Sensory int. dsyfunction? How severe?
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| Mon, 09-12-2005 - 1:21pm |
Hi,
I read that a lot of kids on the spectrum have SID. My DS, Jack, is 4 and PDD-NOS and he definitely does big time. He didn't have sensory stuff 'til about age 2, when he refused to wear shoes (or clothes, for the most part!) Then he started (as we can now identify) seeking sensory input -- running around, crashing into furniture, etc. He's non-stop all day.
I asked his private OT yesterday how he'd rate Jack's SID and he said "Severe." This wasn't really a shock to me, just reiterated how imperative it is that we get our hands around this.
I can't help but think if we got his sensory under control we could get more language out of him (he speaks quite a bit when his sensory needs are being met.)
Anyway, I'm curious about your experiences with ASDs and SID. And SIDs ang language development, etc.
Thanks,
Cathy

Weston was Dx in June. He was 8 at the time. We've known that he had sensory issues since he was about a year. We really didn't know there was anything we could do though. When the psychologist eval'd him she said his SID was severe. The OT that he had in 2nd grade said the same. As he's understood his sensory needs better (we use a modified how is your engine running program)his language has exploded esp when he's in meltdown or near meltdown.
Betsy
We have one Asperger's boy (13) with some sensory issues, and we have one 6 year old with 10 very severe sensory issues, but he is not on the spectrum. It's an odd combination, but, one that allows some interesting observations. The younger boy can get extremely non-compliant when his sensory issues are being taxed - and teachers start saying things like "he doesn't understand social cues," and "he doesn't make eye contact." Well, to parents of a child on the spectrum, that obviously sends up red flags.
The Alert program (how does your engine run?) has helped IMMENSLY with the younger boy and his ability to calm himself down and interact socially. The older boy wouldn't "get" the social thing even if he had the sensory piece removed. The difference seems to be the ability to project/speculate about someone else's state of mind. Simply not possible in the Asperger's child.
However, I do think sensory work would help him be more comfortable (can't get everyone to agree on this)even if it didn't help him to understand how other's tick better. If your child has identifiable sensory issues, I can't imagine they wouldn't benefit from good OT. If a child can't understand what to do, and the thing that they are trying to do is really hard for them as well, your battle is twice as hard.
I'd like to have a quarter for everytime we've said to the younger boy that he needs to pick a different way to stim because the way he has picked isn't socially appropriate. That just kind of wouldn't go over with the older boy - but the younger is very motivated to not "appear" different.
Jackie
Hi Cathy, My 4 yr old
All 4 of mine are sensory kids with 2 on the spectrum and one borderline.
As for severity, no one has ever officially quantified. Mike couldn't even make it through the SIPT eval (the big sensory praxis test) so I guess that would qualify as severe. If I would have to rate I would say that Cait, Mike and Dave range between severe and moderate depending on thier day and how things are going. Emily's is mild I would say but was more moderate when younger. Her's is more lack of coordination and some eating issues.
It has just gotten to be part of life. Sensory interventions and modifications are just a part of everyday life and in every aspect. SI therapy has definitely helped in some areas of attending, and they definitely are better as they get older or are under less stress but for us it has been a life long thing of just how they are. Isn't bad, just needs to be considered. It really affects odd things though. For instance, Cait has a hard time with motor planning and realizing where her body is in space so she breaks lots of things. Not meaning to but it seems like she just overpowers them. She even broke the shower handle. For a weakling girl with hypotonia, that is pretty impressive.
The biggest thing is that stress makes sensory issues worse and to know what sensory interventions will help an individual child feel better. What works for one may not work with the other. Today, Cait's clothes may be ok and tomorrow they may cause a meltdown.
Renee
With my ds (6-AS) it was really the SID issues at first that led us to seek help, and eventually led us to the AS dx. He had alot of problems with clothes and shoes, not wanting to take them off, that we thought we were dealing with OCD. It was about this time that he was being evaluated for fine and gross motor delays, and the OT brought up the idea of SID. She was a godsend, we started the wilburger brushing thing, and implemented a "sensory diet" which helped alot, and we still do some of this stuff today. Ryan in some ways is still a sensory seeker, doing the crashing, falling etc.. but not nearly as intense as before. Alot of the clothes issues and sound issues have gone away.
