I think my son may have spd - what to do?

[hillyhilly]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about my ds (6) behaviour and it was suggested he may have sensory processing disorder, reading more about it, I think that may be the case, the question now is what to do about it?
Do I want a diagnosis and therefore a label? That makes me nervous though not for any good reason that I can articulate.
Do I go to the doctor without him to discuss it? What if the doctor is dismissive? I don't particularly want to take him to a doctor, it somehow doesn't seem fair in some way.
Ideally I'd access a good specialist OT myself to learn the strategies to help him moderate his behaviour, is this even possible?
I've lots of questions running around in my head before he returns for his last year at his great infant school, the school has many children with SEN but I almost feel a fraud for suggesting that this is a SEN.
I'd appreciate any advise or experience please.

[Ineedmorepatience]

I think that SPD can be very disabling and can have a huge impact on learning.

When senses are confused every noise is louder, every smell is stronger, every light brighter, every touch can feel like pain and even holding a pencil can be uncomfortable.

My Dd3 has SPD and ASD, her sensory issues cause her as many problems at schools as her Asd.

You don't have to take your ds with you to the GP, if you have written some notes or kept a diary of his difficulties you can book an appointment in his name but not take him.

Good luck whatever you decide

[tempe48]

Yes, IMO its a good idea to get it diagnosed. If your son does have it, you can at least make adjustments to make his life easier.

DD's main SEN at that age was a language disorder, but apart from the problems associated with that; the most salient memories of her at that age are to do with the SPD - her screaming at:

1. the sound of the vacuum cleaner/interference
   
2. clothes labels
   

3.baths at a normal temperature
4.the cinema and indoor playgrounds for being too loud

and her clinging onto my thigh until the age of 5, from living in a world she did not understand and which could not understand her!

Life was much better all round, when she was diagnosed with dyspraxia at 4, and we understood what else was going on with her!