S.P.D - Learning to love life

"Imagine.. You're in a car going 90 mph, it's a 100 degrees outside, no air in the car, windows all up, the screaming baby next to you has just filled his diaper, the radio blaring heavy metal and you can't control any of it".

This is "Doc".

Sensory Processing Disorder is a term that refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses.

Some of the difficulties, including:

Bothered by clothing fabrics, labels, tags, etc.
Distressed by light touch or unexpected touch
Dislikes getting messy
Resists grooming activities
Very sensitive to sounds (volume or frequency)
Squints, blinks, or rubs eyes frequently
Bothered by lights or patterns
High activity level or very sedentary
Oral hypersensitivity
“Picky eating”
Fine motor delays (e.g., crayons, buttons/snaps, beading, scissors)
Gross motor delays (e.g., walking, running, climbing stairs, catching a ball )
Illegible handwriting
Moves awkwardly or seems clumsy
Low or high muscle tone

What is like to have SPD? A mom once explain it to me like this: "It is like Spider-Man ...they hear, see things, tastes, and feels things on a heightened level or in some cases a lower level."

When It's More Than Just Squirrels.

Hulk being hulk! Hulk was a very lively baby, who hated to sleep alone. As he grew, he found a love for drawing. We would find his creations everywhere. On the walls, furniture, doors, and on any paper he could find. He has an amazing ability! He also has some uniquenesses. He loves dressing-up and being different characters, sometimes I think he'd rather be them than himself. Hulk has sensory processing disorder. The food on his plate can't touch. He occasionally has poor eye contact. Some noises, materials, and smells bother him. I noticed these things around the same time Tink was diagnosed with ASD, so of course the thought was in the back of my head. Once you have one child on the spectrum, you get this radar for other kids. Hulk started school, Kindergarten, First grade went well. Except at home he was very hyperactive, impulsive, and couldn't focus. He was diagnosed with ADHD. By the end of First grade he was falling behind in reading and his t

Preparing for the future

For the past week I have been trying to keep my mind off the results of Doc's evaluation, still waiting for the phone call. I have been working on some ideas for the new sensory/therapy room. S ensory bins are wonderful hands on fun for many ages including toddlers and preschoolers! Many skills can be learned and explored through sensory bin play including social and emotional communication, literacy, fine motor skills, and more! Sensory bins provide an outlet for children to engage in a meaningful way and also receive sensory input that their little minds and bodies crave. Exploring through touch and feel can be a positive experience for most children. Sensory input from sensory bins works with your child's nervous system. Some fillers may be preferable to others, so don't give up trying! Let your child be your guide! Use a sensory bin to talk with your child about what he or she is sensing! Great communication and self-awareness activity. What do

Before you judge, understand why.

I really wish there were no judgmental people in this world, but there are. Autism is a condition which is difficult for many to understand and, once again, our family has experienced ignorance. This post is to all of the people that have seen and judged my daughter lately - a six year old child sitting in a jogging stroller whining and crying, yelling and screaming, kicking her feet, repeatedly pulling the visor down and demanding things. This is what YOU see. You might think "What a spoiled brat!" or "She's too big for that stroller." She isn't doing it to get her way. This is Autism. Let me explain... She rides in a stroller because it's the safest place for her. Crowded, fast-paced and noisy environments cause her anxiety, which triggers a sensory overload and she tries to flee. She also has Joint Hypermobilty Syndrome that makes her to become very tired and causes pain in her joints. Although she tries very hard to conform anywhere sh

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