As for language.. I think for us just understanding what was going on with Ryan helped us calm him down, and he began to be able to tell us what was bothering him so we could help him with it.
Gotta go..
Eric (3.5) has always been sensory-seeking in terms of proprioceptive input. Pushing, jumping, climbing, leaning, hyper. But at the same time, he would avoid noise, lights, touch.
Most of the time (except for haircuts that were murder!) instead of tantruming, his way of dealing with too much visual/auditory input was to basically shut down, block everything out, and stim. As a little guy, if we were in a mall, grocery store, airport, museum, anything with lots of noise and commotion he would cry. If I picked him up, he would nestle his face in my chest and "zone out." I also used a front baby carrier for the longest time b/c it kept him calm.
As he got older, in those noisy settings he'd just get glassy-eyed and start spinning things or try to get away to a corner etc. When we started OT when he was about 19 mos. she started us on the brushing protocol which helped and also met his proprioceptive needs with various activities (swings, balls, trampolines etc.). The OT considered his SID to be moderate. As he was able to be more in tune with the world, while he was receiving ST at the same time, he quickly became more verbal. Our ST also made the room very visually calm, as well as quiet, so Eric would not get distracted and could concentrate. We sort of did this at home too.
The SID seems to come into play with adaptive behavior for Eric too. He obviously could not "feel" it to potty train. For a long time he could not "feel" that he had food all over his face. However, at this same time, he didn't want anyone to touch him gently. Bear hugs were ok, wiping applesauce off the mouth was not ok.
Eventually, the sensitivity to touch fell away. Now he will tell us that lights are too bright, turn off the tv, stop talking etc. But he seems largely able to handle things like the mall, grocery store etc. without getting upset or spacing out. He does still obviously prefer quieter places, he seems happiest outdoors in a "country" setting with no urban noise, or in the swimming pool under water where he gets the most peaceful look on his face.
Eric still desperately needs a lot of proprioceptive input every day. But he also needs a certain amount of quiet time too. It kind of seems like a contradiction, but that's just Eric! He sleeps under pillows or sometimes on the floor. He also likes to "perch" on things (arms of chairs, the edge of his bed, me!).
I do think SID is a big part of this puzzle.
Had to comment on SID being a big part of the puzzle comment.
You are so right. I am mod on a Asperger board that includes a ton of asperger adults and have had lots of conversations with adults in the past. Consistently one of teh biggest problems I have heard is "sensory overload" and similar frustrations. many have spoken of sensory overload often leading to meltdowns that as an adult are embarrassing.
Really, along with difficulty with peer interactions and reading people comes this sensory piece where everything is just a mess. They can be so oversensitive to some things and undersensitive to others.
If you read books by adults with autism you will see the same. Temple grandin and her squeeze machine. Donna Prince-Hughes talks about going into a dark room and limiting all sensory stimuli after a taxing day so she can rejuvinate.
I find for my kids when their sensory system is in a good place they do a whole lot better in everything. When thier snesory system is off everything is off. And when they are stressed thier sensory system gets off easier. It is a vicious circle.
Renee
I also wanted to say that my other 2 boys-- Warren 11, ADD and my Owen 3, no Dx but quite likely ADHD, both have what I would consider moderately SID. Warren had OT for awhile at school but he seems to be able to regulate his now-- I think maturity has helped. My girls are sensory as well, but much more mildly. I have several sensory issues and often have sensory overload-- esp noise. I agree that my Weston doesn't seem to have the social cues and understanding that some stims are not appropriate-- though his OT now really is big on making sure he cuts out the inappropriate stims.
I also think that SID is at least one part of the ASD puzzle, though i know it's not always part of the puzzle because my friend's son with AS doesn't have the sensory problems, or they are so mild that they don't affect him the same way as my boys.
Betsy