Sensory issues with language disorder-suggestions-Blossomhill?

[newscot]

I have just returned from 3 weeks in OZ so have been trying to catch up with how Blossomhill went at BIBIC. My DD1 4y9m has been recently diagnosed with a language disorder along the same lines as Blossomhills DD- trouble with semantics and pragmatics and social communication. They have not said she has "full blown" semantic pragmatic disorder but just aspects of it. She is a happy outgoing girl who loves socialising and loves to talk. I know all about the talking after sitting through a long haul flight!
My question to all of you is about how to deal with sensory issues. My DD is always putting things up to her mouth, in a way like she is checking them out. Sometimes things go in the mouth but usually she is just feeling them with her lips and chin. We have DD2 6months and I wondered if the reason she is doing this more lately is because she is copying her but I don't think so. I asked the OT who said I should not make a big deal about it (i had been telling her to stop when I saw her do it) She said that this sort of thing is a worry if it continues after the age of 7. I am worried however as she starts school in August and I am concerned she will be teased. The behaviour has increased a lot lately though I suppose with all of the excitment and stress of the trip and meeting so many new people she might use it as a comfort thing.
Any way, can anybody give me some advice on how to handle sensory issues or let me know of a good book that deals with it. I don't know how is the best way to approach it.
Also Blossomhill, would you be able to tell me briefly what the dietry changes recomended for your DD were and why they recomended them.
Sorry to ask so much of you but I sometimes feel the NHS route doesnt always explore the bigger picture. Is there anything like BIBIC in Scotland?

bump

Newscot - Hi only just read this

This book is really good for explaining about sensory difficulties the out of synch child Also in that link is another book that must be new as I haven't seen it. It has activities for sensory problems.

My dd puts things in her mouth and still eats (although very rarely) non-food items. Again this has been targetted by Bibic.
I know Bibic do go and do clinics in some towns so could be worth a phonecall to see if they may be coming anywhere near you.

As for the diet side I have cut out all processed foods, especially yeast and those high in sugar. Although have to say she is still having some bread as the yeast free is pretty gruesome. I am cooking all of my own food and giving her fresh food for her lunch box. A really good book I have been using is \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0593054296/qid=1113647918/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_3_1/026-9064987-0914029\here ( I should get comission the amount of times I have recommended it this week.
My dd too has more difficulties in the area of pragmatics then semantics, although I would still say she has spd or as they are calling it now higher level pragmatic language disorder!
HTH - Any more questions please ask

here

bump
Dear Blossomhill. Thanks for your quick response. I hope it doesn't sound voyueristic but i have followed your posts with interest. It's just such a rollercoaster isn't it. I go from feeling everything is going to be OK to worrying that she is going to regress as she gets older and the gaps get wider. Usually I am OK but sometimes when I see her with her friends and she is copying what they say or her friends are having an in depth dicussion about something with their parents it makes my heart sink as it just points out that she is a bit different. Having said that she has a great sense of humour and is full of the joys of life and I love her to bits

Newscot - I can understand exactly how you feel. I have good weeks/days and bad weeks/days. It is so hard as socially they have to learn for themselves. I have had children come up to me in the playground and say that dd is mad and naughty, not nice
The thing is she is different but at the age of nearly 6 is improving all of the time. My dd does have friends, infact she has 2 boys fighting over her at the moment So that's rather reassuring.
If ever you want to e-mail me off line please feel free to CAT as I know how hard it can be. The good thing about language disorders is that it is usually a disorder that gets better with age, as long as the child doesn't have additional learning difficulties. I sometimes have to remind myself just how far my dd has come and just because she still has problems compared to how she was at when she didn't talk or communicate at all Her progress is something I am very proud of!
You do know that my dd is in a language unit as well don't you. Best thing we could have ever done, they have helped bring out all of her strengths.

Thanks for kind words. Excuse my ignorance but what does it mean to CAT someone? I would love to keep in touch. Really busy right so can't write a long post. I start back at work tomorrow having come off a long haul flight on Thursday AAARGGGH!!! At least my brain is to fuzzy to think too much about work.

Have ordered both books you recomended- now Iv'e just got to make time to read them.