Sensory Processing Disorders

A few months ago Mo was diagnosed with a knee injury and a vision disorder. Due to the physical therapy for the knee, we found out about Occupational Therapy. While the therapist isn't able to help us with her particular vision/neurological disorder, she did immediately notice that Mo has a Sensory Processing Disorder. I don't remember if I have blogged about this or not, so I will shorten what happened. While we waited for insurance to approve the therapy, I read a book and handouts the therapist gave me. Just by implimenting some things that I read, Mo went from sleep walking 3-6x a night to once a week. She went from screaming 2-5x a night to not at all! So, fast forward a few months to now. She is still on the path to getting things under control. We still have some issues during the day but not nearly as many.

After learning about sensory disorders, I was positive that Squeeks has it as well. I tried just adding some sensory things into our home and into her daily life. While these things helped Mo, it did not seem to help Squeeks. I finally got to a point where I was overwhelmed with her and talked to the therapist. She said that we should not wait any longer and come in for an exam. At the exam I found out that things were much worse than I could have imagined. The therapist sent us home with a weighted vest and a brush. The weighted vest is to give Squeeks pressure which her body seeks, as well as the added weight to make her work harder which will tell her body that she should be more tired. The brush is for us to lightly brush her skin with which stimulates the nerves to tell them how to work properly, but it must also be followed up with joint compressions so that the nerves will calm back down after being stimulated.

While Mo is only going to OT every other week, Squeeks will need to be seen every week if we can work it into our/ the therapists schedule. We have so many things to work on with her. Her core stability is really weak. I had no idea! I also didn't realize that this could be part of why her mouth is always open and why she doesn't like to chew her food. We also will work on her constant oral fixation and need for something in her mouth and for licking things. She has issues with clothing and things as well. These things are why we are doing the "Brushing Technique". We also will be addressing the attention span, control over voice, sitting properly (no "W" sitting), and doing lots of heavy work. We have a long road ahead of us where she is concerned but I am so happy to be receiving help this time around! You see, Mo was a tiring toddler as well. I thought she just had a very strong willed and energetic personality. I had no clue that she had a disorder which caused her to act the way she was. While raising a 2nd toddler with SPD is still tiring, it is so comforting to now know that there is help and that there is a true reason for my child to act out and that it's not just cause she is misbehaving.

 Not many people understand what I am going through. It's frustrating to not have many people to talk to about this who understand. My own husband doesn't even understand it yet. There are so many days where I just want to vent but yet I can't because no one understands. There are so many days that I want to scream for joy in the accomplishments that are huge for our family, even though they wouldn't be to another family.

Today for example, Squeeks was licking the toilet bowl brush and a step stool that she had splashed water all over from the toilet cleaning attempt. Even though I am sure it tasted nasty, I literally had to pull her off the stood and out of the bathroom. This behavior wasn't to be bad. In fact she thought she was being helpful to clean the toilet. It's not her fault that those brush bristles have a funny texture that she likes to feel with her mouth.  And the step stool, well of course that wet cold water is a great sensation and the grating texture on the stood is quite nice too! This was a frustrating time in my day. I had integrated many sensory things into the day and yet it still wasn't enough, she went and sought out more. I felt awful that she was licking something that had been in the toilet. Imagine all the germs!!! AHH!!! But alas, there is nothing I could do but brush her teeth, try to explain it is gross and not to do it, and then remove her from the bathroom and attempt to get her onto some other activity.

This was just one tiny part of my day, and let me tell you, "events" like this happen at least a few times a day. It's tiring, and frustrating. But oh the smiles of a happy sensory child covered in shaving cream this morning was worth the rest of the exhausting day. It makes me happy to see her when her sensory needs are being met in a controlled environment. I love knowing that I CAN do this. I have done it before and I can do it again, and this time will be easier and more fun because I actually know what I am dealing with. Last time I did it blindly, following my gut for 7 years before I had a name to go with what I already knew to be true. Now instead of guessing as to how to treat these behaviors, I know what I should do.