Sensory Processing Disorder, as it is now being called, was once known as both Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID) and prior to that Dysfunction of Sensory Integration (DSI). Sensory Processing Disorder is a grey area right now especially with insurance companies as there is no diagnostic code or criteria listed in the DSM. There is a big push right now, being spearheaded by Lucy Jane Miller, to have Sensory Processing Disorder included in the next release of the DSM - the DSM V. If you would like to help please check out the Advocacy link at the KID Foundation.
Now on to the Sensory Processing Disorder resources.
Books
Websites
If you think your child may be affected by sensory processing disorder you will most likely want to locate an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory issues for an evaluation. Both of my children were evaluated by a wonderful occupational therapist and are both currently in therapy for their opposite sensory issues. My daughter has been in therapy approximately ten weeks at this point and has made marked improvements; we are very happy with the results. My son has only been in therapy a few weeks and we are noticing changes with him - he is a bit more stubborn and resistant to trying some of the new things during therapy so progress is a bit slower but we’ll continue to go at his pace.
As I mentioned previously there seems to be a lot of controversy surrounding ADHD these days; from the levels at which it is being diagnosed to the amount of children being medicated for it. I have heard all of the controversy and I do agree with a lot of it.
Let’s start off with a little bit about ADHD. It was once referred to as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) but since then the DSM has been revised and it is known officially known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); it now has three subtypes - inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combination type. Inattentive is what ADD would be classified as, the dreamy kid who’s mind wanders and can’t seem to focus on schoolwork, tasks, etc. Hyperactive-impulsive is the child who seems like they are bouncing off the walls, they can’t sit still, they blurt out answers, talk incessantly, etc. This is my son, a very severe case of hyperactive-impulsive per his diagnostician. The final type is the combination type which is pretty self-explanatory, the child exhibits symptoms of both inattentiveness as well as hyperactive/impulsive behaviors.
So where does the controversy lie. Let’s look at the first bit I mentioned, the diagnosis rate. While I can’t find exact statistics right now (lost my bookmarks in a computer move) the diagnosis rate for ADHD has gone up over the past two decades. Children who were once considered spirited or high-needs are now being labelled and sometimes incorrectly. You may ask why I say incorrectly when I don’t have a medical degree; the reason I say incorrectly is that later in their childhood years many children are often rediagnosed with a different disorder. This new diagnosis can range from something like Central Auditory Processing Disorder to Childhood Bipolar Disorder and the list goes on. In addition there is also a theory that schools and teachers are forcing a diagnosis on their harder to handle kids. I have first-hand experience with that; of course in this case the diagnose appears to be rather accurate.
The other controversy surrounding ADHD is with the increased rate of diagnosis we now have an increased rate of children being medicated for ADHD. It is not unusual to see a three year-old on a stimulant to control their symptoms. Even though we have chosen to add medicine to our list of things we do to combat my son’s symptoms I don’t think medicine should be a first option. Dietary change and behavior modification are two things that I think every parent of a child with ADHD should consider prior to starting medicine. Medication may end up being the ultimate choice but with the new “black box warning” being placed on the medicine it is wise to exhaust your other choices prior to introducing medicine.
Now while I do agree with some of the controversy surrounding ADHD these days I am also the mother of a child who takes a stimulant for his ADHD symptoms. I have had parents confront me who believe ADHD is a myth and I’m doing my child harm by choosing a pharmacological route to managing his symptoms. To those parents I merely say that until you have walked a day in my shoes your opinion, and your judgment, mean nothing to me. It is not easy and the more support you have, the better.
When I first started down the road to an autism diagnosis I was researching developmental delays. Autism is a Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD) so developmental delays are par for the course. This was definitely the case with my daughter. Once we had her professionally assessed she was basically delayed across the board; again not uncommon with children who have autism spectrum disorders. Here are some of the links that I found most beneficial while figuring out where my daughter stood with regards to developmental milestones.
Your pediatrician should be following your child’s development and should be open to conversation about any concerns you may have. If they feel that it is necessary they may refer you to an Early Intervention service in your area for a full assessment. Early intervention services vary from state-to-state within the United States and also vastly vary depending on the country that you are in. Your pediatrician should have contact information available for you.
If you are reading this, you may be asking yourself “Does my child have an autism spectrum disorder?” In my opinion, if you even slightly suspect it you should speak to your pediatrician. In my experience both personal and in talking with others, most pediatricians do not know enough about autism to diagnose it and will refer you to a specialist. There are many different specialists that will be able to diagnose your daughter but the most common is probably a developmental pediatrician. Forewarning, the wait for an appointment can be long; it is not unheard of to wait for months. For our diagnosis we chose to see a developmental psychologist who specialized in autism spectrum disorders instead of waiting.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) has broken down the autism spectrum disorders into the following categories: Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and PDD-NOS. There are a variety of diagnostic tools available to practitioners to assist in providing an accurate diagnosis. The site linked above, childbrain.com, has a great screening tool that you may be interested in filling out: PDD Assessment Scale/Screening Questionnaire. Please note that this is not a diagnostic tool but I, personally, found it helpful when I was researching autism on my own. I ended up printing a copy and taking it to the psychologist on our first visit and it helped her understand where I was coming from as a mother.
