OT: Need quick layman's explanation for light touch being painful for our kids

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Can someone direct me to an online link for light touch being painful for our

kids? I need to explain an incident with our daughter to someone who only sort

of knows her and most likely has no concept of sensory processing disorder or

similar issues.

Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Have you ever had an allergic reaction where your insides swell? That is what it

feels like, you become super sensitive to touch, sound, smells, and it is like

your nerves are firing off, so you become irritable too. Full touches, with

even compression feel the best.

My sensitivity/allergy whatever to iodine makes me feel this way, and I have

described it to people who are autistic and they can relate.

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> Hi,

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> Can someone direct me to an online link for light touch being painful for our

kids? I need to explain an incident with our daughter to someone who only sort

of knows her and most likely has no concept of sensory processing disorder or

similar issues.

>

> Thanks.

>

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>

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>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

, have you looked at www.spdfoundation.net ?

You may find info there.

You could also tell him/her this: there are different types of receptors in the

skin, some that detect light touch like clothing, and some that detect deep

pressure like a hug. Each of these receptors sets of a biochemical reaction in

the body that is meant to help a person recognize the touch and decide if it is

dangerous or safe, welcome or un-welcome. With sensory processing disorder, the

pathways that help us make those decisions are not working properly, and light

touch is interpreted as dangerous, harmful, painful, etc.

Another way to explain: think of our brain as a computer. The hardware is

fine...brain, skin, nerves...they all work. But the software is faulty. The

programs that run all the important functions have errors in them, and something

as innocent as a shirt rubbing on skin or a hairbrush is interpreted as a

dangerous virus, so the software tells the computer to shut down, crash, or go

beserk to protect itself.

Hope that helps!

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> > Hi,

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> > Can someone direct me to an online link for light touch being painful for

our kids? I need to explain an incident with our daughter to someone who only

sort of knows her and most likely has no concept of sensory processing disorder

or similar issues.

> >

> > Thanks.

> >

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