SPD Questions & Answers

Looking for help with particular SPD issues and/or concerns not already addressed on the site?

The SPD Q & A started out originally as a SPD helpline where visitors would submit questions and our resident OT, Michele Mitchell, would answer. Due to the sheer volume of questions submitted, It became impossible for Michele to keep up. However, all of the submissions that she was able to answer is listed below.

Check through previous submissions to see if your question has already been addressed/answered. Feel free to submit YOUR question if it has not already been addressed.

The SPD Q & A will go as follows :

If you submit a question, It will be posted up on the site unanswered, as soon as it is approved . From there, the floor is open. ANYONE can answer and comment on the questions. Just know that because of time constraints, Michele will NOT be able to answer specific questions from this point forward. It is encouraged that you to support and talk with each other via this forum. It can be a great community that you build here!

�Together, We Will Make A Difference�.

Please note: None of the answers/opinions/comments should be taken as medical advice! These are people's personal opinions, experiences, and knowledge. Please talk with your doctor, OT, or other medical professional about concerns you have. Although we try to monitor this information for accuracy, we do not assume any responsibility legally for the answers given here, nor do we endorse any particular person's advice or opinion. Please consult your doctor or other medical professional for further information or before trying any suggestions listed here. The ultimate responsibility lies in your hands.

Your Sensory Processing Disorder Questions

Welcome to the SPD Q & A, where questions, comments, thoughts, ideas, and gems of wisdom can be submitted via the form below. This is an interactive process.

Your questions, concerns & comments will be posted on the site after approval. This is YOUR resource... together we WILL make a difference!

Click below to see answers to your questions and contributions from other visitors regarding it...

SPD and Autism

I have a son with many of the symptoms described. I have noticed that many of these symptoms also coincide with those of autistic children. Is SPD clinically ...

resistant toilet training

Hi, I am needing help with my very complex spd child, I think she craves deep pressure and as a result is unwilling to give up diapers, she will be 5 years ...

Transitions from camp to school

Hello,

My son has made great progress in school with his sensory issues. He has an Speech Pathologist and SEIT (Special Education Itenerant Teacher)...

16 year old with clothing issues

My 16 year old son acts like he got ants in his pants when he feels clothes against his skin. He says he don't like to feel clothes so he wears everything ...

Alone and Irritated Adult

Good Evening,

I'm a 30 year old female and I was diagnosed with ADHD 3 years ago. However, ADHD doesn't explain my extremely sensitive hearing or sensitivity ...

Hypotonia/Seizure Link

My daughter has been diagnosed with Intractable Partial Epilepsy. This is our only diagnosis despite the fact that we have had chronic hypotonia since ...

Would like a friend

I have a lad with SPD and I feel so lonely... does anyone know where I can get a penpal to write to and who feels like me so we can share our ups and downs ...

Origin of SPD not hereditary?

I was just wondering has there has been any link to SPD and exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy? My wife worked in a big-box store during her ...

Possible SPD in 7 month old infant

I just read about SPD in the most recent issue of Today's Parent (Canadian Magazine). My son has several of the infant SPD checklist symptoms. He had ...

Summer School??

I have a 6.5 year just finishing kindergarten and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on sending kids with SPD to summer school? Logan has to work ...

What to do with 2 opposite SPD children?

Hello. I am a single mother of two children, a daughter who is 8 years old, and a son who is 17 months old.

My son was recently diagnosed with SPD, and ...

Eating Habits/Getting a Diagnosis

Hi: I am the parent of a 6 year-old boy who I believe has SPD. He was a 34 week preemie, and was delivered by emergency c-section. I know that children ...

Spd And Relationship To Parents

I have a 7 year old son who has SPD has always had a good happy relationship with both of us parents and especially his dad. Over the last 2 months he ...

Pre school teachers and discipline

I am a parent of a 3 year old boy with, what I believe is, SPD. He was a 34 week preemie, breech and c section. WE have been dealing with all of this for ...

Special Diets of Gluten, Soy, Dairy etc.

Hello,

My son is 3 1/2 and he has Hypotonia, speech delay, physical delay. However he has come a long way since we put tubes in his ears two months ...

Correct evaluation name needed

Hello,

I hope you can help me as we keep hitting brick walls. My son Logan is 8 yrs old and at 2 months had a cornea transplant surgeries and as well ...

How do I get my child to relax in the car?

Last night I was driving home when my four year old threw-up in the car.� I was on the highway going 55 miles per hour. My daughter who is nine years ...

