Should I get them evaluated

[ChristineW]

DS and DD1 are both very different children but I am beginning to worry that they both may have some sensory processing issues and am considering having them evaluated.

 

DS is always moving. When he had swine flu last year, the main reason I knew something was wrong was because he didn't move much. He's had a 102 fever before with strep throat and still been running around. He is constantly complaining that different fabrics itch, we have to cut all tags off clothes and we wear our shin guards over socks because he cannot stand to have them touch his skin. If the socks are old and have pilled up, he won't wear them because they feel too fuzzy. He'll have out of control tantrums and not be able to calm himself unless he's wrapped in his big comforter. If we are out and he spits out of control, I can calm him by holding him in a tight ball for a couple minutes. He'll be 5 in three weeks

 

DD2 (3.5) isn't always in motion, but unless she's climbing she doesn't seem to inhabit the space she's in. She trips on every crack in the pavement and sometimes falls for no apparent reason. She's run into walls even though she had to have been able to see them. She is far fussier about tactile sense in clothes. Shoes cannot have any sand in them. She loves running in sand barefoot, but if the shoe has even a few grains of sand in it she completely melts down and refuses to wear it. Tags have to be cut out of sheets, pillow cases, and sometimes stuffed animals (if she sleeps with it). No tights. Her ballet shoes are two sizes too big because the shoes I had fitted "hurt." Loud noises scare her (full on tears when I run the vacuum or the garbage truck drives by). Cannot stand for her hair to be brushed. We bought her a spinning toothbrush and she screamed because it scratched her lips. She has eczema so we are already no dyes and no fragrances for laundry and I'm careful about other cleaning products.

 

They are otherwise delightful happy kids. Definitely more energetic than the other kids in their preschool (especially DS) but smart and sociable.

 

The meltdowns are driving me nuts. But am I worried for nothing? The owner of my daughter's preschool has offered to evaluate them for me--she has a phd in developmental psychology and a good relationship with the early intervention specialists in the district--the EI preschool shares a playground with DD's preschool. But I feel kind of silly. What if she tells me that the behavior is normal? I'd feel relieved but kind of dumb. I'm even more concerned that she'll identify an issue but that they won't qualify for help through the district. Our insurance does not pay for OT

 

Am I being silly? Would you get it checked out.

Edited October 26, 2010 by ChristineW

[cindergretta]

My ds (7) was diagnosed with sensory issues when he was a toddler. He seemed to need, crave even, high impact input. He loved swinging, jumping, crashing into walls, etc.

 

If your insurance will cover the eval, it can't hurt. There are books you can read about how to deal with and cope with sensory issues.

 

Eczema is such an allergy issue. I would ensure there are no food or environmental allergens at play. My dd (5) with severe eczema gets it from eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, all types of grass, and most trees. :-/

 

For extra needed input, look into weighted blankets, backpacks filled with canned goods, min-trampolines (with the little bar to hold onto,) etc.

 

I will keep thinking for you. :)

[Niffercoo]

I would get them evaluated. If they tell you that their behavior is normal, then you say "thank you" and you're on your way. If there is something that needs to be addressed, then you can begin - and the earlier you can work on something, the better.

 

I say this as the mom who wondered about her son from the time he was about a year and a half old, and even had people telling me that there were behaviors that didn't seem quite right. It wasn't until he was nearly 10, and his baby sister had been diagnosed with autism, that I finally had him evaluated - to find out he had an autism spectrum disorder as well. It was so many wasted years of worry and of my son being misunderstood, us parenting him completely inappropriately, and his underlying issues not being addressed.

 

Get the evaluation.

[cindergretta]

I would get them evaluated. If they tell you that their behavior is normal, then you say "thank you" and you're on your way. If there is something that needs to be addressed, then you can begin - and the earlier you can work on something, the better.

 

I say this as the mom who wondered about her son from the time he was about a year and a half old, and even had people telling me that there were behaviors that didn't seem quite right. It wasn't until he was nearly 10, and his baby sister had been diagnosed with autism, that I finally had him evaluated - to find out he had an autism spectrum disorder as well. It was so many wasted years of worry and of my son being misunderstood, us parenting him completely inappropriately, and his underlying issues not being addressed.

