Signs of Sensory processing disorder

[TisforTucan]

Our nearly 3 year old has shown several what I think are signs of SPD so I'd appreciate some advice or experience from others.

DC doesn't like water, only recently lets me wash their hair but not on the face and only recently will touch ice and water in playgroup. However DC doesn't like wet textures so paint will make them freak out and gag, like I say ice was one but on their own terms and any lotions on feet or hands they gag and cry.

Loud sounds is another, we attended a music class and DC hid on me the whole hour, only recently dances in playgroup but this is the only place they feel comfortable to do so. I can't take DC to parties.. pantos or anything that is loud.

DC loves to taste stuff so has weird habits of eating stuff they shouldn't or doing it to check almost and lastly hits themself so if they are excited they hit their legs or angry they lash out.

Speech is what I consider a bit delayed, we have a 6yo so I won't lie I do compare, was talking in sentences by the time they were 2 and a bit (could count and sing ABCs, colours). DC can say words and copy but no sentences like can I have, more juice, my name is ect.. it's getting quite obvious they're becoming frustrated with not being able to say how they feel and is starting to hit us and other kids.

Any help or advice appreciated, I don't know where to go, what to start or do. DC should have a health visitor check soon as they start school in September (I'm in Wales) so should I wait or push for help now?

Hi, didn't want to read and run. My LO shows some signs of this, the water on their face, loud noises, easily startled. I think if it's something you are concerned about you should speak to your health visitor now rather than waiting that way there could hopefully be a plan in place for when your LO starts school.

I'd ask the HV if they can see you now as it can take years to get any assessments done. Some of what you mention isn't SPD but could be asd perhaps which would also be worth exploring sooner rather than later.

Sounds like my ds when he was a toddler, he was diagnosed autistic, the sensory needs were a massive part of it with him, not so much as he's got older though

Yup, recognise much of that. We couldn't go into coffee shops for years and public bathrooms were also a no go. Hair cuts and hair washing were a disaster. Font even get me started on clothes.... inwas the parent with a child wearing linen trousers and a t-shirt in -5 weather.

Nhs won't help I am afraid. So first step is an occupational therapist. They can diagnose spd and can signpost if they think it's standalone or part of something else (eg many children with ASD also have SPD). They can also help with therapy ans support.

Ps If clothing is an issue I recommend seamless bamboo socks. They changed our lives.

I would definitely be looking into assessment for ASD etc. The earlier the intervention, the better. I'm not in the UK so not sure on process, here you would start with GP to get a referral to a specialist, or go private.

Push for help, don’t delay. Waiting lists are ridiculous in the UK (I’m not specifically sure about Wales). Express your concerns, the sooner the better.

Does the playgroup have a SENCo ? I am aware that the same terms are used differently at different settings. If so, ask them to refer for assessment.

IF not, don't wait for a routine HV check, get in touch with them (or your GP - it works differently in different parts of the UK) and ask to be referred for further assessment.

Hi OP,
I thought my DC had SPD too, but it was autism. It became more obvious as DC grew older, a greater gap with peers.
Your DC sounds as if they have speech delay as well as sensory issues. These are both common in autism. I would start querying asd now as the more help in place for when your child starts school the better.
Sorry to be so blunt. I know it's very hard. I wish I had known earlier and I think some people did suspect and didn't tell me. I felt very stupid then and the delay didn't help DC. I would definitely push for help now. Maybe delay school start for a year if that's possible where you are? Nursery etc instead. Just my opinion but please get expert advice as a priority. I'm not in Wales so can't help with the exact pathway used there.

Sorry if I miss you loads of people to reply to on this

@Ashorthistoryfan It is school nursery, basically they start at 3 and then reception is 4 in Wales. DC was basically born the same day as lock down happened so missed out on loads of social interactions ect. So has improved greatly with playgroup (lady is amazing and very supportive as it's part of my 6 yo school). I don't want to really delay it as I feel it will really help DC socially, it's part time every day until reception and they keep it that way until after Christmas in reception.

