SPD? or normal

[Murmer]

My dd is not "normal" compared to the other children I see her age and that has led to us exploring things. One of our thoughts is SPD and we mentioned it to the doctor who kind of shrugged us off...so I am hoping that some of you mama's can help me before I call the school for an eval.

Here are a list of her behaviors:

1) Rubs elbows (or knees or other bony parts)...this is done when overwhelmed, upset, at bedtime, and just whenever. It is accompanied by tongue sucking. She is now getting to the point that she will reach up peoples shirts to get to an elbow and will do it with new acquaintances.

2) When she has a temper tantrum it will escalate until she is either held down completely (think arms wrapped around chest and arms and legs over her legs) she will continue to seek this after the fit is over for a time OR we have recently found that wrapping her tight in a blanket can help at times

3) Her energy level is above and beyond all other children that we know to the point that when she was one someone commented on the fact that she would play best with boy (rough and tumble) and that rather than stand still (like her child was) she would be climbing the rock wall that was across the way. She is highly active which in turn has led to high gross motor skills (far above her age level) but also causes issues at times when she is suppose to sit still (impossible for her).

4) She seeks sensations such as running in circles, spinning up high, rolling in a sand box, dropping like a log into a body of water.

5) She is a good child BUT she still seems "out of control" and doesn't seem to calm and really hates to sit although she has just (at 3 years of age) started to sit and watch a movie and she has always been able to listen to a story...but just 1 story never more.

Is this "normal" or SPD or ADD or ???? I am so unsure and can only compare (which I know is bad because each child develops at their own rate) but she is my first and it is leading to people not wanting to play with her and her being labeled aggressive at church.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[LittleIzumi]

Dd2 did a lot of things like that, plus eating non-food items (metal, broken glass), going barefoot out on the ice, etc. She was in therapy for sensory, behavioral, & speech issues for over a year. It's much better now.

[Sonshine]

It's possible that this is SPD, but it could be something else on the AD spectrum as well. SPD kids do calm down with deep pressure - the blanket rolling is recommended. This behavior is not normal. It may even be a combination of SPD and an ADD spectrum issue. Can you list some other potentially sensory issues - reactions to light, sound, scratchy clothes, etc. Does she crave being swung on a swing or does she avoid it and dislike it? Does she hug you a lot?(seeking out deep touch) Not every SPD kid has every sensory issue.

[Murmer]

Thanks so much! Your comments have really helped.

 

If you haven't read The Out of Sync Child, read it.

I did read this and it was AMAZING to "see" my child described when I just thought it was ADHD combined with spirited behavior. That book is what really led me to think that she is a sensory seeker. From that book I think she seek touch with some oral.

 

ADD, SPD, both, it's hard to say on the internet. I would be at the dr. asking for an OT referral for sure. OT is lots of fun for the kids and it can't hurt anything but your pocketbook. It's a first line of defense and it's pretty clear that she has sensory issues, even if there might be other issues as well.

 

For many of our kids, it isn't figuring out what one thing is going on, it is a processing of identifying and treating one or two things at a time. We are peeling the onion and take off one layer tends to reveal the next.

 

OT can do amazing things.

 

I made a list (typed, double spaced, and in triplicate) of developmental history and symptoms to bring to the dr. appointment. I also brought an extra adult to keep the little dear busy while I talked with dr. One copy for me, one for the dr., one I handed to the nurse for the file. This is the point where the dr. realized that not only did I mean business, but that I knew way more about the topic then she did. She had never heard of SPD but she wrote the referral - and she is still our Ped. (the previous, childless, young ped who tried to tell me that I "just needed to be consistent" found herself with one less client)

When I brought it up (with my dh there to child wrangle) my doc kind of brushed it off. This was the second time we mentioned the elbow/tongue thing...the first was when she was 2 and she did the same thing. So it made me less confident in my belief that there is more than just "naughty" 3 year old behavior. Thus this thread.

I think my next step is to get her evaluated through the school district and if they will not then I will push for an OT referral. I know our school district has a person who tests specifically for SPD because a friend's son was just diagnosed.

 

It's possible that this is SPD, but it could be something else on the AD spectrum as well. SPD kids do calm down with deep pressure - the blanket rolling is recommended. This behavior is not normal. It may even be a combination of SPD and an ADD spectrum issue. Can you list some other potentially sensory issues - reactions to light, sound, scratchy clothes, etc. Does she crave being swung on a swing or does she avoid it and dislike it? Does she hug you a lot?(seeking out deep touch) Not every SPD kid has every sensory issue.

 

She does not avoid ANYTHING basically she seeks sensory. She jumps everywhere on everything and nothing I do short of holding her down will stop her. She runs full speed into people (thus labeled aggressive at church nursery). I totally see her being the child in 1st grade who just falls out of her seat to see what it felt like. She hates shoes loves to be bare foot on the hot pavement. Oh and everything has to be HOT...hot bath water, hot food. She LOVES the swing and to be held tight and spun in a tight circle. She chews on all straws and sippy lids whenever she is drinking.