 

Get the evaluation.

 

Exactly. My ds ended up on the Autism Spectrum. After we sorted out the sensory issues, we realized he had some major ADD issues. After we got that sorted, we realized we might have some spectrum issues going on. And we do. So it really is a process and an important one. Each issue can be its own, or it can be a signal of other issues, too. The earlier you start sorting them out and working on them, the earlier children can be understood and truly helped. :)

[Dobela]

 

The meltdowns are driving me nuts. But am I worried for nothing? The owner of my daughter's preschool has offered to evaluate them for me--she has a phd in developmental psychology and a good relationship with the early intervention specialists in the district--the EI preschool shares a playground with DD's preschool. But I feel kind of silly. What if she tells me that the behavior is normal? I'd feel relieved but kind of dumb. I'm even more concerned that she'll identify an issue but that they won't qualify for help through the district. Our insurance does not pay for OT

 

Am I being silly? Would you get it checked out.

Yes. Get them evaluated. If the professionals say there are not prolems, then you can address it as a discipline issue. If there are problems, then you can begin effective treatment that will help both children. Without proper evaluation everything you do is just a shot in the dark.

 

I would get them evaluated. If they tell you that their behavior is normal, then you say "thank you" and you're on your way. If there is something that needs to be addressed, then you can begin - and the earlier you can work on something, the better.

 

I say this as the mom who wondered about her son from the time he was about a year and a half old, and even had people telling me that there were behaviors that didn't seem quite right. It wasn't until he was nearly 10, and his baby sister had been diagnosed with autism, that I finally had him evaluated - to find out he had an autism spectrum disorder as well. It was so many wasted years of worry and of my son being misunderstood, us parenting him completely inappropriately, and his underlying issues not being addressed.

 

Get the evaluation.

:iagree: I waited too long for my son as well even though I was seeing the warning signs and I am a former EI professional. It has been much much harder on all of us since we delayed treatment.

 

I also agree that eczema can also be caused by other allergies. I would ask for allergy testing if possible. My son struggled with severe eczema until we took him off all dairy products. I also limit his wheat and preservatives. Since doing that he has had few problems. Other than dairy, his worst break outs have been caused by chemicals used in cleaning carpets and floors in hotels and commercial buildings. I have to be vigilant that he not touch those floors with bare skin or problems arise.

 

:grouphug:

[Guest]

Absolutely have them evaluated and do not worry about looking dumb! You'd feel a whole lot worse if there were something going on you could have attended to but didn't, for fear of looking foolish.

 

Sensory issues tend to peak in early to mid-elementary age, so your kids are at the perfect age for some kind of intervention (OT, sensory diet, etc.). Much, much better to work at it when they're young, when OT is like playing, and you can smooth out issues that may stand in the way of their learning to read and write.

 

Dd, now fourteen, had many of the symptoms you describe; they peaked when she was around age eight and have been steadily improving ever since. She had a year of OT then and nearly a year of vision therapy when she was eleven; both have helped tremendously. There are almost no remaining signs of the processing issues that plagued her when she was young.

[gardenmom5]

I would support an evaluation.

 

out-of-synch child books might give you some good ideas too.

[gardenmom5]

My son struggled with severe eczema until we took him off all dairy products. I also limit his wheat and preservatives. Since doing that he has had few problems.

 

:grouphug:

 

I'm on an SPD list where the topic of food sensitivities has come up frequently. Casin (from milk/dairy), gluten, yeast, and soy are frequent culprets causing sensitivities leading to SPD behavior.

[ChristineW]

Thanks. The developmental specialist is going to observe DD at preschool tomorrow and then DS on Monday while he's helping with mommy and me class (he's at a different preschool b/c he needs more structure and a smaller class size). We'll schedule a time to discuss after the observations and she'll recommend whether to do a full evaluation through the school district. The school district early intervention offices share a parking lot with the preschool so its close by.

 

I am also going to ask the ped for allergy testing on all three--the baby is highly intolerant to soy protein and we are suspicious about milk and eggs.

 

Christine W

Edited October 28, 2010 by ChristineW