Sensory Integration/Sensory Processing Evaluation

[Jamison'smama]

Has anyone's child had an evaluation for sensory integration/sensory processing disorder???

[coasterqueen]

What do mean per se? We have 'sort of' had an evaluation. Megan's feeding team has explained to us that Megan has sensory integration issues and has sent us to a speech therapist and an occupational therapist to deal with these issues. Both therapists have said she has serious sensory issues. They do not like to diagnose the disorder at her age, though. Why, I don't know. But yes, we went through an evaluation of sorts.

ETA: I have several informational packets at home on this topic and was advised to buy a book on it that I still need to get. I can't remember the name, but I can scan and send you the info if you'd like (tomorrow).

This post has been edited by coasterqueen on Jan 11 2007, 07:30 AM

[mom21kid2dogs]

Not Olivia because we weren't seeing a need in that area. I have worked with many families and children who have, though.

[Jamison'smama]

Okay, what I am looking for....

Jamison was referred to an OT for a sensory integration evaluation. I have suspected some sensory issues for quite sometime but couldn't get a handle on just what. She has some serious oral issues. She chews constantly, primamily on non-food items, stickers, kleenex, plastic and more often her finger and toenails until they bleed. I know she has an iron deficiency that we are addressing but it seems to be more. She is a very spirited little girl who is highly emotional. She meets many of the criteria on one section of the sensory checklist at Sensory-processing-disorder.com I was referred to an OT for an eval and I wondered if anyone had gone through one of these and what they do. I could ask when I call but I wanted a parent perspective. It is a little costly and we are still debating it at this point.

[coasterqueen]

I wish we could get Kylie in, but I never pushed it with our doctor. We are trying to handle her sensory issues on our own. Our feeding team has expressed she definitely has sensory issues just from what they've seen of her when she comes with us for Megan's visits.

Megan's evaluation started out in a room where they first played with beans, other texture items to see if she could handle putting her fingers in it and messing with them. Then they moved on to playdoh. Then the OT put her on this flat swing board that was suspended from the ceiling. She first had her sit on it and lightly swung her. Megan didn't like it so she tried laying her down and giving her playdoh - Megan could then somewhat handle the motion, but not much. After that we went into a room where there was a ball pit. Megan freaked out in the ballpit. She stayed at the edge or outside of it and played with the balls. Then the last thing we did was she put Megan on a scooter and pulled her around the OT floor. Megan reverted to her usual ways of blanket, sucking her thumb and just shut herself off from the world. Her appointment was supposed to go another hour, but like I said Megan just shut down and the OT was afraid if she pushed the visit any further she would not do well the next time we visit. We had this appointment right before Christmas. We haven't heard back from the insurance company as to whether they are going to pay for regular visits, but the OT has suggested we come once a week for a few months and then we'll see from there. They definitely said Megan has issues with her environment. She's also VERY oral. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING the girl sees either goes in her mouth, ears, nose or eyes. Yep, the eyes. She saw a screw on the table once and wondered about it so she started to put it in her eye. I ran toward her so fast and grabbed it. It could have been bad. She just doesn't understand. She will also put anything, like a computer cord, anything she'll try to 'plug in' to her ears. She puts anything in her mouth too. Megan is also all about total destruction. You can't get her to sit down and play at all. If there is a room with something put away it has to be torn out.

When she can't handle her environment...say we are at the mall...if she can't handle it she will literally plant herself lying on the floor with her blanket and thumb and just shut herself out. She just stares off in space. Also if she can't handle things she just goes into a massive tantrum to where she'll throw up, choke, gag, whatever and they told us the problem is she can't stop them. It's like her body won't allow it no matter how hard she tries to stop them and it goes to far. It's crazy.

ETA: I'm sure the evaluation process will be a bit different for Jamison due to her age. They will first have you fill out some questionnaires, ask you what you think is wrong, etc and then do an evaluation based on your concerns.

This post has been edited by coasterqueen on Jan 11 2007, 08:16 AM

[Jamison'smama]

Thanks, I just re-checked out The Out of Sync Child from the library. I remember reading parts of it when Jamison was 2 but I imagine I would see more symptoms now. You should check out that website that I linked to above. Uook under Symptons checkist it is pretty interesting.

[coasterqueen]

Out of Sync Child..that's the one! I don't know why I didn't think about checking it out at the library. I might do that first before buying it.

I will also check out that link. I've done a lot of research on the subject, but don't think I"ve come across that site before.

[dka_27]

I think my daughter might have some sensory issues. She hates seams and tags in her clothes. Getting her ready for school in the mornings has been a nightmare. I have started cutting out all the tags in her shirts and pants but the socks are the biggest issue. We will go through 10 pairs every morning before she finds some that don't hurt her toes. If she can't get the seam adjusted just right across her toes she takes them off and we have to start over. Has anyone else had this problem, especially with the socks? Any suggestions?

[boyohboyohboy]

we had an OT come to the house and she brought all kinds of "toys" with her and asked him to do simple command type things and she watched how he did them. it was about a 2hour amount of time she just played with him. and then from watching him gave us her opinion on the matter.
i can say that with the ideas she had given us, his oral stim. is much better. he was hyper sensative.
and he is better about the tags on his clothes and the socks..although there are days that he is horrible..its farther apart.

he can still get super hyper but again it seems like the episodes have improved.
he can stand for us to touch him and hug him now, and that took 2 yrs.

good luck. i do think the OT helped.