Sensory Processing Disorder

On Charlie's second birthday, we went for his well-child checkup. His nurse practitioner asked the typical questions related to development. She asked how many words he knew, and I could count about 10. This was a red flag. She asked about his sensitivity to sound, correction, new places/people, and messiness. All of those things make him scream or cry. He also has night terrors. Otherwise he's the happiest, cuddliest, sweetest little boy. 

The NP was concerned with my answers and referred him to early intervention for evaluation of delayed speech and sensory processing disorder. The early intervention specialist came February 6th and just did an intake to see if Charlie should be evaluated. She did a great job of prompting questions that made me really think through Charlie's actions. I told her very honestly, "I don't know if I'm making something out of nothing or making nothing of something." She said just by watching him, she felt Charlie had a mild form of sensory processing disorder and wanted a team to evaluate him for diagnosis and therapies. 

The team came today. There were five women. The early interventionist, occupational therapist, developmental therapist, speech therapist, and physical therapist. They each had a bag of toys and books to play with him and pinpoint the cause of his delayed speech in case it wasn't SPD. They also asked a ton of questions about Charlie, probably two hundred or so, and just interacted with him (and Jack). They said they were glad to have Jack there to see if it was just how I've raised them to interact or if it was specific to Charlie. 

At the end of an hour, each therapist had her evaluation. The occupational therapist (OT) went first and explained the full breakdown and specifics of what led her to confirm that Charlie has Sensory Processing Disorder. His tip-toe walking gives deeper sensation. Climbing and falling feels good to him because it's hard on his body. He has a hard time with correction and soothing because his emotional processing is disorganized. He doesn't focus on seated play for long because his body can't stay organized, so he gets up and stomps and jumps around the room. I told her all of those things I had dismissed as a normal active two year old boy who mimics his brother. She was very compassionate and said, "We're here so you don't have to sort out what's normal and what's concerning. Your job is to follow your gut and just love your baby, and you're doing just that." That made me tear up. She recommended OT once a week to help his brain connect the dots so he can organize his sensory input and then focus on learning to speak. 

The developmental therapist said his development was age-appropriate and even advanced in several areas, particularly physically. He made eye contact, soothed a baby doll, turned an upside down book rightside up and pretended to read it, and other specific examples. She said his night terrors are probably familial and certainly worsen SPD since he can't soothe himself well. She told me to stimulate him into a different sleep state by rubbing his back about 15 minutes before his typical time of crying. Or we could put a vibrating device under the mattress. That should correct his behavior in about 6 months. She did not recommend developmental therapy. 

The speech therapist said Charlie's speech is equivalent to the 12-15 month range. She was encouraged that he understands complex speech, follows detailed commands, pretends to speak at length when given a play phone. He actually double fisted with two play phones and babbled for minutes on end. She said he should use a fork to eat when appropriate. She said his SPD is mild since it hasn't affected his growth. Most "sensational kids" have aversions to certain textures and have poor growth because they don't like to eat and will only take bottles or sippy cups. Definitely not a problem with Charlie. She discouraged tv and other media forms and encouraged face to face conversing and singing to background music to encourage speech rather than passive mindless watching TV. She also encouraged sign language until his speech has improved - of course I taught Jack for fun and totally pulled the second child card and only got "more" and "milk" down with Charlie and threw it out the window. We'll get to work! She encouraged a gluten free/grain free diet since gluten has links to neurological disintegration but said we could go either way since his was mild but that we would see more dramatic results with diet change. She also recommended weekly speech therapy. 

The physical therapist (PT) said Charlie was advanced on most physical activities. Because these activities are harder, they give more sensory input to his body and feel good to him. Jumping forward and off things, slamming his body into the couch or another person, clapping, and rocking all regulate his senses and make him feel good. She did not recommend PT since his development has not been affected. 

They asked what my six-month goal was. I answered, "for him to communicate his needs to me." So that's our goal for August. The early interventionist said she would request a prescription from Charlie's pediatrician and someone would call me tomorrow to set up speech and occupational therapy. 

I am so very grateful Charlie was diagnosed early and that we have access to excellent therapy to help him get better! Jack loved being there with him during the evaluation and told them several times, "He's my best friend. I just want you to teach him to talk so we can talk to each other." Seriously? I hardly held it together. 

If you have any tips for my sensational Charlie, I would so appreciate your advice! I'm definitely just starting the learning process and am a little overwhelmed! Most importantly, if you could pray for us as we make changes and work hard with Charlie, we would so appreciate it. Our great God made sweet Charlie. I know He will walk us through this. He's already there.