My name is Aimee and I am a mother to four great kids: Francie, 8, Fiver, 5, Sally, almost 2, and Bun, 4 months (names changed to protect the innocent . . . and sometimes the guilty!). I am privileged to be invited to talk about all of the shenanigans that go on at our house.
In addition to all of the usual occupational hazards of parenthood, my husband Rob and I are navigating the waters of a special needs child. Our son, Fiver, has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), which is an umbrella term that includes all forms of this disorder. It's one big umbrella.
Never heard of SPD? Don't worry, you're not alone. I had never heard of it until I found out Fiver had it, so I started reading. I turned to any book, any article, any scrap of research, "Dr. Google". You name it, I've probably read it.
In short? I was confused. What exactly were we dealing with here?
SPD (also known as "sensory integration dysfunction") is a complex neurological disorder. The term "sensory processing" refers to the nervous system's ability to receive messages from the senses and turn them into appropriate responses for the environment. For example: How much pressure do I need to exert in order for my fingers to hit these computer keys to type this post?
In individuals with SPD, the senses work and the brain works, but they don't work together. Somewhere down the line, the message gets scrambled and the brain cannot produce the appropriate response. The lightest touch can seem like a punch, or a background noise can become unbearable.
A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and respond to information from their senses. This disorder makes everyday tasks extraordinarily difficult. Symptoms of SPD occur within a spectrum of severity, but the key is that they are significant enough to disrupt daily life. While everyone has occasional glitches of the nervous system (I myself am a Grade A Klutz), people with SPD have chronic and disruptive difficulties.
I think this list from the SPD Foundation is an excellent primer:
TEN FUNDAMENTAL FACTS ABOUT SPD:
- Sensory Processing Disorder is a complex disorder of the brain that affects developing children and adults.
- Parent surveys, clinical assessments, and laboratory protocols exist to identify children with SPD.
- At least 1 in 20 people in the general population is affected by Sensory Processing Disorder.
- In children who are gifted and those with ADHD, Autism, and fragile X syndrome, the prevalence of SPD is much higher than in the general population.
- Studies have found a significant difference between the physiology of children with SPD and children who are typically developing.
- Studies have found a significant difference between the physiology of children with SPD and children with ADHD.
- Sensory Processing Disorder has unique sensory symptoms that are not explained by other known disorders.
- Heredity may be one cause of the disorder.
- Laboratory studies suggest that the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are not functioning typically in children with SPD.
- Preliminary research data support decades of anecdotal evidence that occupational therapy is an effective intervention for treating the symptoms of SPD.
– from Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children With Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) by Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR
There are so many different parts to an SPD diagnosis that it would be impossible to outline them in one post. There is also a lot of emerging research in the field, and I hope to use my little corner here as a way to spread the news about any developments.
Along the way, I'll share Fiver's story and the story of our life with him. I hope you'll join me, because there is not a doubt in my mind that he is a blessing to us, my friends.
(You can also visit me anytime over at my blog The Mother Load, where you can always find the good, the bad, and the ugly of this whole motherhood gig.)
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I'm so glad you are writing about SPD. I've always wanted to know more about Fiver's world. And I'm sure there are other parents out there wondering what is going on with their children that will be able to connect with your words and experience.
I am soooo glad you are doing this series. I have been dealing with this with my oldest for several years. Even though I am trained as a physical therapist it took me awhile to realize what it was. We had some very frustrating times when I was blaming poor behavior and it was really my poor boy's nervous system out of control. So many people are dealing with this and don't realize it. And the added bonus is that alot of the calming techniques work on non-SPD kids in a pinch! I can't wait to hear about your experience. These stories are rarely boring!
What a gift you are giving to your readers! Insight into your life and support for those who are also dealing with the challenges of SPD. I have a friend with a son that is starting on this journey of life and reading your stories will surely help me understand their struggles.
My nephew has Fragile X and SPD, when he was diagnosed I read as much about it as I could. Have worked in education, I think more educators need to make themselves aware of this issue.