People saying ASD are scaring me a bit lol I won't lie.. I've just seen this as sensory issues and DC has improved since starting playgroup but is allowing me to wash hair now and can sit in the bath quite happily. The thing that's worrying me big time (as someone who is studying child behaviour ect) is the speech delay and the hitting, like I watched them today watching a video and they were tapping their legs, I've never seen anything like it.

@UsingChangeofName Not as much, it's a weekly group we goto but the lady is in the school qualified to work with children who have disabilities, she does agree with me DC has sensory issues as far as the tasting thing, but also tells me I'm looking too much into it and DC is and has improved loads since starting last April.

@Triffid1 Clothes are fine so far, we've never cut hair 😂 or I've done it but like the last month we've finally been able to wash hair and bath without screaming.

Thanks all I'm heavily pregnant currently so feel like crying right now, DC is amazing child don't get me wrong, so caring and loving but I feel like I'm doing something wrong and with 3rd baby I will fail them.

I've tried in desperation potty training right now and the stubbornness it's getting to me, they're very strong willed and the hitting me is new.

Hi OP, I did a post a few weeks ago and I got LOTS of great advice. DD is 2.5 and has little to no functional speech but can point out every object in a board book etc. She hated water on her face and hair washing, but we found swimming helped (until she then become extra sensitive to noise!)

We had her ears checked today, and we have a private SALT and behavioural assessment next week. Nursery have a SENCO who have been great and DD now wears ear defenders when she gets overwhelmed with the more boisterous toddlers - she cannot cope with other kids crying or screaming.

Its very overwhelming and its hard not to think the worst so big handhold!

Thank you I will have a look, I might invest in ear defenders as we book alot of interactive experiences and they can't really join is as they get so overwhelmed by it.

I had a look at ASD symptoms last night and it's really hard to say, socially DC is doing well. They don't avoid eye contact (unless we go somewhere and they like sort of go shy and hide on me until they feel comfortable, or someone we know sees us out and then they hide their face).

Sharing is going ok, and socialising in playgroup, DC will share but obviously can get irritated and fight but sometimes goes around and shares out their toys or crayons they are playing with.

It's the sensory, speech and stimming stuff I've noticed. Today I've observed them jump and like almost flap whilst watching TV or of sitting hit their legs. DC can speak and repeat words and has just asked me for more but there's alot of repetitive sounds like mmm sounds when they hit themselves.

I'll have to contact HV, I'm not positive as she wasn't very helpful last time.

The OT assessing my DD said that SPD doesn't exist as a diagnosis in it's own right, though it is possible to have sensory issues without ASD. Saying that my DD is being assessed for ASD, but the signs aren't as obvious in girls. For her it's mostly anxiety, sensory issues and not understanding that other children don't want to always do what she does.

Autism varies lots from person to person. My DS who has asd has never had problems with eye contact and is very sociable.
The HV should be able to let you know how to access assessment and help at least?
Ear defenders sound like a good idea, anything that will help.

Is your OT an NHS OT? Because I was told this is an NHS viewpoint - and it means they won't fund children with SPD - but private LOTs and in other places it absolutely can be a standalone diagnosis. Having said that, it is OFTEn sen alongside other diagnoses.

Also, fyi, as far as I'm aware, dyspraxia, which IS recognised by the NHS, is a type of SPD.

Oh really? My niece who is 5 has just been told she has SPD, she has different things to my little one. So her speech has always been behind and she's not very clear when she speaks, she has issues sleeping, with food and behavioural.

They've not mentioned anything else so this is interesting.

@Ashorthistoryfan This is helpful, me and DH were discussing this, seems like they just assume one list of symptoms fits all. I know it's crap to say but I was hoping not as we've got baby 3 coming, I feel terrible and really sad I can't give DC my time and focus just one to one.

I'm going to try my best to get this on the right path before baby comes in April.

Honestly OP, with a combination of significant sensory differences, and social difficulties and speech and language issues and stimming (the flapping and the humming) - it is Autism they will be looking at investigating.

Clearly none of us know her and clearly no-one here can diagnose anything but everything you have described suggests that is the pathway they will be looking at.
Now, I can't speak for anywhere else in the Country, but here you are looking at about a 30 - 34 month wait between referral and assessment, so my advice is to make an appointment with the HV now and not wait until she is called.

