Showing posts with label sensory processing disorder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sensory processing disorder. Show all posts

Saturday, July 24, 2010

RADical wedding

Our oldest is getting married next month. We moved at the end of May. I started a new job June 1. My husband started July 1. No stress here.  And of course, RAD does not take a vacation.  We had company from our old town the other day. Teddy announced to her that "we boys pretty much take care of ourselves now. We cook all our own meals, do our own laundry (that part is true) and pretty much take care of ourselves." Interesting. I don't know what I am doing with my time. I thought I was cooking, cleaning, buying clothes, preparing meals, take them places....I guess I was wrong. He also has a Styrofoam cup from Sonic that he now uses all the time instead of ours. When our company was here I had him use a regular glass at the table. He was not happy. Don't tell him but his Styrofoam cup just sprung a small leak. I don't know what happened...maybe.

He is refusing to wear clothes that I buy. I bought him a new shirt for church as he wears the same long sleeved shirt every single Sunday even though it is summer. He insists on jeans and lined wind pants most of the time. I do know that this is due to a sensory processing disorder. They like things that are heavy. I bought him a new swim suit but it is "too short and too big". Surprise! Fine. Give it to one of the other boys. Good thing we have 3.

We have our oldest daughter's wedding coming up. I am sure it will be very tough for him. Because it is not about him. He will feel abandoned and ignored.  I will point out that he may have these feelings ahead of time, which will make him mad. That's OK. He still needs to know it is coming. If it is too much for him he can go for a walk. It is an outdoor wedding.  We will get through it. That is what we do.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Sensory Integration Dysfunction

In an evaluation done by a Neuropschologist a couple of years ago Teddy was diagnosed with Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID) also called Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).  A great book on this is "The Out of Sync Child" . The link is to the Out of Sync website which leads to the book. 

Here are red flags your child may have SPD according to the SPD Foundation
If more than a few of the symptoms listed below fit your child, refer to the complete SPD Checklist in Our Library. For a Spanish-language copy of the Red Flags, click here.

Infants and toddlers

____ Problems eating or sleeping

____ Refuses to go to anyone but me

____ Irritable when being dressed; uncomfortable in clothes

____ Rarely plays with toys

____ Resists cuddling, arches away when held

____ Cannot calm self

____ Floppy or stiff body, motor delays

Pre-schoolers

____ Over-sensitive to touch, noises, smells, other people

____ Difficulty making friends

____ Difficulty dressing, eating, sleeping, and/or toilet training

____ Clumsy; poor motor skills; weak

____ In constant motion; in everyone else's face and space

____ Frequent or long temper tantrums


Grade schoolers

___ Over-sensitive to touch, noise, smells, other people

___ Easily distracted, fidgety, craves movement; aggressive

___ Easily overwhelmed

___ Difficulty with handwriting or motor activities

___ Difficulty making friends

___ Unaware of pain and/or other people

Adolescents and adults

___ Over-sensitive to touch, noise, smells, and other people

___ Poor self-esteem; afraid of failing at new tasks

___ Lethargic and slow

___ Always on the go; impulsive; distractible

___ Leaves tasks uncompleted

___ Clumsy, slow, poor motor skills or handwriting

___ Difficulty staying focused

___ Difficulty staying focused at work and in meetings

You can see why your child needs a full evaluation by a professional in order to have an accurate diagnosis. Medicaid did pay for our child's neuro psych evaluation. It did have to be preapproved. Teddy had an intake assessment by the neuropsychologist and then her recommendations for a full evaluation were given to Medicaid. He was approved for 6 1/2 hours of evaluation. I feel this was the most complete evaluation we have ever had done.  We found a neuropsychologist at a rehabilitation center for brain injuries.  A good diagnosis psychologically is as important as a good physical diagnosis for a physical problem. 
 
Never, never never quit.