Dealing with a SPD Child...

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Dealing with a SPD Child...

by Melissa
(Boston,Mass)

Hello,

I am a mom of 4 beautiful kids! I just recently found out my daughter has SPD, She is a 4 year old beautiful,smart,caring little girl.

When she was born, she cried all the time. The doctor thought it was colic, or digestive problems, so those issues were treated... But as a mom knowing your child something still didn't seem right she always wanted to be in her diaper,and always seemed to be throwing major temper tantrums.

I called the doctor and explained my feelings to him... he stated that she at the time is only 2 years old and it's hard to tell what a child's quirks are at that age...

By the time she was 3, she would only wear what she called "Tappy shoes", only a certain dress, NO socks,sneakers,jeans,long sleeve shirts,jackets. I would force pants on her because we live in New England with different temperatures all the time. As soon as we would get in the car she would go into a major temper tantrum and would throw everything off sitting in her underwear.

As time went on the spd got worse she will not wear a seatbelt in the car because it is not "tight enough". She will only wear flip flops & one dress with a very light jacket. She secludes herself in the house because she doesn't want to wear pants,sneakers,etc...

She will be turning 5 in march and with the way she is there is no way I can send her to school like this... We are now approaching winter too & I dread it because I know there will be no sneakers,pants, etc. She will only wear certain underwear if they are not the skunk,barbie ones , she throws herself on the floor in a rage... pulling them off after long stares and judgement on my parenting.

I went to my daughters doctor again & said please as a mom... something isn't right. Still clueless to what SPD was, he got in touch with a specialist that deals with SPD in children... I did my own research & found this site... and cried in pure joy that I did not feel so alone...

She doesn't have all the symptoms of SPD. She is okay with sounds and food. The only issue we have with her... is clothes and major temper tantrums... it breaks my heart to see my daughter cry over clothes.

After reading some of the signs of SPD and what it feels like to them, I cried & cried to know that this is what my daughter feels everyday. Then the guilt sets in about all the times we were angry with her... thinking she was being a brat, or unreasonable.

My daughter has her first app. Nov.19,2009. I am so looking forward to getting started on my daughters SPD so she can live a normal life, and deal with having SPD. I am sure parents dealing with SPD children know exactly what I am talking about... People out in public would stare at me like why are you letting your daughter wear flip flops in 20 degree weather. Boy... if they only knew.

I am so thankful for this site to help us understand... what SPD is and sharing stories...

Good luck to all the moms & dads,and children dealing with SPD.

Sincerely,
Melissa

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Dealing with a SPD Child...

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Jan 15, 2010
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help with SPD
by: Anonymous

I have read your story and can understand where you coming from, we have taking custody of a child when he was a yr old. He banged his head threw fits, and was always hurting himself, we put him in head start this year and found out that he has SPD, the headstart knew right away what was wrong I felt so bad because I thought he was just doing these things and misbehaving out of anger and we took away toys he threw and even done time out nothing seemed to work, certain noises he would stand and and scream at the top of his lungs, he only will wear certain underwear, theres days he just cries though out the day for know reason, and then day he clings to us. If there is any advice that any one can help us with please feel free to do so. thank you

Jan 08, 2009
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Thank you
by: Anonymous

Thank you, just thank you. I am in tears, that is my child to a tee. Thank you.

Dec 04, 2008
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You are on the right track!
by: M. Harris

I hope that things have become more clearer for you now. I have an eight yr old little boy with SPD, his preschool teacher read an article about SPD and felt comfortable enough to point out that this looked like our son.

After evaluations, etc he was diagnosed and we began understanding him. He is a terrific kid that goes to O.T. and is always progressing. He is very, very intelligent about the things that he loves and someday hopes to be in a college marching band There is hope!

Be prepared to fight for your little girl, you are her BEST advocate. Good Luck!

Monica

Dec 03, 2008
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Thank God I'm not alone!
by: Sheryl

Reading your posts has brought me so much comfort. My daughter has always been horrible when overstimulated--meltdowns that lasted an hour with her kicking and spitting, screaming, and completely out of control.

She is now in kindergarten and she seemed OK for the first few weeks, but then they switched teachers on her and now her symptoms are all back. She complains about her "bumpy" underwear and tries to take it off in school, she refuses completely to wear socks or snow pants (we live in Wisconsin!), she has been pulling her hair out and biting her nails, sleeping badly and having meltdowns a couple of times a week.

