Does anyone know anything about Sensory Processing Disorder?

[Solola]

Hello, I have a 3 year, two month old son. He is the middle one of my 3 sons and he is just very 'different' to my other children and to other children his age. It's hard to put my finger on what it is but my instinct as a mother is telling me that he is not understanding/processing things like they do.

When I only had 2 children I didn't notice it so much as I expected them to be different to each other. It was only once I had the DS3 that I realised that there was a lot of stuff the DS1 and DS3 both do/did that DS2 never did.

The most noticeable one was that he never babbled or made very many sounds as a baby. I have had his hearing checked (because of this and also because is is not very responsive to verbal instructions) and his hearing is fine.

He is a lovely, affectionate little boy who is full of life and very contented - but a couple of strange things he does made me look around online out of curiousity and I found out about this thing called sensory processing disorder and it really struck a chord with me.

Some of the specific things that he does that I thought seem to fit in with this disorder are:

He runs everywhere and never walks

He gets upset by noises that most people wouldn't even hear (he hates the sound of me drinking a cup of tea for example)

He can't use a knife or fork and eats in a very similar way to my 1 year old, covering the table and floor with food. Quite picky about food and often talks about food 'hurting' him.

Conversely, he doesn't appear to feel actual pain very easily, new shoes made his feet blister and bleed and I didn't find out till the end of the day when I took the shoe off and his heel was covered in blood. He had not complained at all.

With potty training, while he understands the concept and can answer questions on what to do when you need a wee/poo, he always seem v.surprised when it arrives as if he hasn't recognised the sensation.

He curls up in a little ball sometimes when entering a crowded place (but is v. happy if it is familiar, loves preschool for example and they have no concerns about him). I just thought it was shyness but am now wondering if it is because of the sensory overload.

Didn't babble as I mentioned earlier and didn't have any words at all, including ones for me and DH or DS1 until he was 2. I know this is normal in lots of children and wasn't worried, it was only when DS3 came along that I had forgotten how much noise and sounds other babies make.

So if anyone with any experience in this area could point me to a relevant thread or website, I would be really grateful for any help. I think that it would help me if I could understand more what makes him tick. I love him so much.

Solola

I have a [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/collections/public/1DCedrMc-5ipU1ISGSlSZoj/ PubMed Sensory Processing Disorder research paper collection]
and there is a Yahoo sensoryintegrationgroup · Sensory Integration Group which has been running for some 8 years now

sorry PubMed Sensory Processing Disorder research paper collection

Have you asked for a referral for your DS? I know some GPs are good - and some not so good at referring to developmental paediatricians. Alternatively, you could - in most areas - self refer to OT. My DS was recently dx with SPD and this was with a test that OT did on the NHS - called the SIPT. It is quite precise in what areas he found difficult and needed the most support with.
Alternatively you could get a private referral. they do cost - but from reading this board, i think the £ depends on where you live.
A good dx can suggest tools/activities/further therapies to help to relieve specific behaviours.

Thanks for this - I will have a good look at those links. Much appreciated.

auntevil - I haven't got to the talking to GP or HV yet, just asking around a bit and doing some research on my own. Have a pretty good relationship with my GP so may mention it to her soon.

The SIPT test sounds very useful indeed. Do you know what these initials stand for?

He is a very mellow child and doesn't have the 'melt downs' that I have seen mentioned by others, but as I have said about, he does have some quirky habits!

Sensory Integration and Praxis test. Trust me, you don't have to be a dynamo to have SPD - in fact my DS is classed as sedentary (lazy!!!). He needs to fire his brain up to get it going and needs a lot of stimulation to keep it focussed. his sensory problems aren't that he finds there is too much stimulation going on to concentrate/focus/feel comfortable, but the reverse.
The praxis part of the test is more for the motor co-ordination type tests - which may be an issue with eating messily - the recognition with knowing when a no. 2 is required is also an issue with my DS - so maybe they are all linked? My DS also has a dx of dyspraxia.

We had an OT visit monday-she has given my DD and me excercises to improve her sensory processing-she described it as DD being bombarded by all the senses at once and said that is why she lies on the floor face down at parties or in brightly lit shops, it overwhelms her. My dd has specific language impairment too which she is being investigated for at the mo,so will know more when some test results back in but my understanding is that she has the sensory issues as part of the other developmental stuff. I do know a little girl who has SPD though without the other stuff my DD has so think it can be on its own.

Also dd and the other little girl have different experiences of it-the little girl I know is hyper sensitive to touchand finds the feeling of clothes rubbing painful wheras my dd seeks out sensory stimulation, coming and pushing my hand against her head for example or running against the wall. The OT said her brain is disorganised which is part of her finding language hard to understand.

Anyway the OT was great-she really made me feel we are working to a plan and we have a programme of deep pressure massage and brain /motor training activities to follow. I self referred-well sort of, I asked our inclusion teacher and she did it through early support.

The "Sensory Processing Disorder Answer Book" by Tara Delany is about 8 quid on amazon and extremely readable - we found it very useful.

I would recommend taking your DS to an OT as well. The (private) OT I saw diagnosed my DS straight away and did exercises with him for 6 months and gave us stuff to do at home. Expensive but so worth it. The best treatment I have ever undertaken for my DS's complex needs.

The other thing I'll say is your DS is still quite young and don't try and diagnose him yourself. I mean that kindly - I used to try and do it. Much better to see your GP.