 

I really appreciate that I am not completely crazy in thinking my daughter's behaviors are not "normal" and now I need to start figuring out how to get her the help she needs.

 

Does anyone here now good discipline for a child who is a sensory seeker? She can't handle time out because when she is upset she seeks physical input (not separation) but I can't sit and hold her for an hour while she calms with a 1 year old baby that needs his mommy too.

[FairProspects]

Does anyone here now good discipline for a child who is a sensory seeker? She can't handle time out because when she is upset she seeks physical input (not separation) but I can't sit and hold her for an hour while she calms with a 1 year old baby that needs his mommy too.

 

For us, discipline is one of the hardest aspects of SPD because often the bad behavior comes from sensory issues rather than a desire to rebel or disobey. When out of control behavior occurs, we (& our OT) have found that swinging, jumping on a mini-trampoline, linear movement (like rocking back and forth on an ottoman) or sometimes time away in his own space really helps ds calm down and recover. The OT also recommended crunchy foods like granola & baby carrots, blowing bubbles or chewing gum as a re-direction calm down strategy. For a younger child, sucking on something may also help. The oral stimulation really does wonders for the behavior of SPD kids. HTH!

[LittleIzumi]

 

Does anyone here now good discipline for a child who is a sensory seeker? She can't handle time out because when she is upset she seeks physical input (not separation) but I can't sit and hold her for an hour while she calms with a 1 year old baby that needs his mommy too.

 

You generally have to front-end load a ton of sensory input before the kidlets can wrap their brains around behavior/discipline. Trampoline work, swinging, turning them upside-down, spinning (Sit & Spin maybe?), joint compression, etc. Then when their sensory system is flooded, they can start to focus on other things and discipline becomes possible. IME.

[LittleIzumi]

ETA: Check out The Out-of-sync Child Has Fun for a TON of sensory activities/ideas.

[Murmer]

For us, discipline is one of the hardest aspects of SPD because often the bad behavior comes from sensory issues rather than a desire to rebel or disobey. When out of control behavior occurs, we (& our OT) have found that swinging, jumping on a mini-trampoline, linear movement (like rocking back and forth on an ottoman) or sometimes time away in his own space really helps ds calm down and recover. The OT also recommended crunchy foods like granola & baby carrots, blowing bubbles or chewing gum as a re-direction calm down strategy. For a younger child, sucking on something may also help. The oral stimulation really does wonders for the behavior of SPD kids. HTH!

 

You generally have to front-end load a ton of sensory input before the kidlets can wrap their brains around behavior/discipline. Trampoline work, swinging, turning them upside-down, spinning (Sit & Spin maybe?), joint compression, etc. Then when their sensory system is flooded, they can start to focus on other things and discipline becomes possible. IME.

 

Thanks that really helps me! Basically we need to get the SPD figured out before we can move into behaviors. Its been really hard to handle the behaviors especially with all the people who feel it is their right to judge us. I feel so bad because I truly feel she doesn't have the ability right now to do certain behaviors that are expected of her but the rest of the world expects her to behave a certain way or they label her and refuse to be around her.

 

ETA: Check out The Out-of-sync Child Has Fun for a TON of sensory activities/ideas.

We just checked that out from our hospital lending library. I am looking forward to reading it and starting the ideas.

[ReneeK]

We got a mini trampoline, floor scooter and when we sit down to do school work my dd uses a ball chair. At first it took everything in me to not go stir crazy with her bouncing while doing school work. I am better and she is happy. I don't know how she does the bouncing and school work at the same time! She also has a weighted blanket wrap.

 

OT are wonderful if you are able to see one. The out-of-sync kid has fun is wonderful also. Lucy Miller Sensational kids is another good book.

 

Does she sleep well or toss and turn all night? My daughter never slept all night before. Weighted blankets are wonderful for night time and for wrapping them in when they fall apart. It seems to relax my daughter more than a regular blanket when I put her in a roll. http://www.weightedblanket.net/ This place also has a monthly drawing for a free one.

 

It happens alot with people judging the parents and child when they can't see a physical problem. Sorry!:grouphug: I know its hard when they don't know the whole story or think that SPD is just and excuse.

[Murmer]

We got a mini trampoline, floor scooter and when we sit down to do school work my dd uses a ball chair. At first it took everything in me to not go stir crazy with her bouncing while doing school work. I am better and she is happy. I don't know how she does the bouncing and school work at the same time! She also has a weighted blanket wrap.

 

OT are wonderful if you are able to see one. The out-of-sync kid has fun is wonderful also. Lucy Miller Sensational kids is another good book.

