Things have been semi-hectic lately, with all kinds of testing and meetings for my four year old. We finally know what's going on with him, and it's looking like Sensory Processing Disorder.What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
Commonly known as “SPD,” Sensory Processing Disorder is a condition that means sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses. In other words, children with the condition will find themselves clumsy and often anxious and unable to complete tasks. A child diagnosed with SPD will also find walking, playing, and other everyday activities challenging. Any movement you make, like chewing your food or opening a door, requires proper “sensory integration” which is often completed incorrectly if you have SPD.
A 2009 study suggested that 1 in every 6 children is affected by the condition, but thankfully, it can be treated. A combination of occupational therapy and listening therapy can help children affected by SPD, but before it can be treated, you have to know the symptoms and properly diagnose your child. The symptoms vary depending on the age of your child; it’s likely your child will only show a few symptoms.
Children with SPD tend to be “one extreme or the other,” especially when it comes to touching (i.e. they strongly dislike it and get irritated or they always want to be holding/touching things). If you notice these symptoms in your child, ask your doctor about the potential of SPD.
Infant & Toddler Symptoms
Infants and toddlers with SPD often have problems eating and may refuse to go near people. This is due to their potential oversensitivity to touch, which can also be exhibited if they seem irritable when dressed or hugged. They might be picky about certain materials in clothing and bedding. At night, they may potentially have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, and may also resist cuddling and cry or arch their back when held.
Other symptoms are more obvious, like not wanting to play with toys, trouble shifting their focus from one thing to the next, and a delayed reaction (or complete failure to notice) when they get hurt. Infants and toddlers with SPD also tend to have trouble vocalizing themselves and often seem startled when touched. You may have trouble calming them, even with a pacifier, toy, or your voice. They might bump into things frequently or have poor balance.
Lastly, if your infant or toddler seems extremely active and constantly moves their body/runs endlessly, you should consider SPD as a possible cause. Likewise, if they seem delayed when crawling, standing, walking or running, ask your doctor about their symptoms.
Pre-School Checklist
For pre-school aged children, there’s a different list of symptoms that you may notice. For instance, they may have difficulty being toilet trained and are possibly overly sensitive to stimulation (they may overreact to/dislike touching, noises, smells, etc.). Other times, they may be unaware that they’re being touched unless done with extreme intensity, which goes along with their failure to notice pain. Your child may also have difficulty learning, and might avoid fine motor tasks like drawing with crayons or buckling fasteners.
Additionally, if your child appears unsure about how to move or is often clumsy and awkward, or if they experience great difficulty learning new motor tasks, have the desire to be in constant motion, or tend to get in other people’s space, you may want to inform your doctor. Children with SPD may also touch everything around them or have difficulty making friends due to being overly aggressive or very passive and withdrawn. Those with SPD also tend to be demanding or hard to calm down and may experience sudden mood changes out of the blue. SPD can also lead to children seeming weak (maybe they slump or prefer sedentary activities) and you may find it hard to understand them when they speak. Finally, they may have trouble understanding verbal instructions which can lead to poor experiences at school.
Gifted Children
It’s believed by many that gifted children and those with ADHD and similar conditions are more likely to be diagnosed with SPD. A child with Sensory Processing Disorder shouldn’t be considered less intelligent then their peers, in fact, many are intellectually gifted. SPD is a condition that causes the nervous system to scatter the messages it receives, it has little to do with a child’s overall ability to grasp concepts, even though a child with SPD will learn things differently.
Learning Needs
If you have a child diagnosed with SPD, you need to consider their individual learning needs. In one study, a child by the name of Larry could process information being said, but had trouble paying attention with his eyes. Often times, he would lie on the floor or walk around the room while the teacher was explaining things. Despite the appearance of him ignoring the teacher and not paying attention, he would still have heard and grasped everything she said and was able to follow certain instructions. Larry was very attentive, but failed to respond to visual cues. Larry’s class was playing a game where they would all run around a rug and stop when they reached the red stop sign. Larry followed all instructions and understood his part, but whenever it came time to stop at the sign, he failed to do so. The teacher pulled him aside and explained the game again, and Larry said he understood. Yet, when they played the game once more, Larry still failed to stop. When the other kids teased him and yelled that he wasn’t playing right and was messing them up, Larry laid on the floor while the other students continued the game.
Taking the time to understand your child’s individual needs and reactions is the key to helping them learn and advance. You need to be an advocate for your child, inform their teacher of their condition and tell them what they should do if your child is unable to participate properly. Larry’s teacher was taught how to soothe him in situations where he couldn’t join in by rubbing his back and keeping in contact. Larry is a child who needs more physical activity than the other children and often needs to be touching things. While he knew and understood what was expected of him, he had trouble carrying out those actions.
What You Can Do
Luckily, the treatment for SPD involves many fun activities that involve environments filled with sensory objects. Treatment for SPD should be centered on the family, and you should always participate at your child’s sessions. Occupational therapy, listening therapy, and a combination of the two are the best ways to help your child’s condition. Also, acupuncture and similar treatments can lead your child to living a happy, healthy, and care-free life!
