Sensory Processing Disorder: One Mom Finds Hope and Support

By Lisa M., Celebrate Adoption Member and mother of two children by adoption

Reprinted from Celebrate Adoption’s Fall 2008 Newsletter

From the time he was six months old, I knew that something was different about my son. I knew it even when the doctors said everything was fine and that he would grow out of it. Even though I wanted to know why he was different and how to help him, I also did not want anything to be wrong with him!

We consulted many different medical resources including a psychiatrist that was ready to medicate him. The summer that my son turned three, I finally got introduced to someone who understood what was going on and could make a proper diagnosis. I learned that he had Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) formerly called Sensory Integration Deficit.

Once he was diagnosed with SPD, I was very scared. The idea that he had something wrong with him made me very sad. I did not want people to think badly of him. I was concerned with whether or not he would have friends. I worried about how he would learn to do normal tasks like other kids and how he would learn in school.

Obtaining the SPD diagnosis also meant that we had a plan for treatment. The summer when he turned three, he began occupational therapy (OT) for SPD. At the age of seven, he went to his last session of OT, at least for now, maybe forever. It has been a long journey of denial, sadness, anger, worrying, acceptance and hope!

Now my son has been diagnosed with three more disorders. But I am in a much better place. I now pursue the diagnoses. I have come to understand that the best way I can help my child is to find out what is going on with him. Once I understand his diagnosis and what it means, then I can learn how I and others can best help him. The emotions of sadness and anger are a normal part of the process, but I don’t let them get in the way of me helping my child be everything that he can be. With my second child, I was much quicker to recognize that she had some symptoms of SPD also and sought help when she was much younger.

In addition to the OT, we continue to pursue lots of other mainstream and alternative therapy to help our son. I also know that while he is getting help, I need support for myself. I have joined support groups for parents of kids who have similar struggles, both on-line groups as well as local groups. I have found much safety, strength and friendship from other parents on this same journey!

And yes, my son will always have struggles. But because I got past my own fears and fought hard to get him the help he needed, my son is doing things that we never thought he would ever do.

So, you may be wondering what SPD is and if your child has it. Sensory Processing Disorder is a condition where the body and the brain are not able to interpret and process sensory information correctly. For some children whose sensory system is overly sensitive, this means that loud noises bother them more than other kids. Tags and seams in their clothes irritate them to the point that it can be overwhelming to them. Many are very picky eaters and food textures can bother them.

For other children whose sensory system is under sensitive, they may need to move around a lot to feel their muscles and their joints. They like spicy food because their taste buds need more stimulation. Many of these kids can get mis-diagnosed with ADHD. Some kids may be overly sensitive in one area and under sensitive in another. And for many kids, their fine and gross motor skills are delayed. They have trouble catching a ball, writing, and tying their shoe. Some have problems with potty training.

Probably the most difficult symptoms of SPD are the tendency of kids to tantrum more than typical kids and their need for order and predictability in their lives. The slightest change of plan can upset them tremendously. This can make them very hard to live with!
If these symptoms are getting in your child’s way, then your child may benefit from attending Occupational Therapy. Our nervous system is always developing and changing. Children’s nervous systems are undergoing rapid development. So, the earlier that therapy is started with a child with SPD, the better off they will be. The therapist will do specific play therapy targeting the areas where each child needs to develop. It helps to find an OT that is specifically trained in SPD. Not all are.

Some other helpful resources include The Out of Sync Child, by Carol Kranowitz and Sensational Kids, by Lucy Jane Miller. Also check out the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation. Here you can find information about the local support group for parents of children with SPD.