SPD or Sensory Processing Disorder is also known as Sensory Integration, it refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from your senses and responds. For people with SPD their messages aren’t organized into the appropriate response. It can cause motor skill delay or disruption, behavioral issues, anxiety, and depression just to name a few.
My daughter is currently 5 years old. She was diagnosed with Sensory Perception Disorder around a year ago. The last 12 months have honestly been the most trying and difficult of my life. As I look back at them I wonder how I didn’t run screaming into a padded room. I am very thankful to the wonderful Occupational Therapist, Psychologist, Physical Therapist, and Psychiatrist that we've seen over the past year. Without them that padded room might have been my reality.
Two years ago I had never heard of SPD. Sissy started having trouble (delays and behavior) in her 2nd year of preschool. Her teachers wanted me to talk to another mom with an older child who had some of the same issues as her. That mom was a life saver for me. She gave me so much knowledge and information, without her I wouldn't have known what path to take and what questions to ask my pediatrician. Sadly, there is a child in Little Man's class that has the same issues. I hope I have been able to help her mom at least a fraction of the help I received.
I have to say I love my pediatrician. Sissy had lots of severe food allergies and she was wonderful helping manage her diet and getting an allergist to see an infant. However, like so many people when I told her of Sissy's issue she immediately jumped to Autism. There is so much we don't understand about Autism and Sissy may be on the Spectrum, but none of her doctors can say for sure. I asked for a referral to a Psychiatrist and found a wonderful practice whose first instinct was to treat Sissy and not what disorder they thought she had. For over 7 months we treated her holistically. She did improve greatly, but reached a plateau last July. We changed things and still Sissy's dad and I noticed her behavior getting worse and her motor skills revert. Last October we cautiously decided to try a drug that is used to help people with SPD. Sissy is on 1/2 the dose recommended for her size and is doing much better!
Prior to see her Psychologist and Psychiatrist she would not wear shoes. Sissy only wore satin type clothes and spent most of her time at home in underpants only. She would only eat 3 things: pasta, bread, and chips. She lost weight, was listless, had no energy, and was a horrid sleeper. Since October she has started eating almost everything we offer her, the textures are different and color doesn't matter. She still prefers salty foods over sweet, but has developed a taste for birthday cake! Sissy has gone from sleeping 5-6 hours a day to 11 hours plus a nap at school! I love to hear her laugh because it was a rare sound for a long while.
Raising a special needs child will never be an easy thing. I’ve determined God (whatever God you believe in) hand picks us as parents for these children that need more care, patience, and love. Not a day goes by that I don’t Thank God for blessing me with Sissy.
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