Do you think these things are sensory issues or something else?

[Jacksterbear]

My 6yo DS has a dx of SPD including vestibular and proprioceptive hyposensitivity, auditory and tactile hypersensitivity, hypermobility, problems with executive functioning (planning and organisation), and sensory-based motor difficulties.

The below things haven't been picked up on by his OT. I'm going to contact her to ask her what she thinks, but just wondering if these look like sensory problems to you, or something else, or are just normal for a 6.10 yo:

• when writing, reversing "b" and "d".
• writing numbers back-to-front / mirror image, particularly 2,4,5,7.
• reading numbers back-to-front e.g. he will look at the number 42 written down, and read it as "twenty four".

Generally, his reading, writing and maths progress is a bit below average although his intelligence is well above average (based on observations by paeds, SALT, his OT, his CT and Senco). His sensory issues and anxiety make it difficult for him to sit, concentrate, and comply with demands, and he hasn't always been able to participate fully in lessons at school as a result (this is improving now he is having sensory integration therapy).

TIA for any thoughts.

Thanks Polter. I was wondering about visual processing issues, although that hasn't been picked up on by OT. And yes, the third one in particular did make me wonder about dyslexia. Will speak to senco about screening.

Does he show a firm preference for one hand, yet? What about crossing the midline? (eg using right hand to pick up something to the left of him) Children who are late in these things are often late working out the convention of working from left to right.

ouryve he is firmly left handed (as am I), and has been since probably 3 or 4yo.

I'm not sure about crossing the midline although his OT report refers to problems with "bilateral integration" which I think is similar/linked?

Yep - that would be things like using a knife to push peas onto a fork or holding onto a piece of paper to steady it, when rubbing out.

ouryve your comment about L to R has reminded me of something else, which is that he doesn't always write L-R or top to bottom. Eg if writing a label or caption he often writes a word, then writes the next word above or to the left of the first word, and so on, so his sentence ends up backwards. He would do this less if writing prose-style eg a story on a lined piece of paper, as opposed to a label/caption etc to go with a picture in the middle of an unlined piece of paper, if that makes any sense!

My son has a diagnosis of SPD and Dyspraxia, and used to reverse a lot and still struggles with b and d....during the diagnosis process, it was also found he was "cross lateral"..... so showed mis-matched dominates......
So he is right handed, but right brain Dominant (But left eye dominant)...so he formulates in the right side of the brain, but needs to flip it over to the left side, to write with his right hand....hence the creation of mirror images........

So it can be caused by diff things.....

I second mrslaughan

My DS aged 6 has (as yet undiagnosed) SPD and also has problems like these. We assumed he was Dyslexic as is his sister so booked him in for an assessment with DDs Behavioural Optometrist. He was diagnosed with a squint instead! Definitely worth pursuing all options.

Thanks for the replies mrslaughlin and blossbloss. Something definitely going on with left/right! Waiting to hear back from OT and will speak to senco also.

Oops sorry mrslaughan

Update: had a reply from OT who thinks these issues are caused by the problems in his vestibular system and the way it interacts with his ocular system, impacting on his spatial awareness, directionality, sequencing and bilateral integration. Will speak to OT and senco to see whether it's worth exploring other possible explanations or not. OT has also given a list of exercises to help work on problems with l/r reversals.

Thanks again for the replies.

Jack my dd1 who has ADHD does this still age 9. She's left handed also. I wonder if it takes lefties a bit longer with something's particularly when they have other difficulties to contend with as well

Stressed I agree that LH-edness inevitably adds more difficulty to handwriting, from a pen-grip / hand position point of view and also from a letter/number formation and natural flow of writing point of view, iyswim.

Polter, I know. It makes me to wonder whether, if sensory issues had a higher public profile, we would have realised sooner that they were causing problems for ds, and started intervention before they caused him so much emotional damage .

Sorry I was having a bit of a self-pitying moment earlier!