Sorry that I keep mentioning asd. It's just that in my experience the sooner you have a diagnosis the better whatever it is. We didn't know anything when my DC started school which made things more difficult for him. I see this happening other children too.
To be clear, I am really not trying to diagnose your DC. I am not at all qualified for a start and I've never met them. It's just that a lot of what you're saying sounds familiar. My DC was diagnosed with DCD/dyspraxia before the asd diagnosis.
My DC has siblings who are his best friends. They help him enormously. They're interested in the same sort of games he is and all play together very happily.

Go to your GP, make a list to take with you and ask for a referral to a paediatrician. I personally think you are listing too many things for professionals to wave your concerns as being related to a lack of socialising due to covid. Getting in the system and getting on the list sooner rather than later will be a good idea. The pre school diagnosis route seems to be quicker than the waiting list once they start school proper.

I have two with autism, and they both present differently from one another. It is scary to think about, I agree. Even once I thought I had got my head around the fact they were different and had ploughed on chasing the professionals to reach a conclusion the day the diagnosis' were delivered on them I broke my heart over each one. I have one of 25 and one of 11 they are both ok, it's easier to help them once you realise what's going on for them and what their specific needs are. My 11-year-old didn't speak fully for ages, didn't point either to help me work out what he needed/wanted. When he did eventually speak, he spoke in full sentences and shocked the life out of us.

Stop trying to potty train for a little while, there's no point fighting through it. You both don't need the pressure of it right now, there's enough pressure elsewhere. Stop beating yourself up, it is not your fault, you've not caused it, and you are not making it worse. You are doing amazingly as you are taking steps to find out IF there is something going on rather than just ignoring the signs and deciding they will 'grow' out of it.

Getting in the system and getting on the list sooner rather than later will be a good idea. The pre school diagnosis route seems to be quicker than the waiting list once they start school proper.

Yes, I found this too. They seem to move more swiftly for younger children. Don't wait.

Oh no don't be sorry, it helps loads and we knew something was there it's just been building gradually. I just hope the social development doesn't regress now as it's taken months to get to the point where I don't have a crying panicked kid, I am dreading school in September.

@UsingChangeofName Yeah I will, probably way past start of school given were in Wales and an area I've not had much contact from HV apart from a hearing test.. My GP is pretty decent but I think I'll go HV first and then when she's predictably useless I can say I tried.

@Boopydoo I will, as above I'll try HV first and then my back up os my GP. I think it's just got to a point where there are too many things to dismiss now and when she last visited when they turned 2 it was a bit well is there still room for development. I feel a bit scared yes, worried I won't be able to help as much as I can.

Thank you everyone, you've really helped me as I've had my mum ect saying oh no they are still little ect and it's not that anymore there's obviously something a bit more.

If you see someone before Sept I'd ask their advice re starting school. I regret I didnt keep my DC for a while longer at playschool to try and prepare him better and give him an extra bit of maturity too. I'm not sure it would have helped of course, but it is something I regret. I don't think he was ready in many ways even though he was the right age.

@TisforTucan how are you getting on?

I think my son is hyposensitive (SPD)

Does anyone know if we can get a private OT assessment or do we need a paediatrician?

Hi OP

DD3 is like this with speech and with noise. Children screaming can be a huge trigger for her. She can talk, and knows lots of words but her language is very rigid.

First thing is ask the GP to test hearing, and then ask HV to refer you to SALT. Not sure about wait times where you are but for me its a year wait to be seen, so we went private and have seen some good results thus far......

You can get a private ot assesment without a paediatrician. Make sure they are sensory trained, it's a post grad qualification so not all OTs are.

It’s totally natural to be afraid of the word autism and to desperately look for reasons why it isn’t - I’ve been there and done that.

But in my experience SPD rarely occurs by itself and usually goes hand in hand with autism. It’s a misconception to say that just because a child isn’t totally socially isolated and avoiding all eye contact that they can’t be autistic. It’s always a little more complicated than that.