sensory overload! I couldn't even drink wine to calm me down, because I had to

drive

home! I am SO HAPPY the holidays are almost over and we can get back to our

normal

routine :-)

Hang in there and know you are not alone!

-Jenna Weil

>

> Hi: I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me. My son is 5 with PDD

> NOS and Apraxia. He is in OT speech and Early Intervention. He has made

> great strides at his school and the speech is coming ever so slowly. He has

a

> three year old sister with no diagnosis, the only thing I noticed is that she

> seems shy around strangers, loves to play with kids, and has what I thought

> were typical three year old meltdowns. Now I am not so sure. She is very

> intelligent she reads, she talks in sentences, she is almost potty trained,

she is

> a joyful child. It started I think when her brother would make a sound and

> she would almost get scared and say " is ok " she either covered her ears

> or went to her room. Now it is more crying for no reason if someone says a

> particular word, and like on Christmas, have you ever seen a child cry when

> opening Christmas presents? I think it was too much stimulation and sounds

and

> people, I ended up having to take her home from my parents early. She is a

> little bit of a picky eater, and I am having a hard time with her and the

> binky, it must be an oral thing, I only let her have it at nap time and night

> time and end up taking out of her mouth sometimes at night. I don't just

think

> it is typical three year old behavior. Playing ring around the rosy, when

> everyone falls down, she falls apart, crying, etc. I notice when there is

low

> stress levels and she is one on one she is great, but too much commotion she

> kind of falls apart. I don't think she is going to be ready to go to pre

> school next year, that is my fear, she is very attached to Mom, not just

because

> of that but I think it is too much of a stimulating environment with kids of

> all ages running around. I was thinking of contacting Early Intervention and

> having them see what they think, also I was thinking of getting her some

> Occupational therapy, She loves to play with kids, but the littlest things

can set

> her off. She is not being bad or bratty, something is going on with her, she

> is a sweet girl, can anyone offer me so advice. Should I start brushing her

> like I did my son? I am so confused, this Christmas was not very fun for me,

> but then again it is about the kids, I just wish she could have had more fun.

> I feel so depressed, why is this happening? Help I need support. Jen

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