Life With A Sensory Seeking Body (19 year old)

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Life With A Sensory Seeking Body (19 year old)

by Maria
(Illinois)

I am 19 years old and I have SPD. I am hypo sensitive and I like to chew on things a lot. That is how I regulate myself. I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone! Also, that sensory seeking behaviors do improve with therapy.

Days can be so unpredictable. Sometimes you can sit back and relax, other days you need to move all day. Sometimes I don't feel things I should... one day I even sat on a plate and I didn't even know it until my mom told me. You have to remember, we have a great life even though sometimes we have fun and other time it can be so hard to function. I was probably a very strange child, but now I'm an adult with SPD.

Sensory Integration therapy works, you just have to be patient in seeing the changes because it takes a while. I remember that from a few years ago when I was in therapy, and I learned a lot. You have to remember your children need your help and guidance, believe me, I know. When they get stuck, they get stuck and need your help!

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Life With A Sensory Seeking Body (19 year old)

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Oct 25, 2009
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andi this should help
by: maria

It will get better i have to admire your daughter sound just like when i was younger i hear story all the time from my mom ! but all you have remember stay clam because your child will pick up on it i get very upset and start to chew if im in crowds i now even shack but it do to sensory overload but to me it not how hard they fight it what there body seeking sorry it took me soooooooooo long to respond i had a great mom how never lost it on me i can chew a ton of stuff i even get through stuff that shouldn't get through but i leadred that if i chew on a wash cloth it gives me the same feedback talk to her about it i know i can tell it help to know what she thinking maria

Oct 25, 2009
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sorry it took soo long
by: maria

I actually wrote this to explain to many how my body reacts. Thanks for the reply. We need a ton of research badly. I hate seeing all these children suffer. I have it to a pretty big degree. It is hard now im 21. I still deal with it. I wrote this at 19 years old and well life gets better. Follow the ot directions. You as parents need to help them realize how awesome they are because they need to be told.

May 18, 2009
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had to research and learn
by: Anonymous

I've raised my grandson since he was 3 months old, and he is now 6 and in kindergarten. He's always been 'more' in so many ways. He needs lots of supervision, and now that he's in kindergarten I've really had to take action to find out what he's dealing with. He needed a correct diagnosis in order to be responded to correctly...otherwise the molding of his ego and development would not happen in a healthy way.

I did the research myself, and he is now diagnosed, with Sensory Processing Disorder. He deals with the tactile issues of being too sensitive to certain clothing items, and he is also a sensory seeker. His intelligence and academic abilities are superior, but I've done the steps to get him eligible for special education so that he can be more successful at school, working on behavior and social skills.

I always try to work on the understanding that what is typically 'bad' behavior and choices by another child may not be with my grandson. I look at intention, but also understand and teach him what is acceptable and unacceptable. He must learn to cope with his disability.

It's all a process, and working with a sensory seeking child takes lots of time, effort, work, and a huge commitment. This child also needs lots of supervision in order to help him/her stay safe. They can be big risk takers.

My advise is to research and learn as much as you can about this disorder, when you have a child who deals with it. Also, really WORK to keep your voice calm at all times, as your stress hormones increase when your voice starts rising due to circumstances, and once that happens it's really hard to get the situation under control again. You lose control quickly when your voice level goes up. Always, keep your voice calm.

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May 18, 2009
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Submitted by: Anonymous

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I've raised my grandson since he was 3 months old, and he is now 6 and in kindergarten. He's always been 'more' in so many ways. He needs lots of supervision, and now that he's in kindergarten I've really had to take action to find out what he's dealing with. He needed a correct diagnosis in order to be responded to correctly...otherwise the molding of his ego and development would not happen in a healthy way. I did the research myself, and he is now diagnosed, with Sensory Processing Disorder. He deals with the tactile issues of being too sensitive to certain clothing items, and he is also a sensory seeker. His intelligence and academic abilities are superior, but I've done the steps to get him eligible for special education so that he can be more successful at school, working on behavior and social skills. I always try to work on the understanding that what is typically 'bad' behavior and choices by another child may not be with my grandson. I look at intention, but also understand and teach him what is acceptable and unacceptable. He must learn to cope with his disability. It's all a process, and working with a sensory seeking child takes lots of time, effort, work, and a huge commitment. This child also needs lots of supervision in order to help him/her stay safe. They can be big risk takers. My advise is to research and learn as much as you can about this disorder, when you have a child who deals with it. Also, really WORK to keep your voice calm at all times, as your stress hormones increase when your voice starts rising due to circumstances, and once that happens it's really hard to get the situation under control again. You lose control quickly when your voice level goes up. Always, keep your voice calm.

