[joskimo]

Hannah is developmentally on target, but the SI is a huge barrier to mainstream life. I'm glad EI is provided in our state. So are you going to a private OT?

[funnymom]

We are moving to South Dakota. I am in the process of finding out what EI is like there. If they can not get services we are going with a private ot.

[iwantmybaby]

I'm new to this board, but post often an a Guatemalan adoption board. I've just been reading here for last few minutes because of some issues I'm having with my son. I'm curious do any of your children have trouble eating due to their sensory issues? We are struggling with this right now. I would love to hear feedback from you guys.

Thanks!

Tracy

[Barksum]

If textures are an issue this can be related to SI. Some kids are super sensitive to textures, even in their mouths. I'm trying to remember what my Ds used to do. (Dusting off the archives now...hmmm...let's see.... LOL) Ds had tactile defensiveness, which means he could not stand to be touched by others, couldn't live with tags on his clothing, elastic waistbands or cuffs, etc. He did not like slimely, gooey, sticky, or other textures. He did not like to have his hands dirty at all, ever. He was a very careful eater due to this. Honestly, he tended to be picky about ALOT of things. We mostly just got used to accomodating sometimes, but also working carefully to get him to overcome the tactile issues as well.

It took TIME, but he's doing very well now. In fact, he was so filthy today that even I was surprised. He no longer avoids substances, obviously! LOL

[joskimo]

my daughter is a seeker and has no problems with textures, etc, but because she's a seeker, sitting at the table is difficult for her. Her appetite varies but the table is a daily struggle. More so when we are in large settings.

If your son is under 3, it's worth an Early Intervention eval, perhaps there are other issues that you've chalked off as just being a toddler?

[Barksum]

Joskimo, we've invested in these cushions (like a Disc 'o' Sit, but from another company) that are 'underinflated' so that the child has to wiggle just a bit to stay balanced while sitting on them. This has helped a tiny bit for our non-sitter. Although it is still a struggle to get him to the table, and to actually perch on the chair for meals, he does sometimes make it for about 1/2 the meal now. We have to be right on top of it at all times, though, as he just takes off. This has always been an issue, and he's almost 6 now.

[momraine]

Just to give you hope, my son who also used to be very, very picky about everything he touched or ate, is doing very well. So well in fact that on a recent mission trip, my husband was very surprised when it was reported that our son (now 14) got a little upset when he got wet paint on his hands. The other kids claim he "freaked out". I had to remind my dh of what our son was like as preschooler. Had he gotten wet paint on his hands then, he really would have freaked out. Not just asked if he could please go wash his hands, but a total melt down that might have lasted hours. Poor dh had actually forgotten all about all that stuff. That's how good the boy is doing now. Oh and it turns out that he did not actually freak out, but did ask to wash his hands. It was not a little bit of paint, but someone painting above him dumped (accidently we assume) a whole pan of paint on his hand, which was sideways so the paint covered his hand front and back, all the way to the elbow. I don't think I would have liked it either, but a child who has overcome a lifetime of sensory issues would hate it, but he was actually pretty calm. They were just surprised at his reaction because he normally does not react to anything. You never know his feelings from his face. We joke that he would make a good vulcan becuase he does not show emotions, so for him to show any discomfort or displeasure was shocking to his friends.

[Barksum]

Momraine, you remind me of when we were working with our Ds and his SI stuff. He used to have tantrums over that kind of thing, too. They also lasted for hours. It was so very frustrating for all of us!

We would finger paint with pudding, whipped cream, finger paint, whatever we could think of in whatever texture we could find. He would paint with the very tip of his pointer finger, then lift his finger from the page and run to the bathroom to wash his hands. Then he would dip the tip of his finger in another color and delicately swirl it on the paper, then run and wash his hands. It used to take a more hand soap to paint one picture than it did paint! ROFL I remember the first time he did two finger tips in the paint; the pointer finger from each hand. Then one day he put his WHOLE HAND IN THE PAINT! It might have been pudding. Can't remember that part, just that he did his whole hand.

[qs mom]

My son was in an orphanage for 2 years. So he would anything - food or not!

