SPD???

[CarynB]

My DD 4 was just diagnosed with SPD about a month ago and we've moved to an area where our insurance will not cover any OT visits. I am hoping that some of you may have experience with this....? She's just starting her K program with MFW (meaning she's still into the first week) she's VERY bright but I don't want to push her too much due to this diagnosis and not really being sure myself of what may lie ahead for us. We weren't even going to do K with her this year but we ordered it with her sister's curriculum and when she saw it all she begged to start hers as well. 8-)

Do any of you have children with SPD and if so has it caused any delays academically? She's behind in some of her gross motor skills and things like that and she also has to CONSTANTLY make noises, hum, sing, yell etc...although she is pretty oblivious to the fact she does this. I wonder what our homeschool will look like as she ages and the others are schooling also, will her ability to control some of these things increase?

Any thoughts will help!
Blessings,
Caryn

[Kathy in MD]

Often auditory and developmental vision problems are associated with SPD. Some OT's believe that SPD actually underlie these problems. SPD also interfers with motor planning. Since motor planning is some of the first organizing a young child does, this inability impacts more advanced organizational demands. This, according to some, even impacts executive thinking skills, the essential thinking skills developed after puberty. There are other, less basic problems that SPD can also affect.

Because of the major impacts SPD can have, I urge you to find the money to cover the therapy now. Fortunately your dd is still young enough for therapy to almost completely remediate it. My ds, with severe SPD, started therapy when he was 7.5. Though it helped immensely, at the age of 14 he still has major impacts on both academics and self-esteem.

If your insurance covers physical therapy, you may be able to find one of the extremely rare PT's who is trained in SPD therapy. If you can't find a PT with this training, make sure the OT you find is trained, and preferable certified in, SPD (or it's older name, Sensory Integration Dysfunction). There are many specialties in OT and you want an OT that has had hands on training in SPD. It can't be learned from a book.

This doesn't mean that she can't still be schooled while under going therapy, or even before. But it does mean things will be extremely difficult for her. For a child with severe SPD, the struggle may be so difficult that he stops trying to learn if he doesn't get something right away. So what ever you do, make it easy and fun AND NEVER, EVER EVEN HINT OF JUDGING OR BECOMING FRUSTRATED. Try to keep her from comparing herself to her siblings and friends as well. Emphisis skills that that she does well during this period as well. Buckling down on the hard stuff can be done once the basic physical and cognitive skills are mastered.

You mentioned concern about the noises she makes. This is an auditory defense. The SPD child is easily startled by sudden noises in the environment because the senses controlling the inner ear don't react as quickly as a normal person's. As a result, the child makes constant noise so unexpected noises don't cause problems, including at times physical pain. Also watch for possible auditory and language problems. My ds still made noises for years after finishing OT, as well as being easily distracted by noises. We solved some of this by having him wear headphones while listening to music.

You mentioned that your dd had gross motor problems. There were 3 sports recommended for my ds to do after completing therapy -- swimming, martial arts and horseback riding. However avoid instructors who want precise form, your dd won't be able to do it, at least for several years.

Does your dd also have fine motor control problems? If so do as much academics as possible orally. Work on excersises that will strengthen the hand muscles, such as playing with clay and crumpling paper. Develop her pincer grip (thumb, index and middle finger grip) before even thinking about teaching writing. These excersises can include putting beans and pasta shapes in egg cups and having her use them to make collages. She'll be using the pincer grip to pull them out of the egg cups. Eventually use Writing without Tears to teach penmanship. It was developed by an OT. Teach her the letter sounds with large (3-4") sandpaper letters. Have her trace them with her finger as she learns her letters. She will be learning both her letters and her gross muscles will be learning the shape of the letters before she picks up a pencil. HWT probably has something suitable, if not check a Montessori supply house for the appearance and make them yourself. Math should be strictly manipulative driven. There's no need for a pencil at this age.

Multi-step directions and sequencing problems will likely be a problem. Set up an activity just to teach following instructions. Montessori has an activity called polishing the brass horse. There are 14, precise steps to thisactivity. I don't think my ds ever successfully completed it, but it helped him. Take it slowly and have tons of patience on this type of activity. This problem is an outgrowth of the motor planing problems. Work from day one on organizing her work and room. Label drawers, closets, shelves and folders to help her remember her organization. And then MAKE SURE she uses the system, and do it constantly! (Guess who didn't and ds and I both suffer for it today)

Watch for developmental vision problems, including when her eyes don't track smoothly or occasionally one eye flips to one side (this can be hard to spot). These won't be picked up in a standard eye exam. At the first hint of problems in learning how to read, arrange for a developmental vision exam with a developmental optomotrist.

SPD can have severe, long lasting effects. I've given you a few hints on how to deal with it academically, but the best advise I can give you is to get your dd therapy as soon as possible. Unfortunately it can't be done with a strictly home program. But SPD therapy, from a good, trained therapist, is one of the best investments you can make for your child.

[Laurie4b]

What she said.

