Sensory issues?

[girliefriend]

Am starting to wonder if my dd 8yo has sensory processing issues, my reasons for thinking this are;

she will not wear anything other than very comfortable loose fitting clothes

She has extreme reactions to pain and any physical discomfort (heat, cold, hunger) Fairly minor injuries will result in a full blown panic attack.

she struggles with too much going on and gets very tired.

she has a strong reactions to smells (doesn't like certain rooms as they 'smell funny')

She can't bear it if her clothes get wet and if even a small amount of water gets on her clothes she has to remove it straight away.

She was a difficult baby, was easily over stimulated and cried a lot and as a toddler was also extremely sensitive and had daily tantrums.

She is my only and I always thought she was just sensitive and at times just being 'difficult' especially when it comes to clothes.

Anyway does this sound normal or is there some sensory issues here?

[yongnian]

My DD1 has virtually identical issues to yours and is the same age. She was also my only child until this year. She was recently diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum (Aspergers) and we're just waiting for OT assessment to confirm a likely diagnosis for both Dyspraxia and Sensory Processing Disorders.
There were some other glaringly obvious factors though. With the sensory stuff, we have come to just work round things and accept that these things are genuinely problematic and real for her. Will be keen to see what OT input might suggest.
We went the GP referral route to Community Paeadiatrician then asked to be referred on to CAMHS (because there were lots of other things apart from sensory) but I think you can ask for referral straight to OT if that's where your main concern is. Sure someone else might know better if that's the case.
it's not easy x

[girliefriend]

Thanks when I read about Sensory processing disorder I did have a little lightbulb moment! Not sure what the benefits of getting a diagnosis would be? I worry about her being labelled. The school have never picked up on anything and she has lots of friends.

You are right though, its not easy for you to

[octopal]

We can start a club!! I have an 8 year old dd with sensory issues too.

Lots of your Op rings true. My dd has major issues surrounding clothes, socks and footwear.

She used to have difficulty with noise but this improved withPlay Therapy.

She doesn't feel the cold at all and has a very high pain threshold.

We haven't done Occupational Therapy but dd has had 2 courses of Play Therapy.

There is a good book but the name escaped me for now. I'll check it for you.

[girliefriend]

Thanks, yes a club sounds good! Had a stress this morning as dd has new school shoes to wear, shoes are always stressful - my heart sinks when her feet grow!!

She also won't wear tights under any circumstances which is limits school uniform to trousers, which is fine I guess although I sometimes feel sad that she won't wear dresses or skirts.

[octopal]

My dd is very fussy about footwear too. She won't wear tights at all ever and her uniform doesn't have a trousers options so we have compromised with warm lined boots. They get very smelly with no socks though.

Would your dd wear a longer dress/skirt with boots? DD does this as she hates trousers and leggings and it gives your more options for dressy occasions.

DD hates to be layered up so she wears the minimum clothes she can with a warm coat. Luckily her school is very warm so she is fine once indoors.

Shoes are the hardest because with clothes I sometimes buy ahead with bigger sizes of things she likes but with shoes it's impossible to know how much their feet will grow in one go.

I've added some links that you might find interesting.


spdfoundation.net/about-sensory-processing-disorder.html

sensorysmarts.com/signs_of_spd.html

www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/

[octopal]

This is very useful.

sensorysmarts.com/sensory-checklist.pdf

[yongnian]

For us, the benefits of diagnosis are mainly to help DD understand what it is she is dealing with when she gets older, and why she struggles with things that many others don't. This mean that the secondary strain on her mental health should be less (girls on the spectrum tend to 'mask' their behaviour more heavily than boys, which is very tiring in itself and can produce feelings of low self-esteem/shame/guilt which is counterproductive to well being and can seriously get in the way of someone fulfilling their potential). Also it's helped us to understand what's going on with her, how to support her better (and outselves) and to advocate on her behalf with other caregivers and educators. She and we can choose how and when we use the 'labels' as to when it will be most beneficial to her.
As I said though, there are other diagnostic factors in the mix with DD - it depends how far these things impact on her/your lives.
School are not always a reliable source of info on these things unless they are ultra clued up. It's just often not what they're looking for, and in particularly with girls as they tend to present very differently from boys, be more compliant (and less disruptive) and doing ok academically so therefore go under the radar. Doesn't mean they're not really struggling though. (in my DDs case).
Hope you find a way forward. A lot of the parenting/care giving techniques for kids on the spectrum are really beneficial for a lot of kids anyway so no harm in equipping yourself with some of that stuff to make daily life easier.

[girliefriend]

Hi thanks for the responses, really interesting links octopal thankyou.

Have been thinking about it a lot as she fits in some ways but in others not so much. It is also hard to know where individual quirks stop and SPD would start iykwim.

It has certainly given me a lot to think about and I think I will have a chat to her G.P about it at some point. I agree with you yongnian that the school wouldn't necessarily pick up on a problem as generally she gets on o.kay at school and the melt downs start when she gets home! Although the school do recognise that she is sensitive.

She has had hearing problems most of her life and I wonder now if this has almost been a red herring in terms of her other issues. A lot of her behaviour was put down to frustration through not being able to hear properly when actually it may have been due to sensory issues.

[largerleon]

My 2 boys both have sensory processing issues, the 9 year old is hypo sensitive and constantly seeking stimulation but won't eat certain things, the 7 year old is hyper sensitive to touch, sounds, smell, has a tendency to tantrum but will eat almost anything except peas and baked beans. They both still wear pull-ups at night.
We found a brilliant book on Amazon, 'I'm not weird, I've got SPD' by Chynna Laird. It sums up my younger very well.
The SI network (sensory integration) is also very helpful, I have installed a few apps on my phone and iPad recommended by them.
Hope this helps xx