Epsom salt baths vs. Magnesium supplements

This might be a really ignorant question, but is there a benefit of doing epsom salt baths versus giving a magnesium supplement (like Kid/Natural Calm)...

SPD for OHI eligibility

Has anyone used SPD as the eligible medical diagnosis for an OHI label in special education? I just need a couple examples, preferably in Illinois, where ...

Discipline

How do you Discipline your sensational kid? My son is five years old and has SPD and I am wondering how you displine him when he hurts someone implusively....

Learning to focus?

My 8 (9 this month) year old daughter and I have done a sensory questionnaire that was scored by an OT with a background in sensory stuff.

We are still ...

Medicare and SPD

I want to know if any state is yet to cover SPD as a disability? I am in the process right now of finding out if Indiana does. My son is 4 years old and ...

504 plans

Does anyone have any suggestions of accomodations or modifications to put a 504 Plan together with? I am working with my son's OT and his Neurologist,...

Hunger Issues--underweight

I started my journey at age 20 towards finding out what is "wrong" with me. So far I've seen psychs and so on for issues that seem very much akin with ...

Point of desperation...

My son is almost five. Seems like a good start, right?

When he was a baby, before he'd even had his first feeding, he managed to pull off his diaper....

Therapy in the Seattle area, WA State?

My son will be 5 next month and has severe sensory issues. He's been G-tube fed since he was 2, went straight from breastfeeding to the tube. Never took ...

Another speech/language question

Hello again. My name is Jessi and I've posted several times before. My first Help Line question ever had to do with my son, AJ's receptive/expressive ...

Car Games suggestions?

I have been struggling with my son. Frustrated so many times because I had asked so many times what to do. NO one could tell us what to do when our son ...

Daily Clothing Struggles

My 7 year old daughter was diagnosed with SPD at age 4. We have worked with her and have made major strides in a lot of her sensory areas and behaviors ...

Sleeping problems

Hello,

My baby (2.5 y) was recognized as SPD. Now I know the source for his sleeping problems.

Please give me some tips how to help him sleep!!!
I ...

Prickly sensations in my son's hands

My son is 8 years old and has SPD. Lately he is getting sensations in his hands. He describes it as getting splinters. Sometimes it gets so bad that ...

ADHD OR SPD?

Let me start by saying that I have found you site useful and very educational. I have a 4 1/2 year old son named Scott. He was just diagnosed with speech ...

How can I help my son?

My son is 4 years old now and has been different since birth.

He never wanted to breast feed, and would pull away from me as if he was trying to get ...

SPD Awareness Ribbon Color(s)

Hello!

Our three year old son was recently diagnosed with SPD. Prior to his diagnosis, we never even heard of the disorder. So, I am trying to read ...

Can a child outgrow SID?

I was thrilled to find this site. If only I had this resource when my daughter was an infant and toddler, I would have been in heaven.

In brief, my ...

Schooling

I am a 16 year old with potential SPD - we are just now in the process of getting a diagnosis, but we are 99% sure I have it.

I really struggle at school ...

Repetitive hand movements

My son has autism spectrum disorder. He repeatedly strikes over his chin and teeth. He uses his one/ or both hands(fingers) and any metal or plastic object ...

Is this my fault?

I think my daughter has SPD.... we're in the middle of the evaluation... but it seems that she has that disorder. Did I do something wrong to cause this ...

What do I do as a parent... Where do I start?

I am confused, frustrated and I feel like I am failing my child. She was tested in first grade and it seemed everything was going well. Now that she is ...

I Found A GREAT Shoe Product For SPD Kids!!

Hi everyone! As most of you know, I am dealing with my 8 yr old daughter that has SPD. Today, we went shoe shopping. UGH!!! I know most of you are ...

Why is SPD getting worse?

My daughter's SPD seems to be getting progressively worse. My biggest question is if there are any diseases that are directly associated with decreasing ...

Seeking testing in Baltimore Maryland

I have a 2 year old who has had brief testing through Early Intervention. I'm told he has some (can you have some of something?) "SPD" but to what extent....

Teeth Brushing

My son is 18 months old,and has many of the symptoms on the checklist. I am waiting for a call back from an Early Intervention Program from the state, oddly ...

Daughter Wants Explanations

My daughter is very angry about having sensory problems. She doesn't understand why she has it. She feels she's the only one with this problem and I ...

