SPD

Here's a little explanation about Sensory Processing Disorder that I mentioned before.

(From the SPD foundation website)

Sensory processing 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. Whether you are biting into a hamburger, riding a bicycle, or reading a book, your successful completion of the activity requires processing sensation or "sensory integration."

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD, formerly known as "sensory integration dysfunction") is a condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses. It can be likened to a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks. Motor clumsiness, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, school failure, and other impacts may result if the disorder is not treated effectively.

Now before all of you read this blog with skepticism, especially those of you with small children, just hear me out. Many of these symptoms are seen in toddlers and small children. Some children also exhibit some of these behaviors for well past the grade school years. The difference, is that in children with SPD, the symptoms interfere with everyday life. They can't function at a normal level because of the disorder. just keep that in mind.

So basically, when Landan gets input from his 5 senses as well as his muscles and joints, his brain gets them all mixed up and can't tell him how to respond appropriately. This makes him behave in very difficult and trying ways.

The way I can understand it is this. I am not the greatest of housekeepers, but eventually my house will get so cluttered with stuff on the floor and counters that I can't stand it anymore. I can't think and I get anxious and stressed because there's too much clutter. I have to clean or I just can't function. Landan feels like that ALL THE TIME.

Landan is very tactile sensitive. He hates wearing jeans...loves wearing shorts and t-shirts...and hates socks and shoes and tags. We have a meltdown every morning if it's cold and I make him wear pants. EVERY MORNING. He doesn't like standing in line, he either pushes or hits kids or he hugs them so tight it hurts. He does this because he doesn't like the soft touch he gets from kids standing too close to him and so he seeks out that deep touch of hitting or hugging too hard. This makes interacting with his peers and other kids difficult.

He's also very active. He seeks movement to help him organize himself. It's actually calming to him to move. For those of you that tap your foot or chew on a pencil to concentrate...it's like that but more intense. He needs that input to his joints from jumping or running or pushing something in order for his body to know where it is in space and to feel grounded. So he needs to move to stay calm and concentrate. This is a difficult thing for school.

He has difficulty with transitions. I have to warn him many minutes before we do anything or go anywhere so he knows what's coming up next or he has a complete meltdown. If I say we are going to do something and then we don't do it or we are doing it later, he goes crazy. he wants to do it right now! This is why he likes routines so much, it's predictable and he knows what's coming next so the transitions are easier.

He also has difficulties regulating his emotions. This makes for many meltdowns and tantrums at home. Sometimes he gets so worked up that he can't calm down and you just have to let him cry it out until he falls asleep.

I guess he's also ruled by the reflexes that you have as a baby which is affecting his fine motor skills. Things like writing and drawing and cutting with scissors are difficult for him so occupational therapy will help with that too.

On the upside, his teachers all tell me he is very smart and that he is totally ready for kindergarten. I'm hoping with this occupational therapy he'll be able to overcome some of his problems enough so he can start school this year. We'll have to see though.

Anyway...that's my boy. Sometimes he can be very trying and it's tiring keeping up with him, but a lot of the time he's really sweet. He's always giving me compliments and he spits out the funniest sayings sometimes. I've already seen an improvement, he's never been a very cuddly baby or kid but now he cuddles with me a lot. I love it. He'll always be special to me.