Sensory processing disorder

[DiscoBabe]

This may be a really daft question but when seeing a paediatrician is this (SPD) something they normally spot quite easily or something i should mention i feel could be an issue?

I would mention it, but you really need an Occupational Therapist, my ds has just been diagnosed with SPD and SMD, through seeing an OT privately (you need one with sensory integration experience).

I think it's normally not diagnosed - and is often just viewed as part of ASD....

Children can have SPD and not be ASD...

You need an OT.

I assume i'd have to ask the pead for the referral to the OT?

What happens if we get reffered to the pead and they think SPD is a possibility (or can they diagnose it?) would we then get automatically referred for ASD testing?

Thanks

My son has a dx of ASD and SPD - SPD came from the OT.

It is usually the OT who makes the dx and the paed would refer if appropriate.

As for ASD dx, then it depends on the area in which you live. Most areas which have an ASD service, use a multi-disciplinary team and so a paed would refer on to those who make up the team e.g. CAMHS (Child and Adult Mental Health Services - who do the formal autism tests), SALT, OT etc

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that only asd children have spd. Only the inverse - that most asd children have it and that it frequently isn't diagnosed.

Try and get yourself to an ot and don't obsess about getting a dx. What you need is help. And you can get that with or without a dx.

Don't be surprised if the paed looks at you blankly when you suggest SPD, go armed with info. Ours initially didn't even know what I was talking about, 2 years after OT dx'd it, the paed now accepts it. SPD doesn't seem to be a dx in its own right here, it often gets put under the ASD dx.

Indigo - no apology necessary - I think it is unusual to get a separate dx and I'm not sure why we do but I know others in this area have. They don't dx the dcd stuff separately though.

Yes you need the paed to refer you to CAHMs, thats how it works by me....but, and a big but...you could be waiting quite a long time to see an OT through them, hence why i sorted a private OT for my ds.

Ok thankyou i will take some info with me in case i get any blank looks!

I get the impression that because there isn't much NHS funding for OT treatment of SPD's, it is quite difficult to get a diagnosis - people will agree that it exists, but in the absence of cash to support therapy, it doesn't seem to be taken that seriously.

Having said that, even if you have to join a six month waiting list, you will still get advice for an NHS OT. Just be aware that if you don't get as much support as you need, it's not you, it's the system - many people end up paying for private OT support.