Feeding Specialist Vs. OT

My son (22 months) has been diagnosed with SPD by and OT therapist but prior to seeing this OT we were seen by a feeding specialist at our local hospital....

Clothing Doesn't Feel Good

My 4 year old (just turned 4) has always had an issue with clothing/socks/shoes not feeling good, but over the last few weeks it has gotten much worse....

Any SPD Seminars In New Jersey?

Are there any seminars coming up about SPD in New Jersey?

Michele Mitchell responds... I will check into it, but the holidays have caught me out ...

Help!

I have a five year old daughter who I believe has SPD. I have run into brick wall after brick wall. I am in the Houston area, is there anyone in Houston ...

Learning How To Crawl

Dear Michele,
Your website is a godsend. I've really learned so much from it. My son who is two, was recently diagnosed with global developmental delay....

Paying For Therapy By Building My Own Website?

First, let me thank you girls for the fabulous information that you have online. I have read most of it and cannot tell you how great it is to have ...

Special Ed In Kindergarten For SPD?

I believe that my son is very inteligent and because he has sensory and processing issues they placed him in special ed I just want to know if that is ...

Help With Pen/Pencil Grasp?

Lucas is 4 and has started JrK. He is really enjoying it although having a tough time with writing skills. He is doing OT and school ready skills with ...

SPD And Hunger Issues

My child is always hungry and getting overweight

Hi, my daughter is 8 yrs old and has just been diagnosed w/ SPD. She is 25 lbs overweight. She ...

Speech Apraxia

I just entered a question regarding my 2 year old and his beloved pacifier ( click here to read it and the helpful response from one reader ). And ...

Nail Cutting Refusal

Do you have any suggestions for helping an 8 yr old to let me (he refuses to do it himself or try) cut his nails, or any activity to do first? Or, do I ...

Help with the loss of our Pacifier!

My 2 1/2 year old son was diagnosed with SPD shortly after his second birthday. He is currently working with an OT, Developmental Specialist, and a Speech ...

Are We Doing Enough?

My daughter was diagnosed with SPD at the age of 5. She is tactile, oral, and auditory defensive. She craves vestibular input and has low muscle tone....

Weighted Vests

Is anyone out there making their own weighted vests and/or blankets? What I need to know is how to align the "BB's" in a blanket to get the weight distributed?...

Visual Processing Deficits In Adults;

Are any of them successfully employed and, if so, what do they do for a living?

I have visual processing issues. I am almost 50 years old and know ...

Sweet Boy Became Aggresive...

Hello,

My 7 years old son has Autism and he used to be the most lovely and sweet boy ever... but, since we moved from southern California to Portland ...

Is SPD A Motor Skills Thing?

My son was just dianosed with SPD. He will be 3 in December. He has a severe speech delay, and he is very clumsy and falls a lot. His problems seem to ...

Handwriting

My 12 year old boy has beautiful handwriting but he holds the pencil awkwardly and he presses very hard. We have tried all kinds of gadgets and have tried ...

Bedwetting At Age 8

My SPD son sucessfully potty trained during the day (both pee and poop) at age 3. However he is almost 8 and still wearing Pull-Ups at night. We've tried ...

SPD and Tantrums

Tantrum Submission...

My 9 year old son has ADHD Inattentive type and mild SPD. He does great at school. Has a hard time with picking up social cues,...

Therapeutic Listening

Hello,

This is actually a question for Michelle Morris. I wrote the help line for information about Therapeutic Listening. I read all her information ...

Desperately seeking help

My daughter has issues with SPD, and I feel that she has some strong anxiety problems also. She has been getting headaches, telling me she is having a ...

SPD or ADHD?

I'm a 27 year old female. All my life I have been told I have ADHD by doctors and psychologists, but can't get a diagnosis because in some parts of Australia ...

Can SPD Go Away?

Hello. I have a 5 year old daughter who has been diagnosed with SPD. To say her sensory issues were extreme would be putting it lightly. Everything bothered ...

Need An Adult OT For SPD In Central Ohio

Appreciate what you are doing, thank you.

Sort of new to all this, have a year old diagnosis but unable to find resources here in Central Ohio.

Can ...

Anger Issues

Hi my name is Carra and I am the mom of a 22 month old who seems to have severe anger issues, if that's possible??? He yells so loud when he's mad he sounds ...

Learning To Swim And SPD Related Issues

My nine year old academically gifted son with mild hypotonia and SPD is taking group swimming lessons with six year olds because most kids his age already ...

