Sensory Integration Dysfunction?

[Kellyscrapbooks]

Is anyone familiar with this? I really need someone to talk to about this, so I naturally gravitated towards the "DIS" since it's my fav place. I thought maybe someone from here might have some advice for me.
I was talking to our behavior specialist at work last year about my son and she suggested that this may be the problem we are consistently having with him. I sort of blew it off, chalked it up to him needing me to be home more, etc. I've since become a stay at home mom and he's in kindergarten and I swear his behavior has gotten worse.
So, I mention to my husband that if he gets a chance, could he speak to their behavior specialist at his work and see what she thinks. He came home stunned and said that he thinks Travis has almost every symptom on the list that she gave him to read. So, I looked it up. He does! Including the speech delay that I didn't notice because he sounded fine to me (I neglected to remember that I was working with children with severe to moderate developmental disabilities, they all had dramatic speech delays).
So, now I'm at a loss of where to go from here. Do I ask to have him evaluated? Do I continue to chalk it up to simple misbehavior? Having worked in the field, I'm hesitant to get him slapped with a label if I'm not sure. I've seen how hard it is to get those removed, even if it's proven incorrect.
So...anyone, any advice?

 

[s&k'smom]

I don't like to give advice but I do have I hope some words of wisdom. First what does your heart tell you, go with your instinct. IMHO I would have him evaluated, see if your school will do this, or get an independant evaluation. I wouldn't worry about labels, but if there is an issue he may need to have his school plan changed.

My son is one big ball of SI. He flaps, squeeks, paces, etc. This is rolled into his autism. I would guess that some of your son's behaviors have to do with SI. Good luck.

 

[crazykids]

I would have him evaluated as well. If there is something going on, you will want to get it addressed immediately. I had a hard time going for the initial eval on my son (4 1/2), he was diagnosed with mild PDD & ADHD. He started preschool when he turned 3 and had very little speech, now he has great speech - this all in less than one year of starting school! Most of his main problems are on the ADHD side (behavior, hyper, impulsive, etc.) and the "label" of mild PDD is what's getting us all of the services through the public school. Don't worry about labels, I dwelled on them too in the beginning. The one thing that got me to go out & get him evaluated was thinking - what if there is something there & I never went for help?

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with the other posters.
Sometimes we are to close to see the problem and we need someone outside who can be more objective.



I'm going to move this thread to our disABILITIES Community Board. Some posters who don't come to this part of the board as often may see it there.

 

[Goofyluver]

My DS is neurologically impaired. He has several diagnosis...including SI dysfunction. He was diagnosed by an OT. I, myself, am a speech therapist. I would definitely recommend having him evaluated by an OT. There are so many things that can be done to help. I so understand about not wanting your son labeled...my DS has so many that I can't avoid the labels! My DS is now 10, and his SI dysfunction still comes out to this day. However, through therapy, he has learned to explore his surroundings more and has definitely calmed down. I can't imagine where he would be without therapy. Think of it this way...as a mother, wouldn't you do everything you could to make your child more comfortable. Sensory integration dysfunction leaves these kiddos fearful and trapped in their own bodies. Some things can actually be painful...for my DS it was sound and touch...still is. It wouldn't be fair to let him go through life without at least trying to lessen his discomfort. I know you'll follow your heart and do the right thing.

 

[Starr W.]

I don't like to give advice but I do have I hope some words of wisdom. First what does your heart tell you, go with your instinct. IMHO I would have him evaluated, see if your school will do this, or get an independant evaluation. I wouldn't worry about labels, but if there is an issue he may need to have his school plan changed.

My son is one big ball of SI. He flaps, squeeks, paces, etc. This is rolled into his autism. I would guess that some of your son's behaviors have to do with SI. Good luck.

I have an Aspie who's a pacer and a "moo-er". He does this mostly at home after school(I think it helps him blow off the stress of school). When it's nicer out he jumps on the trampoline.