:iagree:

I want to underscore Kathy's recommendation that you find the money to pay for the therapy. I've had a child through therapy and insurance paid so little that we ended up paying a bundle. It made a HUGE difference in: his sense of self (from labeling himself "bad" to being a joyful child), in his ability to concentrate in academics, in his interactions with others (wasn't irritating them constantly with bumping into them, spilling things, messing up things, making noises, etc.), some improvement in gross motor planning, major improvement in vestibular sensory seeking behavior. major improvement in eye tracking. Like Kathy, my ds started right after he turned 7. We saw huge improvements, but there are still areas of significant struggle. What I would do to go back to when he was 4 and be able to totally remediate! Please don't let this opportunity pass her by. Don't let treatable disabilities begin to profoundly influence her sense of self. Whether you borrow, accept help from grandparents, get a part-time job temporarily, whatever it takes. You cannot do OT at home with the same effects as a therapist will have. For one thing, you don't have the equipment; for another, you don't have the experience, and will miss things and misinterpret things.

Think of it as she has prediabetes. If you treat it, you can avoid diabetes. If you don't, your child copes with diabetes her whole life.

I didn't even know about SPD until a couple months before I took ds in for an eval. How I wish I had known sooner!

[CarynB]

Thank you both for your advice, it is greatly appreciated. We'll have to figure something out to help her. We also only learned about SPD about 3 months ago, so we were able to get her assessed right away but I'm still learning about it all myself!

I actually met a homeschooling mommy in my town who has 2 children with SPD so she has provided me with some helpful information as well.

8-)
Caryn

[oceandaughter]

I also recommend therapy. I have a child on the milder end of the spectrum but we are now starting to see some auditory processing and visual perception issues. He did about a year of OT at age 4 and it made such a difference! Now at age 6 he is in both OT and speech therapy (it began with reading and memory problems) until November when we move overseas! (Looking for therapy over there now so we don't have too much of an interruption.) We also have him on a gluten free diet and I am planning on weaning him off of dairy as well. The gluten free diet makes a lot of difference as well.

But, in the meantime (or just for some fun extra things you can do) I recommend the book: Starting Sensory Integration Therapy at Home. Now, granted, it is not a replacement for OT, but we do enjoy the activities.

Jo

[Cadam]

It can have an impact but it has so much to do with the type of SPD and the child. My dd with SPD is academically advanced. We work around her small motor issues and she loves her school work.

MFW is a very gentle program and I think you will both enjoy it. Get her gum to keep her mouth occupied. The really thick chewy stuff that your dentist will hate. Find a local shiners or Easter Seals. They have scholarship programs. Your dd needs the OT and if there isn't an in network OT within reasonable distance the insurance co. is required to pay for someone out of network. (if they otherwise cover OT that is) You may only need 10 - 15 visit now so you can learn what to do and set up a home therapy program.

Read "The out-of-sync- child". It is worth it's weight in gold.

I don't know what your homeschool will look like. Mine is hard, very hard but my dd has issues out side of the SPD as well. It is all so worth it though. Where else could she get the therapy she needs, remedial handwriting and advanced math and reading? The struggles are great but the rewards are great as well.

[oceandaughter]

Also, my son's therapy office offers scholarships and grants. We don't qualify for the scholarships but they do manage to find grant money to cover his orthodics every year (they cost between $1200 and $1700). Grant money is also helping us out with copays for the current therapy.

[CarynB]

Thanks for the tip about the grants. As I said, we just moved so I'm not familiar with what programs might be available out here but I'm definitely going to do some research!

Thanks again to all of you!
Blessings,
Caryn

[cranberrymom]

Hi- I have a similar situation with no insurance, my 4 yo son was diagnosed in Feb. I have appealed it to my insurance company(45 days to hear back) but I am not waiting for anyone else to help.
I have prayed for direction and this is where I have been led. Out of Sync Child is an excellent resource to get a profile for your child's needs. The out of sinc Child has fun to set up activities to meet their sensory needs. I constantly am giving my son activities to meet his Hunger(he is sensory seeking and some avoidance. Praying specifically for his issues daily, hourly at times. I have also done major diet changes, I am treating yeast build up, giving EFA's, and eliminating as much junk(colors, sugars, and processed foods) as I can. I also have become militant about naps. His 3pm. to 7 pm meltdowns were too much. If you met my son today you may not even know he has issues, he has improved immensely. In March he was on the verge of being asked to leave his preschool due to being so "out of Sync". They now see the happy boy that I know was there, he was just so overwhelmed with the sensory issues He couldn't enjoy life. Some information that helped me was at http://www.diannecraft.com/article-001.htm
Sensory Issues vary so much that is it important to keep a journal of your daughters behaviors so you can be aware of the triggers that upset her. I have had a many aha moments as I began to study my son without just thinking he was a misbehaved brat.
One big victory lately was that I can actually wash his hair without his clawing and screaming at me like I was trying to hurt him. The past few weeks he is very calm about it about it and has no problem. We used to joke about the neighbors were going to think I was abusing him every time he had a bath. So he only got baths if he really needed it.
HTH, Terri

[Momto5]

Caryn,

How are you doing? I hope you are finding resources to help your child. I too have a SPD kid and OT has been a blessing. Another book I have to recommend is Raising a Sensory Smart Child. It is written by a mom and her child's OT and I found it a little less clinical than The Out-of-Sync Child. We do love The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun. It is a book full of things you can do at home to helf meet a child's sensory needs.