Where to get help for sensory processing difficulties?

[Moon05]

My daughter is almost 13 and although she was diagnosed almost 3 years ago we have never been offered any advice or support on her sensory issues. These are a major reason why she can't attend mainstream school and are ruling her and my life. Her hair is the major issue, she is too sensitive to allow me to wash or cut it so we cope with dry and no rinse shampoo. However she needs it to be styled in a tight pony tail with not a hair out of place. The long and the short of it is she has trouble being away from me because of the worry about her hair.

Any advice on where to get help would be really appreciated as I am desperate.

You need a referral to an occupational therapist with qualifications in sensory integration. Does she have an EHC Plan? There should be an OT report as part of the process leading to one in your daughter's case,

Yes I would go to an OT with experience in sensory stuff. I had to get a private one because you can’t get any nhs help here. It’s been incredibly helpful and well worth the money.

Private. Sadly.

So she doesn't attend school? That is a huge indicator, isn't it, of how this is affecting her? She deserves help. Does she have an EHCP? She should have if she cannot currently attend school.

We had sensory integration therapy, not offered by all OTs, and it was fantastic. We very luckily got it on the NHS, but it's a complete lottery.