In closing, I highly suggest reading the Beginner’s Guide to Autism: Starting Out.
This domain has been dormant for quite some time and I thought I’d revive it in a new format. Being a mother is both a rewarding and a challenging job. I am a stay-at-home-mom so my primary responsibility is to both of my children. However both of my children have very definite and different needs; my goal with this site is to discuss those needs and any news related to them that I feel may be important. I would like to be a resource for other mothers who are growing in their career (yes I consider this a career).
First I will discuss my oldest child; my son Alex is 5 (5 and a half is you ask him) and has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). ADHD is a very controversial topic these days as many people, including myself, feel that it is over diagnosed. We have ‘known’ with my son since he was three years old that he was definitely much more spirited then even the most spirited children out there so we started out with dietary intervention subscribing to the Feingold Program. I am so thankful for the Feingold Program it has made a tremendous change in our lives. Eventually the ADHD started impacted our lives (including his) more and more so we have gone the pharmaceutical route with him. Again this is an even more controversial topic than just ADHD but until someone has walked a day in my shoes they do not have the right to judge me for my choice in this matter.
Sensory Processing Disorder is the newest term to describe what was once known as Sensory Integration Disorder and prior to that Dysfunction of Sensory Integration. Everyone has certain “sensory sensitivities” but children with Sensory Processing Disorder have such a hard time with these sensitivities that it impacts their daily lives. Have you ever seen a child have covering their ears in a busy supermarket; perhaps that child is auditorily sensitive and he is in sensory overload because his little brain can’t filter out the sounds that don’t need to be heard. This is just one example of how sensory processing disorder can affect a person.
My daughter is my second, and last child. Just shy of her third birthday she was diagnosed with autism. Autism is often referred to as an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and is one of several (others include PDD-NOS, Asperger’s Syndrome, etc). I have met many, many children with autism and not a single one looked, acted, or had symptoms presented just like another. It is a true spectrum. One child with autism may have great eye contact while another might not notice you are there. One thing that really irritates me about some people is they assume what a child with autism is like; more often than not that person is wrong.
As part of my daughter’s autism she also has Sensory Processing Disorder. Her sensory needs are much different than my son’s which makes for an exciting day. My son shies away from touch and will wipe away a kiss whereas my daughter craves touch and deep pressure. A day in my life is interesting trying to balance the very important yet opposite needs of my children.
I lost a lot of important time waiting based on the advice of well-meaning doctors and family members. My daughter missed out on Early Intervention services and my son has had to deal with his sensory processing issues for years beyond what would have been necessary. They are both now receiving appropriate therapies and are on the road to an easier life. If I achieve nothing with this blog aside from helping one mother then I will have considered it a success. I will be posting news pieces about autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, developmental delays, etc in addition to my regular mutterings; Mutterings of A Mindless Mommy.
Mutter \Mut”ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Muttered; p. pr. & vb. n. Muttering.] [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. L. muttire, mutire.] 1. To utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; esp., to utter indistinct complaints or angry expressions; to grumble; to growl
Mindless \Mind”less\, adj 1: lacking the thinking capacity characteristic of a conscious being; “the shrieking of the mindless wind” 2: requiring little mental effort; “mindless tasks”
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A bit of explanation on the title I’ve chosen for my website and blog. As a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) I often find myself having little half-conversations with my toddler, baby, and even myself. Hence the use of mutterings. With regards to mindless, I am by no means implying that I am stupid or careless. Sometimes I just like to take the easy way out.
I recently read a description of a condition that fits me to a T. Its called Deficient Noun Disease. Evidently it is quite common among mothers of small children. However, some evidence points towards the disease originating during pregnancy. I can attest to this fact, I noticed my first symptoms of DND during my first pregnancy. During my second pregnancy the symptoms were even worse. As a mother of two small children, I hope that I am nearing the height of my DND. After spending several hours with my parents this week I have come to the conclusion that there is no cure for DND - just varying degrees of affliction.
It has been a long time since I’ve kept a journal. I’ve forgotten how therapeutic it can be. One would ask why I would need something therapeutic. I would simply respond that the person asking must not have young children. Now don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love being a mom. However, as in everything else in life, there are times that can be stressful. Hence the need for something therapeutic. I’d much prefer a nice therapeutic massage, however I won’t hold my breath on that one.
