What is the difference?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2005
What is the difference?
2
Sun, 10-16-2005 - 9:55pm
What is the difference between sensory integration disorder and autism? Is it just speech?
Just wondering if anyone knows.
Thanks,
Teresa
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 10-16-2005 - 10:57pm

There is a huge difference actually.

Sensory integration disorder is basically the brain has a hard time processing and acting on sensory input. Most kids with Autism spectrum disorder will have sensory integration issues and many will have sensory integration disorder in addition to the autism. It is a huge part of the struggle most ASD kids have, but it is only one part and more of a side thing.

In fact, it in not neccessary for a child to have sensory integration problems to be diagnosed with autism.

Autism spectrum disorders are basically seen as a triad or difficulties. 1)social interaction, 2)play and imagination skills and 3) communication skills. The SID can affect a childs ability to play, or interact socially but it SID alone is not and autism spectrum disorder. Plus the social skills and play challenges that are caused by SID are qualitatively different than ASD. ie, it is a completely different kind of social challenge, etc.

Most kids with neurologically challenges will have some level of SID. This includes kids with ADHD, tourettes, etc. Kids also can just have SID and not have another challenge. My NT daughter has sensory issues and likely could be considered SID when you look at her vision processing issues and how that has happened and such, but as far as social interactions, play and communication she is totally typical.

Renee

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 10-17-2005 - 8:03am

Renee explained it very well. I just wanted to add my 2 cents. I have 5 children. one Dx w/ HFA (high functioning autism), another w/ ADD-NOS, 2 typical DDs and a 3 yr old waiting to see. They all have sensory integration issues. The DS w/ HFA has the most severe SID and the DDs are the least affected, the other 2 boys are somewhere in the middle. But the girls interact w/ peers normally (as long as they talk in a normal tone or get too close and touch them) and play normally and learn fairly well in a regular classroom setting. My boys do not have normal interaction w/ peers or in classroom situations.

Betsy