The teacher and principal and the whole staff of the school are being unbelievable supportive, but it's so stressful! We are seeing a child psychologist who thinks it might be ADHD, but we're going to have her tested for SPD if it's not ADHD or she might have both.

I'm so stressed out I can hardly sleep or eat and every time the phone rings, I jump a foot in the air for fear that she's gone into a meltdown again. If I hadn't found this site, I think I might have dissolved into tears on a daily basis.

With three kids & a full-time job, managing her symptoms and being an advocate for her in school has been very hard. We are doing everything we can for her because we love her so much and she's the most wonderful child when she's not all freaked out about her sensory issues, but I just wish I could wave a magic wand and make it all turn normal.

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Dec 03, 2008
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Submitted by: Sheryl

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Reading your posts has brought me so much comfort. My daughter has always been horrible when overstimulated--meltdowns that lasted an hour with her kicking and spitting, screaming, and completely out of control. She is now in kindergarten and she seemed OK for the first few weeks, but then they switched teachers on her and now her symptoms are all back. She complains about her "bumpy" underwear and tries to take it off in school, she refuses completely to wear socks or snow pants (we live in Wisconsin!), she has been pulling her hair out and biting her nails, sleeping badly and having meltdowns a couple of times a week. The teacher and principal and the whole staff of the school are being unbelievable supportive, but it's so stressful! We are seeing a child psychologist who thinks it might be ADHD, but we're going to have her tested for SPD if it's not ADHD or she might have both. I'm so stressed out I can hardly sleep or eat and every time the phone rings, I jump a foot in the air for fear that she's gone into a meltdown again. If I hadn't found this site, I think I might have dissolved into tears on a daily basis. With three kids & a full-time job, managing her symptoms and being an advocate for her in school has been very hard. We are doing everything we can for her because we love her so much and she's the most wonderful child when she's not all freaked out about her sensory issues, but I just wish I could wave a magic wand and make it all turn normal.

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Nov 30, 2008
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You are on the right road!
by: Anonymous

Everything is going to be OK! My son is 6 and we've been there done that!!! Believe it or not, he has improved markedly once he started going to kindergarten! The changes in the last year have been factors better! We were afraid to "unleash" him on his unsuspecting teacher, but she's a tough cookie, and she's handling him great, with some assistance from our school's OT. I was even contemplating home schooling because I thought, public school will be a disaster!!

I'll never forget how his teacher had never heard of SID before, and we were like, "here we go!!!" But it's amazing how things work out. I think having my son in an environment all day long where he can see how other kids act has been HUGELY good for him. His school work is great. He's had some behavior issues - he doesn't understand other people's space, etc., but his "red marks" at school are consistent -- we are working on those.

I hear you about the seasonal clothing changes! Yikes! When its time to dress in pants and long sleeve shirts watch out! He still wears his crocks to school with no socks, and its like 40 degrees out! You really end up picking your battles.

Have compassion for your child and YOURSELF! Don't be too hard on yourself - I think of it as we're navigating a cave complex with one candle - just do the best you can, no matter how quirky the two of you have to become, ignore other parents that have all of this advice because their children are "perfect" - ugh I hate that! You are running your own race! Love and compassion is what wins it!

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Nov 30, 2008
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Submitted by: Anonymous

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Comment
Everything is going to be OK! My son is 6 and we've been there done that!!! Believe it or not, he has improved markedly once he started going to kindergarten! The changes in the last year have been factors better! We were afraid to "unleash" him on his unsuspecting teacher, but she's a tough cookie, and she's handling him great, with some assistance from our school's OT. I was even contemplating home schooling because I thought, public school will be a disaster!! I'll never forget how his teacher had never heard of SID before, and we were like, "here we go!!!" But it's amazing how things work out. I think having my son in an environment all day long where he can see how other kids act has been HUGELY good for him. His school work is great. He's had some behavior issues - he doesn't understand other people's space, etc., but his "red marks" at school are consistent -- we are working on those. I hear you about the seasonal clothing changes! Yikes! When its time to dress in pants and long sleeve shirts watch out! He still wears his crocks to school with no socks, and its like 40 degrees out! You really end up picking your battles. Have compassion for your child and YOURSELF! Don't be too hard on yourself - I think of it as we're navigating a cave complex with one candle - just do the best you can, no matter how quirky the two of you have to become, ignore other parents that have all of this advice because their children are "perfect" - ugh I hate that! You are running your own race! Love and compassion is what wins it!

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Nov 06, 2008
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SPD
by: Anonymous

Good luck to you as well!

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