Proprioception. SPD. Same thing?

[PinotAndPlaydough]

Dd7 saw an occupational therapist who we were referred to by the Pediatric we saw about ASD concerns.

Anyway OT has said dd has proprioception problems, I’m not too sure what it all really means (she’s going to send a report explaining everything) and that she has hyper mobile joints in her hands, fingers and wrists. It was all very overwhelming and I probably didn’t take it all in or ask all the questions I should have. Googling keeps bringing me back to SPD, is it the same thing? Has anyone got any experience of proprioception?

She mentioned all sorts of stuff from yoga balls to dd eventually learning to touch type because she won’t be able to maintain prolonged periods of writing at school. My heads spinning from it all.

Proprioception is to do with how your body knows where it is in space. So without looking at your feet you know where they are and how they relate to the rest of you. The body does this with things like sensory input from the joints and ears (balance) and pressure on the skin

If proprioception is not working kids might do things like spin to stimulate the inner ear, bump into you a lot or lean on you, like they are not quite sure where their body ends in space. Proprioception is part of the sensory system so relates to processing disorders so reading about them will help but with SPD all the senses can be over or under sensitive in different ways each kid will be different.

There are lots of good books that explain. The OT will help with a 'sensory diet' of things you. And do with your child to help them moderate themselves. The book The Out of Synch child has fun has lots of games in it.

Ds has proprioception issues. One of his favourite games when little was 'squish' basically involved squashing him. His sister was very good at it!

Once you understand this sensory stuff so much of your child will make sense in terms of sensory seeking or avoidance behaviours. Good luck

Sorry that's a bit garbled. The sensory spectrum group on FB can be useful

Ps I was confusing vestibular senses a bit above that is to do with balance and ears. So you have five senses we usually know sight smell taste hearing touch plus proprioception and vestibular each of which can be under or over active in a kid with spd.

Hope I'm not making things more confusing for you. I should engage brain better before posting

Proprioception is where you know where your body bits are in space. The best way I've seen it explained is when you've had your tooth numbed at the dentist so you can't feel it and you keep prodding it and niggling away with your tongue just to kind of feel it's still "there"... it's kind of like that - hence why kids squirm, foot tap and the like to get the feedback that all the arms and legs are still where they are. Spinning - we get lots of that, and DD2 is usually squished right on top of you (or her long-suffering sister) as she can't work out spatial relationships between where SHE ends and other people begin at all correctly. Loves being under a weighted blanket or loads of duvets etc - because it gives her the feedback of where she is a lot better that way.

this is fantastic at explaining it a bit more intelligibly than I probably have done.

Hi Pinot. Your proprioception gives you a sense of where you are in space from joint and muscle pressure. I can tell I am sitting as I have pressure in the backs of my thighs and buttocks etc. Problems with proprioception might be indicated in a child seeking deep pressure from crashing onto a sofa or bed, giving or liking tight squeeze hugs, pressing down on tables with hands and arms, among other things.

Thank you everyone, she’s definitely a deep pressure fan. It also explains why she still can’t ride a bike or push herself on a swing.

It sounds like a horrible feeling to not know where you start or finish. Is it painful or just uncomfortable?
The OT said she would send us lots of information but that we won’t be seen again by her.

Will this have a big impact on her life and future or is it just one of those things you learn to manage?
Sorry for all the questions!

Depends on the degree of difficulty.

For example Ds has difficulties moving in crowds, if he comes to give you a hug he'll just as likely crash into you and if he become tired its impossible for him to guage his movements at all. Joints do get painful, but he has a wheelchair for this and other issues. Pencil grip writing slope and laptop use.

DD has hypermobility and propriaception difficulties but hers you can easily miss. She is likely to drive you nuts by walking in front of you, behind you on your ankles.... she likes to over stress her joints by bending her fingers back too far twisting her knees etc. Her hands tire really quickly and writing is painful. She has special gloves and a finger splint type thing to help her writing. She also uses a laptop, and is meant to use a writing slope and pencil grip (but rarely does). If she injures herself or becomes deconditioned at all she hits a vicious circle of reinjuring everything and that needs really careful management. When shes deconditioned or injured she tires very quickly and experiences a lot of joint pain, which is managed by ice packs, heat packs, epsom salt baths and painkillers as a last result (the ither interventions are more effective).
Getting fitness back becomes hard. If she is physically fit, her issues fade into the background and other than the writing adaptations you wouldnt know there was anything wrong at all.

I did a lot of OT work on hand strength with both. Makes a vast difference. Both have had spells of private and state physio and OT. DS has had private ot also. NHS vastly unprovide

So really varies from child to child but basics are exercises (including hand), pencil grip writing slope and laptop if necessary.

I should add all the difficulties become more pronounced after a growth spurt in both kids case and hitting periods/puberty/hormones for DD. Do keep an eye put for that with DD

You may find this interesting Pinot, it explains a lot including proprioception.
www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/social-care/disabilities/docs/young-people/Making%20Sense%20of%20Sensory%20Behaviour.pdf?v=201507131117

Its worth mentioning that that link doesnt describe propriaception difficulties so much as sensory processing difficulties (spd). Some of the touch movement and body awareness derives from propriaception difficulties some are more specifically SPD. Kids with SPD often have propriaception difficulties which is why its included, kids with hypermobility generally have propriaception difficulties. Kids with ASD generally have SPD difficulties so there is a lot if crossover, but its worth knowing theres differences and where the differences lay.

As a general rule SPD is about how your body interpretes to information the senses receive from the world around it. As others have said propriaception difficulties are more about how the body interprets it receives from itself about itself.

The coping strategies are definitely SPD not propriaception which needs careful exercise. You'd probably find more help looking for hypermobility.
try here for joint hypermobility and propriaception explaination

Oooh thanks for all this. I knew a bit about about this but hearing about child walking in front of you (aaaargggh!!) really struck home. Didn't realise it might be linked. Growth spurts too. I always learn something new and useful here.