Comfortable underwear

Any suggestions? My son cannot tolerate the elastic in his underwear.

The SPD Help Line Answers...

Often, our SPD kiddos can not tolerate different ...

Insurance Coverage For SPD

I want my daughter referred for a sensory processing disorder evaluation. My insurance will not cover it if the referral is for that specifically. What ...

Mild SPD

I completed your adolescent checklist and my son has about half of the characteristics that you have listed. However, the traits that I checked off don'...

Funding For SI Therapy

Hello... my 5 yo son was diagnosed in Feb '06 with a mixed expressive receptive speech disorder, apraxia, SID, and now hypotonia. We cannot get, as I ...

Is SPD A Form Of Autism Or Aspergers?

Is SPD a form of Autism or Aspergers?

The SPD Help Line Answers...

This is a good question and one that needs clarification for sure.

Autism,...

SPD And Language Delays

My son, AJ, was recently diagnosed with the following:

1. Developmental Delay (not pervasive)
2. Mixed Receptive/Expressive Language Disorder
3. Idiosyncratic ...

Support groups in Ocean County NJ

I am interested in support groups, near Toms River for children with SPD. My wife and I have a 5 year old son and we need to talk/meet to other parents ...

SPD Kids And Amusement Parks?

Our family is planning a trip to Disneyland next month. The last time we attempted this, my 5 year old daughter was 2 1/2, and we didn't understand why ...

SI Therapy For The Hyposensitive

My son is 7 with apraxia and some sensory issues. The questions I am worried about is he has gotten burnt with a cookie sheet, cut on the bottom of the ...

SPD And FRAGILE X

Hi my name is Carra and I've posted several times in the past. My son Spencer was just diagnosed yesterday with FRAGILE X. So does that mean he doesn't ...

Therapeutic Listening

How often do you change CDs when you are listening twice a day for 30 minutes a day, seven days a week? Is there an order in which you progress through ...

Insurance

Are there any programs or assistance for kids with SPD? I am a single mom of two kids and my daughter has SPD. There are no OT providers within an hour ...

The Listening Program

My son's OT has just started him on The Listening Program, and I am wanting to incorporate it at home. Do you have any suggestions on where I can get or ...

Credentials for Speech Language Pathologist Not rated yet
I have written before about my 10 year old daughter who had severe SPD as a younger child, who has developed some good coping skills. However, the main ...

Make your own weighted blanket Not rated yet
Hi,

I'm an adult with SPD (not diagnosed yet, but I'm sure I have it) and I recently made my own weighted blanket. What a difference some weight can ...

comprehensive evaluation Not rated yet
I suspect my great nephew has tactile sensory processing disorder. I live in Western Massachusetts. Can you recommend someone or some place that can do ...

Certain Symptoms - Especially Emotional/Social Not rated yet
I have always suspected that my middle daughter, age 11, has had some type of sensory processing disorder. When she was less than a week old, I noticed ...

Trainings Not rated yet
Hello,

Are there in-service trainings for school districts available on SPD or workshops. We are located in NJ. Thank you.

Cheryl Martinez
732-...

Supplements Not rated yet
My 5 year old son has recently been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder (PROPRIOCEPTIVE DYSFUNCTION). We have always thought of him being "clumsy"...

SPD for older kids Not rated yet
My daughter is 11 and has always had a problem with clothing. Not only do things not feel right, she can not tolerate necks of shirts that feel too large,...

Is this due to anxiety? Not rated yet
I have a 12 year old daughter who received a diagnosis of SPD by a neuropsychologist this past summer. She has been receiving 1/2 hour of OT for six months....

Outdoor Activities for summer, & winter Not rated yet
Anyone have any good ideas for some activites for summer and winter? So things we could do to encourage my son to explore, and some good play ideas. I ...

Trouble At The Dentist Not rated yet
What do you do when the dentist hurts your child?

The SPD Help Line Answers...

May I suggest you read the article I wrote specifically for this ...

Summer Programs Not rated yet
Does anybody out there have any suggestions or ideas on summer programs designed for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder in Salt Lake City or Lehi, Utah?...

Adult Options for a "Sensory Diet"? Not rated yet
I'm currently searching for a way to get help for SPD, as it would appear that I very likely have this disorder. That said, it could be a while before ...

SPD Q & A

Sensory Processing Disorder Questions... Answered

Your Sensory Processing Disorder Questions

Questions, Answers, Comments