 

[belle&beast]

I am also an SLP and ITA with the advice you've been given. My DD5 has been having lots of new behavior issues and we just completed a sensory profile and I was so surprised at the things I missed with her that would have been glaring with my students! Get an evaluation and then you will better understand what can be done to help your child.

 

[Mkrop]

My son was first diagnosis at a private PEDIATRIC outpatient therapy location. He has hypotonia and when he ws a year old the Dr was concerned and sent us there to have him evaluated. After therapy for physical therapy, they tested him for SI and started him with OT. The only people who knew were us, the Dr and my insurance. But you should be able to have him evaluated without even insurance involved if you can pay.

Then my insurance ran out (therapy coverage stinks on most insurance plans) and then he was evaluated by the Early Intervention and now is with the IU and attends his local preschool.

So what I am suggesting if you can or want is to go somewhere private have him evaluated and thenif he does have SI and if you want him to receive services through a public school then you can go there after.

Good luck, the therapy to deal with this is miraculous.

 

[esoumyekcim]

Sending you a PM, OP.

*erk..make that..WILL send you a PM when my post count is a wee bit higher. *

 

[LoriMomx5]

I am an occupational therapist and a mother of a son who had developmental delays (now on developmental age) and still has sensory integration issues. When he was in preschool we did all the therapy and he did well and is now in 4th grade and is an A student with outstanding behavior. We were lucky that he did so well. He learned coping strategies that work for him and we still do alot of sensory rich activities at home. There are two great books that talk about sensory integration issues in lay terms and give good ideas for home and school(we OTs use these books and ideas alot!) - " The Out of Sync Child" and "The Out of Sync Child Has Fun." I wish you luck. Lori

 

[Kellyscrapbooks]

Thanks everyone. I think I will look into having him evaluated. I don't think it's reasonable to just not know anymore.

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

Hi! I agree with getting the eval...and I would get a complete evaluation, not just an OT one, because sometimes sensory stuff overlaps with other things, esp since you mentioned a speech delay. My ds was dx with ADHD, a speech/language disorder, and sensory things...and it was a year before it was all put together that each was a part of something else! It can be a bit overwhelming, so let us know if we can help by answering any specific questions, or just to vent to us! Good luck!

 

[CantWaitToGo2007]

I have an Aspie who's a pacer and a "moo-er". He does this mostly at home after school(I think it helps him blow off the stress of school). When it's nicer out he jumps on the trampoline.

My DS, also an Aspie and SI, is a pacer, "meow-er", and constantly switches between standing and sitting while eating. It used to drive me crazy! But now that I know he can't help it I don't even realize he is doing it half the time.

 

[Mkrop]

Good luck with your decisions.

Just be aware it can be an overwhleming process. Here in PA I felt like every aspect of DS4 was put under a microscope. He was diagnosised with hypotonia (low muscle tone) in his trunk and senory integration tendencies. He does not fit a textboook case of SI (which always amazes the new OT when we switch OTs) but it definitely affected his physical stuff and especially his endurance but like I said before the stuff they can and have sone for him is amazing.

Just remember you know your child best so if something they are saying about him does not sound right be sure to ask questions, yes these are experts but they can make mistakes (no offense to all the wonderful evaluators out there) I mean my example was a young psychologist who went to evaluate DS at his preschool. Well she was there a whole 45 minutes, got the name of his teachers wrong, and her report was filled with inaccuracies and classified him as antisocial. (I was not allowed to be present) Well when I asked his teachers and showed then the report, they were appalled and had said that the evaluation in their opinion went well and although DS was shy, and many times is overwhelmed by crowds and strangers (SI component) he was in no way antisocial and these woman have been teaching for 30 years! So needless to say I found out that this was this person was very new to her field, right out of college and wound up admitting she wrote it up that way so he would get more services because her nephew was denied services once. Sorry for your nephew but you need to evaluate each child individually.

So after that long explanation my advice is to get evaluation but go with you gut as well.

Please ask any other questions.