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Nov 02, 2008
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Andie
by: Anonymous

Hi Andie,
I have a daughter that has SPD also, yet I have some suggestion if this will help.

Your child for school, you might want to look up Therapro.com or just look up sensory crayons / pencils. On this site, you will find air cushion or pshysio balls your child could use in her classroom to help her concentrate. Writing materials: a triangular pencil, crayons, chalk, to help her hold the pencil and push as hard or firm and not break the pencil. Made specially for that. Fidgets to be put on pencil tops or some she can chew for that purpose to help her organize herself and thinking.

Use a weighted lap pad or weighted blanket : dreamcatcher.com will let you know what put inside the blankets for sleeping or playing and calming herself down.

Playdough is excellent for fidget or use to work her muscles in her hands anything arts / crafts , but watch out for sensitive to tactile.
Brain Gym excellent, some schools are doing some in classroom. Anything that crosses her body will help her organize and put in order. Check out the heavy work activities on sensory processing disorder. Night time our, we have a low 15 watt or 20 watt light bulb on her lamp and keep that on all night. Sometimes wakes us up for reassurance that we are around.

Keep up the good work but get a hold of an OT in your school distract and stay on them. Maybe she
might need to be brushed (look up brushing). 12 wks. every 2 hours of her waking hours except 2 hours before bed. Usually deep pressure or spins or crosses her legs and squeezes until she stops (deep pressure for herself) before bed if she seeks or does it herself. Or use scented calm or stimulate check out if she is allergic first.
Helpful parent

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Nov 02, 2008
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Submitted by: Anonymous

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Hi Andie, I have a daughter that has SPD also, yet I have some suggestion if this will help. Your child for school, you might want to look up Therapro.com or just look up sensory crayons / pencils. On this site, you will find air cushion or pshysio balls your child could use in her classroom to help her concentrate. Writing materials: a triangular pencil, crayons, chalk, to help her hold the pencil and push as hard or firm and not break the pencil. Made specially for that. Fidgets to be put on pencil tops or some she can chew for that purpose to help her organize herself and thinking. Use a weighted lap pad or weighted blanket : dreamcatcher.com will let you know what put inside the blankets for sleeping or playing and calming herself down. Playdough is excellent for fidget or use to work her muscles in her hands anything arts / crafts , but watch out for sensitive to tactile. Brain Gym excellent, some schools are doing some in classroom. Anything that crosses her body will help her organize and put in order. Check out the heavy work activities on sensory processing disorder. Night time our, we have a low 15 watt or 20 watt light bulb on her lamp and keep that on all night. Sometimes wakes us up for reassurance that we are around. Keep up the good work but get a hold of an OT in your school distract and stay on them. Maybe she might need to be brushed (look up brushing). 12 wks. every 2 hours of her waking hours except 2 hours before bed. Usually deep pressure or spins or crosses her legs and squeezes until she stops (deep pressure for herself) before bed if she seeks or does it herself. Or use scented calm or stimulate check out if she is allergic first. Helpful parent

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Oct 26, 2008
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Would love to hear more..
by: Imogen

My son is 11, and he hasn't had any treatment, can you tell me the best treatment for him to get? I had heard that Kinesiology can be helpful.

Sep 12, 2008
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No dx yet, but I believe my child is hyposensitive
by: Andie

I would love to hear more from you! My daughter is 5 and just started kindergarten. Her quirks have been obvious since the age of about 2 1/2. Probably sooner, actually, but until then, I could focus on only her and 'pad' her world.

We have not gotten a diagnosis yet, but I'm convinced this child is afflicted with SPD. I wanted to see if these types of things sound familiar to you... and perhaps you can give me some insight on how to help my baby girl.

One BIG issue is that she is constantly talking or making noises. She talks to herself or inanimate objects if there is no one else for her to talk to. I get the feeling that she may be hypersensitive to sounds and makes the noises in an attempt to block out all the other sounds around her. She has fits when anyone cries (because the noise scares her to death; not because she's concerned about the person crying... I've asked her!) and either cringes and tries to hide or starts making very loud noises herself, when there seems to be too much going on for her to process.

