Sensory Processing Disorder Archives - Page 2 of 6

ABC's of SPD: K is for Kids

July 13, 2014 by Emilee Evans

Welcome to this week’s Blogging Through the Alphabet! I am Blogging through the Alphabet with Ben and Me and many other bloggers who are offering a wide variety of topics. I am sharing a new topic related to Sensory Processing Disorder each week as we blog through the alphabet.

K is for Kids

There are some common misconceptions about Sensory Processing Disorder – only kids have it and that some children that have it are “just being kids.”
SPD isn’t a Childhood Disorder
There are many reasons Sensory Processing Disorder is so easily dismissed. One of the main reasons is that people believe it is just a childhood disorder and children “outgrow” it. If that is the case, can it really be a disorder or are those children just taking longer for their sensory system to mature? See, it provides quite a confusion, doesn’t it?
Well, countless adults (including myself) have SPD. We definitely didn’t outgrow it, and it affects our life in some way every day. Will you see adults having a meltdown and crying when they are having sensory overload? Some actually may, but most of us have learned how to cope and develop strategies to disconnect or whatever we need to do in that moment. It’s harder to find help as an adult, though, as adults with SPD are greatly misunderstood. We may be misdiagnosed with ADD, OCD, personality disorders, and more, when in reality, we have SPD and have probably been trying to cope with it all our lives because it wasn’t recognized like it is today. There is still a long way to go.
They’re “just being kids”
SPD kids can be sensory seekers, which is often viewed as hyperactivity. Because many children (boys in particular) just naturally have more energy, it is assumed that it’s “typical” behavior for kids. There is a difference, though, between children who are naturally hyperactive versus children that are needing sensory input. Because of this, though, it is misunderstood that they’re “just boys” or “just kids” and don’t otherwise have a challenge.
As parents, we have to be advocates for our children. Sometimes we have to just let it go in one ear and out the other and stay confident that we are doing everything we can to support and help our children. As an adult with SPD I know what it’s like to not get that support, and I believe that makes it easier for me to not doubt due to naysayers or those that just don’t know better. I truly believe people have good intentions, but we know our children best. God chose us to parent them. We have to remember that.

ABC Blogging

Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers as well who have linked up to Blogging through the Alphabet! I’m too late to link up (again! *Sigh*), but I guarantee you don’t want to miss it! There are a wide variety of topics! Learn more by clicking on the button below!

ABC's of SPD – J is for Jumping

July 6, 2014 by Emilee Evans

J is for Jumping

Many people with Sensory Processing Disorder need additional sensory input. All three of our children are sensory seekers (at least some of the time). I shared about this a little in the C is for Chewing post as chewing is also a sensory seeking behavior. Just like chewing can provide oral input for sensory seekers, jumping offers great physical sensory input.
Those that need sensory input are often fidgety or may be what others may view as “hyper” behavior. Sometimes this can interfere with activities. In fact, we take frequent breaks during our homeschooling day so the kids can get the sensory input they require, which makes it easier for them to focus on the next task. I shared this more in detail in my Homeschooling Sensory Seekers post.

The best thing about jumping is that there are no special tools required! Kids (or adults) can do jumping jacks or just jump up and down. Of course, there are some great tools available as well at a variety of costs, so you can find one to fit your budget! We have jump ropes, a small indoor trampoline, and a large outdoor trampoline. They all come in handy, but you could definitely choose just one. If you do have financial limitations, you may be able to find a special needs support group in your area that helps with the cost of therapy tools that medical insurance won’t cover.
Another tool that is great (that is also on our wish list) is the Original Rody which can help with the sensory seeking as it is bouncy, but it also helps with building gross motor, balance and coordination skills. Similarly, big exercise balls can fulfill that need, too, though exercise caution with small children as they may fall over particularly if it’s too big. I will hold the ball in place and keep my arms around their waist.
Sensory seeking is definitely a typical need for many with SPD and jumping is a great way to fulfill that need! Do you have any other tools you would suggest?