But, he did would not eat anything that had multiple texures - ice cream with spinkles, choc chips/nuts, oatmeal with fruit, yogurt with fruit. I don't really know if it was an SI thing, or that he didn't know how to adjust from something soft, to something he needed to chew.

He is also a tactile and movement seeker. He can't sit for dinner. His summer school program worked on having hims straddle the corner of his chair. It actually helps to a degree. There is no such thing as sitting back in a chair for him.

In kindergarten, before they got the move N sit, for him, they used and inflatable infant swim ring to sit on. It certainly did the trick. Instant focus!

[cherrymom]

Wow - I just read this whole thread and I could see my dd in so many of your posts. She was Drug exposed, she came to us at 8 mnths old eating no solids, having to be swaddled to sleep (yes at 8 mnths), had to be swaddled to take a bottle. Her transition to our home was difficult to say the least, honestly their were days I didn't know if I would make it. She didn't eat, she didn't sleep, she screamed if anyone would come to our house or we went to anyone elses house, she panics in any crowds. We are in the process of getting a private OT and a neuro physc evaluation. She is now 3 and in some ways doing better but in other ways the gap is getting wider. She's very verbal and developmentally completely on target. I need to read "the out of sync child" I just ordered into my local library. She is a sweet kid but I need to figure out how to help her.
Keep the advice coming...

[mrsred]

Our 7year old son will got a referal to start occupational therapy to help with sensory intergration. There is a waiting list (of course) so may take a few months. Pray for us that it can get started before school starts again in the fall.

[joskimo]

CherryMom - Your kiddo definitely sounds like mine! We were swaddling her to sleep but now we use a weighted blanket. We borrowed one from the early intervention program. One of the issues we're facing is that our dought is 100% completely on target develomentally so when she ages out of EArly Intervention this winter, we may or may not be eligible for the next level of services which is through the school district. So I"m pushing for addition evaluations, in part to help our referral, in part to make sure we've collected all diagnosis which may be applicable, and in part that if she doesn't qualify for services, I'll know what to do to help her on my own.

Mrs.Red - can you son access services through the school district?

I've read 4 books on Sensory kids now and my favorite that I most recommend is Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder by Lucy Jane Miller. It really helped me a lot.

[teachbear]

I teach special ed and we have a very good OT that works on sensory issues with seveal of our students (some with autism, some with sensory issues and FAS). I have read several of the books on sensory intergration to help understand what I need to do to help. I don't require my students to sit at thier desk if is an issue due to sensory issues or ADHD, but I do require them to have some part of thier body touching the desk or chair, this drove my teaching assistant crazy, part of the reason I have a new one for next year.
Josimo I would ask the peditrician to refer your daughter for a nero-psych evaluation, as this will provide imformation that may qualify your daughter for preschool special ed services. You might want to see if your health insurance will cover private OT or going to a center that specializes in sensory issues.
I had a student this past year that respond well to having his head rubbed and deep presure on the head and shoulders, he would ask for you to push on his head. Our kindergarten teacher had a student that would asked to be squished to get deep pressure. You have to learn what works for your child, document it, and be presistent with special education the squeky wheel that knows the law will often get more then the parent that says well the school is the expert. I also recomend you bring a friend to IEP meetings to help you process everything and bring a list of questions and services you feel your child qualifies and the data to back it up. Good luck

[cherrymom]

The weighted blanket is a great idea. She does have trouble calming. She also has really odd fears that arise and can take some getting over. This usually gets magnified when there is change. ie. we went to my sisters for a week and we came home with several new "fears": she wouldn't sit in the bathtub without screaming, walking over cracks or holes in playground equipment or across our deck(something she's always done), swinging on the swings (she'll ask to do it and then absolutely panic the second she starts to move).

of course then there is the putting on socks and shoes - very tricky and can often cause a meltdown or utter panic.

Then you get the friends who say 'its just a phase" she'll get over it. I say you don't live with her and see the panic in her eyes that dart back and forth until you make it better and then the meltdown when you can't make it better. We need tools to help her.

[momtutu]

I totally understand the panic stricken look you are describing. My son gets it too. I try to explain to friends and family and they just do not get it either. It helps that others are going through the same thing and DO understand.