As for the hyposensitivity: When she was a tiny baby, we had to put the swing setting on high to get her to relax. When she could crawl, she started crawling in circles. When she started walking, she would spin endlessly-it was nauseating to watch-and be able to walk away in a straight line. At the age of 5, she still spins whenever she can. If we are doing something that she is supposed to focus on, she seeks something to fiddle with. If we're on the floor, she will jump up and fall down onto her knees; not like having a fit, but like it's fun for her, and she'll do it over and over. Sometimes adding 'knee spins' or other ways of banging herself onto the floor.

She has had pet snails and although she doesn't seem to want to hurt them intentionally, she almost always breaks their shells if she is left unattended (Daddy does that!). If I'm there, I will constantly remind her to be gentle and if she gets fidgety, I'll take them away and put them up so she doesn't end up smashing them.
She has a horrible time settling down at night. She seems to be deathly afraid of the dark. Many nights she will wake up numerous times and need our reassurance. She seems to NEED to hit or pinch or squeeze things (the cats, her sister) and if we give her a pencil, she immediately MUST chew off the eraser. She presses crayons and markers so hard that she ruins them. School work is a mess. She has an impossible time completing work unless someone is there keeping her on track every step of the way.

There is much, much more, but does any of this sound familiar to you? I'd love to hear what your life has been like. Any insight on what I might be able to do to help my daughter would be treasured!

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Sep 12, 2008
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Submitted by: Andie

Title

Comment
I would love to hear more from you! My daughter is 5 and just started kindergarten. Her quirks have been obvious since the age of about 2 1/2. Probably sooner, actually, but until then, I could focus on only her and 'pad' her world. We have not gotten a diagnosis yet, but I'm convinced this child is afflicted with SPD. I wanted to see if these types of things sound familiar to you... and perhaps you can give me some insight on how to help my baby girl. One BIG issue is that she is constantly talking or making noises. She talks to herself or inanimate objects if there is no one else for her to talk to. I get the feeling that she may be hypersensitive to sounds and makes the noises in an attempt to block out all the other sounds around her. She has fits when anyone cries (because the noise scares her to death; not because she's concerned about the person crying... I've asked her!) and either cringes and tries to hide or starts making very loud noises herself, when there seems to be too much going on for her to process. As for the hyposensitivity: When she was a tiny baby, we had to put the swing setting on high to get her to relax. When she could crawl, she started crawling in circles. When she started walking, she would spin endlessly-it was nauseating to watch-and be able to walk away in a straight line. At the age of 5, she still spins whenever she can. If we are doing something that she is supposed to focus on, she seeks something to fiddle with. If we're on the floor, she will jump up and fall down onto her knees; not like having a fit, but like it's fun for her, and she'll do it over and over. Sometimes adding 'knee spins' or other ways of banging herself onto the floor. She has had pet snails and although she doesn't seem to want to hurt them intentionally, she almost always breaks their shells if she is left unattended (Daddy does that!). If I'm there, I will constantly remind her to be gentle and if she gets fidgety, I'll take them away and put them up so she doesn't end up smashing them. She has a horrible time settling down at night. She seems to be deathly afraid of the dark. Many nights she will wake up numerous times and need our reassurance. She seems to NEED to hit or pinch or squeeze things (the cats, her sister) and if we give her a pencil, she immediately MUST chew off the eraser. She presses crayons and markers so hard that she ruins them. School work is a mess. She has an impossible time completing work unless someone is there keeping her on track every step of the way. There is much, much more, but does any of this sound familiar to you? I'd love to hear what your life has been like. Any insight on what I might be able to do to help my daughter would be treasured!

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Aug 25, 2008
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Thank you from a Mom of a daughter with SPD
by: Lauri

It is always good to hear about success stories. Mom's and children need encouragement. It gets discouraging sometimes.

Aug 23, 2008
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A mom who needed to hear this
by: Anonymous

Thank you for sharing. My daughter has SID and I need hope that things will improve. We are still trying to find out how to regulate her days, what causes her tantrums and how to help. She too needs to chew on everything.

Jan 13, 2008
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Reaction to adult SPD story
by: ERIN

You are brave for sharing and enlightened for realizing your uniqueness! Best of Luck to you in all your endeavors!!!

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Life With A Sensory Seeking Body (19 year old)

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Life With A Sensory Seeking Body (19 year old)