ABC Blogging

ABC's of SPD: I is for Integration

June 29, 2014 by Emilee Evans

I is for Integration

One of the more frequent questions I get from others (including medical professionals) is “Is Sensory Processing Disorder the same as Sensory Integration Dysfunction?” The easy answer is “yes.” Some professionals still use “Sensory Integration Dysfunction” instead of “Sensory Processing Disorder,” though the term was updated to SPD. Changing medical terms can be confusing, but as they learn more about them, they discover some terms are more accurate or describe it better.
With the SPD vs. SID confusion, there also comes just the descriptions themselves. In addition to the professional definition, just the terms “sensory processing,” and “sensory integration” get confused or intertwined. The definitions are still the same, though. Both mean how a person’s nervous system receives signals from the senses and turns them into the appropriate motor or behavioral responses. Someone with SPD doesn’t have sensory signals that are always organized into appropriate responses.
Many people (children and adults alike) have *some* sensory concerns. It is classified as SPD when it presents challenges that interfere with every day tasks. It affects our lives on an every day basis.
To be honest, when a medical professional asks me if SID and SPD are the same, I instantly feel like they don’t fully know about and comprehend SPD since the term had officially changed. Of course, that’s always a challenge those with SPD face. All we can do is continue to learn more about it ourselves and spread the word!

ABC Blogging

ABCs of SPD – G & H are for Good Help

June 22, 2014 by Emilee Evans

Welcome to this week’s Blogging Through the Alphabet! I have been Blogging through the Alphabet with Ben and Me and many other bloggers who are offering a wide variety of topics. I am sharing a new topic related to Sensory Processing Disorder each week as we blog through the alphabet.
Unfortunately, though, I missed last week, and I’m posting super late (again) this week. I decided to combine “G” and “H” since I missed last week, and they actually work really well together because something that is so important for those with SPD is “Good Help.” “God’s Help” would also be a good combination for “G” and “H,” since I know for sure He provides “Good Help” for our family as we walk along this path of discovery and understanding.

G & H are for Good Help

Good help can be hard to find – especially for special needs families, but for those with Sensory Processing Disorder good help can be so helpful! Because so much is still not understood about Sensory Processing Disorder, finding good help can be particularly challenging. Many people with SPD benefit from various therapies like: speech therapy, feeding therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling. It all depends on that particular person’s needs. Our youngest son, for example, has a speech delay, but our daughter does not. They both have SPD, but they are on different “areas” on the broad SPD spectrum.
They also have many similarities, though. They both have made amazing progress with the help of occupational therapy. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to get them back into Occupational Therapy since moving to the Houston area 6 months ago. Sometimes it’s as easy as getting a doctor’s referral. Sometimes it’s as hard as trying to find something in the evaluation beyond the sensory concerns since sensory alone rarely qualifies as a need for therapy. It can be frustrating knowing how much it helps and trying to jump through hoops to be sure they do get the good help they need!
Of course, God’s help always pulls through in the hard times when we need the strength to push forward and advocate for our children and push forward as I share our experiences not only with our children but with myself being an adult with SPD. It’s easy to feel like we should just throw in the towel. We’re not going to get them into Occupational Therapy, they’re regressing, I need a “mommy break” to handle my own SPD. With God’s help, though, I know we can get through all of the challenging times as well!
Good help also means being loved and accepted. I know that doesn’t necessarily sound like “help,” but really it is. Sometimes we just need people to understand to help us feel loved. People who will greet us with open arms on the good days and maybe even the rough days and people to help out with things like babysitting for a short time. It is a huge help to just know we have loved ones we can count on!
I pray everybody has the help of their loved ones, but this, unfortunately, isn’t always the case. Do you have a friend or family member with SPD or who have children with SPD? Ask how you can help them and just be open and accepting. It will make an amazing difference in their lives!

ABC Blogging

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