Sensory

by Carrie
(Baton Rouge, LA)

I am concerned about my 3 year old daughter. She is being evaluated for PDD-NOS. She has some odd behaviors. She also has Trichotillomania. She has pulled her hair since infancy, is scared of loud noises, rocks and hums all the time daily...even rocks in things that don't rock like a chair or the couch.




Recently she doesn't like the radio on and screams and pitches a fit and tells us to turn it off and continues to scream and have a huge tantrum unless it is turned off. Once turned off she is fine. That is the most recent thing that wasn't a factor before. She doesn't listen well when being disciplined. She is a thumb sucker. She seems to have a lot of repetitive or self soothing things she does on a regular basis. I am just concerned if this is really abnormal behavior and will it go away or just get worse.



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Apr 12, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Trichotillomania success
by: Anonymous

We have a girl aged 4 who began to pull her hair out, my hair and our older daughter's hair at the age of ~12months (weaning). We saw an experienced Cognitive Behavioural Therapist who counseled us through this very tramatic time with advice to 'pair' the hair with something that was more acceptable and move her away from the hair. She stopped pulling her own hair and used my hair brush/hair on floor etc, but what we found worked was dental floss as she is also a thumb sucker and used the 'hair' to soothe her across her face and through her mouth.

We worked hard on talking through issues/anxiety and stressful situations and it has made a huge difference HOWEVER we have recently taken her to an OT specialising in children and her assessment has found she has SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER and AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER. She has begun OT sessions and through the OT we are also doing the LISTENING PROGRAM which is helping amazingly in just the 3 weeks of starting. Please get your child assessed and look up the checklists for both of these - you will then see what I think you and more importantly, your child has been coping with for a long time. My prayers go with you. God bless.
Jun 04, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Hair Pulling
by: Anonymous

My daughter (now 4) also pulled her hair since 10 months and has always sucked her thumb. The two seemed to go hand in hand. We got her evaluated for SPD...she has it. We got her to stop sucking her thumb and the hair pulling has finally stopped. Sounds like your child is SPD and needs OT. Highly recommended. We have made tremendous progress and the earlier you start, the better.
Apr 30, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Anxiety and SPD
by: Dr. Jerry

Trichotillomania is a DSM 4 anxiety diagnosis. Many children as well as adults react to SPD problems with anxiety and depression. Your child's hair-pulling may be a coping strategy in response to her sensory issues.

You need a good OT eval re: these sensory processing issues.
Apr 30, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		sensory behavior
by: Anonymous

This is definitely signs of sensory behaviors- avoidance behaviors and seeking out behaviors-
I would have her tested- OT (fine motor and SP) PT gross motor- speech- and observation-

I would also recommend (I am not expert just parent with multiple kids on the AS) making a observation book on what your child does and what seems to trigger the behavior so that when you have the meeting with the person who is evaluating - you can give them(make copy for yourself) your observations

goodluck

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