sensory processing disorder Archives

Sensory Bin Round Up

March 14, 2015 by Emilee Evans

As a mom with three special needs children I am always looking for activities to encourage fine-motor skills, imaginative play, exploration. Sensory bins offer this while offering an opportunity to explore different textures. This is great for both young children as well as special needs children. It’s important to note, though, that sensory bins are not intended to replace therapy, but they are a great activity to supplement it! In fact, our children’s Occupational Therapists gave us some of the best ideas for sensory bins!

The best thing about sensory bins is you can get as creative as you want! Sensory bins can be put together from items around the home or you can get creative with a theme! If you have children with special needs like ours you may need to take into account what their texture likes and dislikes are. Offer something that may challenge their senses without overwhelming them. Some of our favorite sensory bins start with simple objects like pompoms.

Some of my favorite bloggers have shared some amazing sensory bin ideas and resources! Here are a few!

Sensory Bin Round Up

Straight Lines Sensory Bin Golden Reflections Blog has shared an amazing pre-writing activity for kids with the straight lines sensory bin. I love this idea! This sensory bin includes a variety of straight tools like pencils (unsharpened), crayons, pipe cleaners, dowel sticks, uncooked noodles, and more! This is a great bin for little learners to introduce them to straight lines and pre-writing skills. Check out the full details below!

Sensory Bins for Beginners Are you new to sensory bins? Simply Vicki has shares sensory bins for beginners. She shares her apprehensions and why and how she got started as well as a link to ideas, Pinterest boards, materials, and more!
Alphabet Sensory Bin Adventures in Mindful Living has shared a fun Alphabet Sensory Bin, which is perfect for little learners who are learning their letters! It is simple to make, and she has shared some great learning activities to go along with it!

Farm Theme Unit The Chaos and the Clutter has many great ideas for sensory bins. One of my favorites is the Farm Theme Unit. I love how she included a Sensory Bin in her unit study!

Sensory Bins

Sharla Kostelyk from The Chaos and the Clutter has written a great book – Sensory Bins: the What, the How, & the Why. Whether you are new to Sensory Bins or are looking for new ideas, at just $2.99 it’s a great resource for anyone wanting to use sensory bins! It includes idea lists, helpful recipes, storage and money saving tips, and even information on using sensory bins with Sensory Processing Disorder. As a mom with children with SPD (and someone who has SPD myself) I definitely appreciate this!

Are you new to sensory bins? Do you use sensory bins and have some great ideas to share? Please share in the comments!

2014 Holiday Gift Guide Sponsor Spotlight – Chewigem

December 6, 2014 by Emilee Evans

In September my daughter and I had the chance to review some beautiful stylish sensory chewelry from Chewigem. We both have Sensory Processing Disorder and tend to chew on things for oral input. I had never considered something like chewelry for myself, though I definitely considered it not only for our daughter but our sons as well!

Are you looking for a holiday gift for special needs family members or friends?
Chewigem offers a wide variety discreet chewelry that is great for mild to moderate chewers. They are made of FDA approved silicone and are lead, latex, BPA, PVC and phthalate free. The styles are fun yet discreet. I can wear my Raindrop Pendant with just about any outfit and nobody would ever know it’s a “special necklace.” Aurora chose a really cute cat design that definitely stands out a little more, but again, many people wouldn’t suspect it fulfills a need other than just being a cute necklace!

Chewgem not only offers necklaces but bangles as well. So if you know a boy or man with sensory needs who wouldn’t be too keen on the idea of wearing a “necklace,” the bangles would be a great option!

Who would benefit from Chewigem?

Perhaps you’re doing your Christmas shopping for a family member or friend with special needs, and you’re not quite sure who would be the ideal recipient for Chewigem chewelry. I mentioned Sensory Processing Disorder as that is what my daughter and I have. Many of us with SPD chew for sensory input, but not all of us do. It’s a pretty safe bet, though, that if they have SPD they will enjoy Chewigem. Our daughter also fidgets and likes to have things in her hand, and her Cat – Meowza necklace is great for that as well! It is important to check, though, if they are a mild to moderate chewer (if they are a chewer) versus a heavy chewer as they are not designed for heavy chewers.
People on the Autism Spectrum also often have sensory needs. Our oldest son is on the Autism spectrum, and he also chews on things. Again, you will need to know if they are a mild to moderate chewer.

