Sensory Processing Disorder

 We still have yet to get a formal diagnosis for Flynnie. However, we are working off of a possible disorder, that Flynn seems to match pretty well.

First, some terms that need to be understood:

Sensory Integration: is the neurological process that refers to the organization and interpretation of sensory stimulation from the environment. Sensory integration occurs in the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves). The process occurs automatically as the body gathers information through the skin, muscles, joints, inner ear, eyes, nose, and mouth.

Sensory Processing Disorder: Problems in the way the brain takes in and responds to information from the environment and one's own senses. This results in problems in processing information and behavior appropriately for the task at hand. Children with this disorder often have a brain that experiences difficulty with adjusting to or regulating responses to sensory inputs. The child either does not react strongly enough or reacts too strongly to sensory input from the environment.

Sensory Seeker: craves excessive stimulation from one or more of the sensory systems (touch, visual, auditory, movement and balance, body awareness, taste, and smell). The child seeks out more stimulation than other children. These children are viewed by others as risk takers and are often in constant motion.

Characteristics of a sensory seeker:

• Spinning
• Climbing too high-no fear
• Climbing on everything
• Crashing into things (people, furniture, walls)
• Mouthing/licking objects (furniture, toys, body)
• Chewing on non-food objects (toys, clothing)
• Eating excessively - craving oral stimulation
• Constantly wrestling or rough housing with siblings and peers
• Touches everything
• Playing with food
• Messy eater
• Over-stuffing their mouth when eating
• Craves spicy and hot foods
• Under-responding to pain (shakes it off quickly)
• Makes a big mess when playing - dumps out toy bins to look at everything
• Engaging in excessive sensory play - seeks it out (mud, water, soap, etc)
• Constantly jumping around
• Frequently pushing others - has difficulty standing in line
• Running barefoot
• Difficulty sitting still
• Falls out of their chair for no apparent reason
• Seeks out loud noises - turns up TV/radio, places battery operated toys against ears, etc
• May have difficulty regulating their volume level - talk loudly
• May hum or talk out loud to self

This explains a bunch of Flynnie's behaviors: how he screams, jumps, bites everything, puts all things in his mouth, does his exercising, and over eats a lot. 

We have been learning how to work with Flynn to help him with his need for excessive stimulation. We give him a toy to help him focus. We read to him, and give him bear hugs. We also have him roll on a ball to help him focus and give a bunch of stimulation to his body. We also try calming music at night to help him relax. We know that this is a work in progress, but at least now, we understand a bit more of why he acts the way he does. We are better learning to enter his world.