Help! DD5 Just Diagnosed with SPD and things are getting worse not better

[bookwormde]

Congratulation on the progress, it is amazing the progress our children can make when anxiety is reduced. We did the both of these along with other things and within a year our son’s tactile sensitivity issue diminished about 80% (except for food).

I would certainly think about getting a GAC, even if only for occasional or rare use. I will not go into detail here but just let guest services know what her challenges are with the lines and they can generally apply the right notes.

The best thing to minimize meltdowns is to monitor her tiredness and sensitivities closely and vacation at a leisurely pace.

Sounds like she is really coming into her own.

bookwormde

 

[wildfan1473]

Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation

STAR Center, Denver, CO

Yahoo! Group for SPD

Hopefully, these links are a help to you in your research. I've come to be quite obsessed about the subject of SPD. DS6 has SPD and severe anxiety. When we first started OT 2 years ago, it was very intense. Our days were ruled by sensory diet and structure - I thought I would go insane! Now, he is no longer being seen by an OT, and life, believe it or not, is somewhat normal. He is a vestibular and proprioceptive sensory seeker, and auditory avoider. We did brushing, swinging, trampoline, tunnels, I had pillows and cushions at the bottom of the stairs for him to jump on, listening therapy (twice), scooter boards, chewies for the anxiety, YogaKids...lots of different stuff! It is very much trial and error. Another thing that helped great, and still does, is a picture schedule. His OT, and now speech therapist, made up the cards with Boardmaker software and laminated them for me, and I have velcro on them and have them all over the house - morning and night routines, steps to brush teeth and use the toilet, where we are going today and tomorrow, etc.

You stated earlier "It's not that she hates certain textures or tastes, she simply refuses food she loved yesterday without knowing why or her skin just itches for no reason at all (not due to certain fabrics)." It may depend on how "satisfied" she is at the time of occurence. My son would do the same thing. As I learned more about SPD, I realized he was much more fussy about things when he was over or under stimulated, and could handle things much better when he was on his diet and routine and satisfied.

Another great book is Sensational Child, by Lucy Jane Miller. I found this book much better for me than OOSC, althogh I love both of them. Also try The Out of Sync Child Has Fun. I had the honor of hearing both her and Carol Stock Kranowitz speak at a conference, and it was extremely enlightening.

Good luck! Feel free to pm me if you have any questions.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Thank you wildfan, I've asked to be added to the yahoo group.

Sounds like you have been where I am now and it makes me feel better to hear of all the stories where the kids integrate normally as they mature. I am very hopeful for this for my dd!

I also use picture schedules for her and always have, even before I knew about SPD, I just knew she responded well to knowing what was going to happen and when. She has a calendar with magnetic picture tiles we can place on the days.

One question for everyone out there: I am trying to approach these therapies as normally as possible but my dd said she's uncomfortable at school when she gets her brushing-she feels everyone's staring at her (even when no one's really paying attention). Should I remove her from the class for the brushing times? Does this infer that there's something "wrong" with having it done? Also, at WDW, where do you go to do the brushing and joint compressions? Into the bathroom? I don't want my dd to think she needs to hide the fact that she has SPD, I want to help her with her self-esteem. But I also don't want her to be gawked at.
Any ideas?

 

[MarieS]

Glad to hear the brushing is working. We did it for about 6 months, but are now doing some other things. At WDW, you might try going to the First Aid station that is in each park. They have cubicles where you can have privacy.