Chewigem Bubba Bangles — Photo courtesy of ChewigemUSA.com

When in doubt – ask! As a special needs mom, I can’t tell you how many times I have added therapy products to our Christmas list. So many people are afraid to ask about it, though, and we don’t often receive them. They are SO helpful for families like ours, though. If you are shopping for a family member or friend with special needs or who have special needs children, don’t be afraid to ask if they may need something like Chewigem.
Chewigem make a great holiday gift! They are fun, stylish, and help fulfill a need! For our family, those are definitely the best type of gifts!

For More Information:

Visit the Chewigem Webiste
Connect with Chewigem on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

ABC's of SPD – N is for Neurological

August 3, 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. This week’s letter is “N.”

N is for Neurological

Is SPD neurological? As more is learned about Sensory Processing Disorder, major medical strides are being made. For example, what used to be looked at as a disorder they weren’t even sure can be a standalone diagnosis, it is now being recognized for what it is – a neurological disorder.
In fact, there is more hope than ever for those of us who have SPD and those of us that have children with SPD – or in our case both.

The Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders has just released its first diagnostic guide, the Diagnostic Manual for Infancy and Early Childhood (ICDL-DMIC). The guide includes the first-ever diagnostic codes for Sensory Processing Disorders.
– Source: Advance Healthcare Network

This was a HUGE breakthrough! Back in September I also shared another major breakthrough for Sensory Processing Disorder that showed there are distinct brain differences in those that have SPD versus the Autism Spectrum and ADHD. The abnormalities they found focused on a different region of the brain, which indicated SPD may be neuroanatomically distinct.
As time goes on and we continue to advocate, more and more breakthroughs will be made, and more support will be available for those with SPD.

ABC Blogging

Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers as well who have linked up to Blogging through the Alphabet! There are a wide variety of topics! Learn more by clicking on the button below!

Please note: I am not a medical professional. I am an adult with SPD raising three children with SPD and speak from my experiences. I do a lot of research and will share sources, but opinions are my own.

ABC's of SPD – M is for Misdiagnosis

July 27, 2014 by Emilee Evans

M is for Misdiagnosis

There are many disorders that can be grouped together in the misdiagnosis category. The most common are Autism Spectrum, ADD and ADHD, OCD and SPD. Many are co-morbid – for example, many people on the Autism Spectrum also have SPD. The most common misdiagnosis, though, is for those that *only* have SPD. In fact, for those with SPD misdiagnosis is very common. This can make getting an actual diagnosis difficult. What is worse, is some medical professionals don’t recognize SPD as a single diagnosis.
What happens when someone is misdiagnosed? Well, for a child this often means taking medications they don’t actually need. This can, in turn, be harmful. Many children with SPD often get a diagnosis of ADHD first – particularly those that are sensory seekers. It isn’t until after they realize the medication isn’t working that they don’t actually have ADHD. By then, they may have also experienced side effects from the medications.
Adults with SPD are not excluded. I know I, personally, was misdiagnosed with OCD, ADD, and even a personality disorder when really it’s just SPD. These diagnoses are pretty common for an adult with SPD. In turn, it may be recommended that they take anti-depressants, ADD medication, and receive cognitive therapy. Although I, personally, feel there is nothing harmful about therapy (and even feel it’s helpful even for those without mental health concerns), taking medication you don’t need can be frustrating.
For me, I was put on an anti-depressant that made me feel AWFUL. I was exhausted all the time and couldn’t even make it through a workout anymore. It actually made me feel depressed, too. It was hard weaning off of it as well. To know, now, I could have avoided all of that, is definitely frustrating! I wish I could have gotten that year back!
We can’t change the past, but it’s important to know the facts. If you’re an adult, be sure you ask many questions about any diagnosis you receive, and if it doesn’t “feel right” speak up and let them know. If you’re advocating for your child, the same applies! Get second opinions if needed, but don’t give up!

ABC Blogging

Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers as well who have linked up to Blogging through the Alphabet! There are a wide variety of topics! Learn more by clicking on the button below!

Please note: I am not a medical professional. I am an adult with SPD raising three children with SPD and speak from my experiences. I do a lot of research, but opinions are my own.