 

[rhiannonwales]

I agree, dont wait and also do a full evaluation for other disabilities that tend to piggyback sith SI.
I knew my DS was different, but hesitated for a long time to seek a diagnosis... hes now 8 and has been diagnoses with ADHD and SI.I feel terrible that I waited to get him help, now that hes older and his workload is heavier, its becoming a problem in school. His fine motor skills are lacking, and his poor writing is putting immense pressure on him from the school... they actually told me they are considering hold him back next year for failing writing, even tho he gets a's and b's in all other subjects.They think that next year when they begin cursive writing, he will not be able to cope - and they are probably right.BUT i have been fighting for a IEP for him for a while and the school is just draggin their feet in doing it.

I told DH that if they do try to retain him, i'm pulling him and homeschooling him.
The faster you get a diagnosis for him the easier it will be later on when you need to make allowances in school.

 

[rhiannonwales]

BTW i highly recommend reading "The Out Of Sync Child" it has lots of info on the various kinds of SI and good ways to seek help and services.

 

[Mkrop]

Hi rhiannwales

If you can not get the IEP or are not willing to wait for the school to have their act together, look into some Handwriting classes or camps. I know they have them her in PA not sure if they are nationwide. If not look into using OT from a private pediatric therapy practice, you could talk with your DR and see if it is covered on insurance, usually only so many visits are covered but it would at least get him started and not fall behind.

I used my insurance for my DS's PT and OT until my visits ran out then I went through Early Intervention and IU (the state/school program).

I prefered the private but that is just me!

 

[rhiannonwales]

We already used up the OT visits from the insurance
Unfortunetly this is a hereditary problem - his father, and various other great uncles and cousins all have it. Even as adults after years of OT it hasnt improved much.
I'm really fed up with the school anyways - when i started the process for getting him classified and getting an IEP, the social worker did pretty much the same thing you mentioned - tried saying he had emotional problems.

Let me preface this by saying that DS is extremely hypo sensitive - it takes a LOT of stimulation for him to notice anything.
Well the social worker found out that occasionally (and i mean like maybe 2 times in a school year) DS wouldnt notice his own body signals that he needed to go potty - and hed have an accident. The school social worker decided that that was an emotional cry for help and labeled him as emotionally disturbed.Like we were beating him at home or something. So by law, child services came and did a home visit.Found no evidence of any kind of emotional problem or home problem.But social worker wont remove it from her report. I TOLD her he has SID but its like talking to a wall.

I gave him a placement test for Calvert homeschool and althogh hes in second grade now he completed the test to start at 4th grade next year. Calvert also has some interesting writing programs for script that i can work on him with.So i think i am going to go that route, and then when the year turns for the insurance ( he gets 5 visits a year) in July i will send him back to the OT.

 

[Mkrop]

wow only 5 that stinks.

gosh it really irks me the way that some of this stuff gets labled, I mean they are still little kids and they can have accidents, they can be shy, etc. I mean some things are age related or personality related not huge problems that need to be addressed at every turn. I mean my so called antisocial kid when up to every parent that was waiting at an after shcool activity this week (went to pick older son) and ask them to say hi to his Swiper (from Dora) doll. And most of the parents laughed and said boy is he friendly!

Good luck with your decisions, I just dont know if I could do the homeschool thing, I love my kids but that is a lot take on but some people swear by it. I look as teaching as a gift and although I teach my kids stuff< i dont think I have the gift of teaching. Now give me a killer spreadsheet, debits and credits and look out! haha

My older son had some handwriting issues as well, not as severe as younger and we were lucky, he goes to Catholic school and they had him sit with a nun every week and practiced. He also struggled with the concept of margins and that he could not print his name anywhere. She worked wonders with him and although his handwriting is still his lowest grade (straight A's except that) it is legible now and he understands palcement and stuff.

 

[belle&beast]

In regards to the handwriting- our OTs use Handwriting without Tears. It is a multisensory approach to handwriting and I have seen it for sale on ebay. (I was looking into purchasing it for my own children.) In fact, our preschool program uses HWT for all students and they all seem to be very successful.