 

Does she sleep well or toss and turn all night? My daughter never slept all night before. Weighted blankets are wonderful for night time and for wrapping them in when they fall apart. It seems to relax my daughter more than a regular blanket when I put her in a roll. http://www.weightedblanket.net/ This place also has a monthly drawing for a free one.

 

It happens alot with people judging the parents and child when they can't see a physical problem. Sorry!:grouphug: I know its hard when they don't know the whole story or think that SPD is just and excuse.

 

That's the book Sensational Kids...my sister saw it at the book store and I was hoping that my hospital lending library would have it but they didn't :( so now I get to buy it but I couldn't remember the name.

 

Also I got her a weighted blanket today! From that site I really think it will help her especially to sleep at night and to calm during the day. Thank you so much for that site!

 

If your dr. is otherwise a good doc and you have confidence in him then I would give him one more chance to get this right, go in there and politely demand an OT referral.

 

You are going to need your Ped to trust you and you are going to need to trust him. As parents with sn kids we have a lot of battles to fight. You don't need an extra one with your Ped. Don't be afraid to question how much he knows about SPD. Chances are he has never heard of it or has very little understanding of it. It's not his area and it is ok to acknowledge that.

 

Because of our insurance, we had to go through a Developmental Pediatrician for get the OT referral. In our area DPs are few and far between. There was a 6 months wait. Of course, I filed a formal complaint and was seen 10 days later ;) I am always polite but I am not afraid of my child's medical chart indicating that her mother is a pitb. I will even tell doctors and scheduler that "I'm that annoyingly persistent parent". It seems to break the ice and they know where I stand right up front.

 

A DP is great btw. I love ours! Developmental Peds are like the generalist of the specialists. Basically, they specialize in developmental disorders and can distinguish things enough to know which specialist to send you to for treatment. Although they don't do treatment themselves, they can and do prescribe meds when necessary. They also have relationships with all of the specialists, OT, SLP, Audio, vision, ASD docs and all of that.

 

Mostly I no longer believe in conventional medicine :( so I don't expect my doctor to take us seriously (not to mention she is resident without a lot of experience so far). I love the idea of find a Developmental Ped that sound like what I could use and would be super helpful. How would I go about finding a Developmental Ped? I wish I could find a doctor I trust but after my daughter's experience with her milk allergy I don't know if I will be able to any time soon...Now I rely a lot on my mommy instinct and the internet which while not the most reliable source gives me a jumping off point.

[sleepymommy]

This sounds like my ds6 at that age. His doc also brushed it off as just being a boy, just being an excited toddler, etc.

 

He has SPD (just recently finally officially diagnosed), he's a sensory seeker. He has gotten better at controlling himself as he has gotten older, but still needs a lot of help and redirecting.

 

Trust your instincts.

[LittleIzumi]

Also I got her a weighted blanket today! From that site I really think it will help her especially to sleep at night and to calm during the day. Thank you so much for that site!

 

 

 

Mostly I no longer believe in conventional medicine :( so I don't expect my doctor to take us seriously (not to mention she is resident without a lot of experience so far). I love the idea of find a Developmental Ped that sound like what I could use and would be super helpful. How would I go about finding a Developmental Ped? I wish I could find a doctor I trust but after my daughter's experience with her milk allergy I don't know if I will be able to any time soon...Now I rely a lot on my mommy instinct and the internet which while not the most reliable source gives me a jumping off point.

 

I finally just walked in, said dd had sensory issues and I needed a referral for evaluation, thank you, and once I listed several of her behaviors he walked out to get the referral form to fax :tongue_smilie:. Easier that way.

[Sonshine]

With some SPD kids they need a deep pressure fix after they do the active stuff. Spinning around, etc. is good, but it may temporally hype some kids up even more. What I do with some kids is have them do the active stuff, then do a deep pressure activity before they settle down. I have good success with some kids focusing for awhile by having them lay on their stomach on a gym mat and rolling a yoga ball over them while they do their book work.

[Guest jillene]

The Out of Sync Child is an excellent book.

 

I would find a developmental ped to evaluate her since your regular ped seems to be brushing you off.

 

OT is definitely something you should look into. The sooner, the better. It'll help you both with learning coping skills for her and ways to better manage her energy and sensory needs. Good luck!

[missionarymom]

Sounds a lot like my little guy. We're still learning and growing in this process. OT really seems to help. You may need to "push" being referred to an OT, because my doctor kept trying to refer my son to a behavioral therapist (although most of the literature says to get help from an OT).

 

He loves his time each week with the therapists. I'm trying to incorporate the therapy into our everyday life as well. I think it'll get interesting when we enter formal homeschooling and he has to sit still :eek:

[Murmer]

Thank you so much. I have taken in so much that has been said and will be pursuing this more firmly when I go to the doctor again in 2 weeks. It makes me feel better that I am not just a crazy mama looking for a disease but that there could be some needs that need to be addressed.