SPD help

by Katy
(FL)

My son is 6 almost 7. I knew something was different since he was 2. I was told he was just really smart and it was frustrating to him because he was unable to communicate what he was thinking. Then he started elementary school. Kindergarten was rough but he made it and they put him in an inclusion class.. (this classroom has one teacher and a paraprofessional, more support) This is the last week of first grade. In November the school started testing him for learning disabilities and Autism. I also had him tested privately. The private sector said he had Sensory Processing Disorder. The school on the other hand came back with "somewhere on the Autistic Spectrum"




He has started OT a month ago, about that same time the school called a meeting and suggested that he attends a different school which has classrooms for ASD children. May question is are they pushing him too fast out of mainstream classrooms without giving him much of a chance after starting OT?

Second question, OT wanted me to start thinking about maybe giving him prozac to help with the emotional side of SPD. Basically OT can help with the physical side but the chemical side of serotonin imbalance will still hold him back. I will admit he has problems with emotions and meltdowns, basically he has gone six years without help for his sensory issues and has learned a dysfunctional way of dealing with it. Has anyone tried prozac with their SPD child? Was there side effects?

Please give me your two cents.

Katy



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Sep 30, 2013
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starstarstarstarstar 		7 yr old w spd new diag.
by: Kristina

My 7 yr old was just diagnosed. First we were told was ADHD cause he can't stay focused n he's a little hyper n emotional.
I had tey ADHD meds but made him worste. He was failing 1 st grad cause he couldn't stay on task. I had no choice but to try. We put him in therapy. N his dr stopped the ADHD meds after 2 wks. He's now on low dose Prozac. N as someone who takes Prozac for all you who have no clue n are anti med. Prozac is not a strong drug it does not make you high or numb it just help calm the anxiety n regulates your emotional out bursts. I get a lot of shit for having him on meds but I can tell you if your child needs it I wouldn't be so anti drug. If it makes them a happier child is it right to keep medication from your child n then they suffer in school n in life. Would you not give your child antibiotics if they were sick. What's the difference. People r so nuts about mental health n make it such a big stigma. I grew up miserable w depression n everyone made me feel like I was nuts when I was 21 n finally was put on meds. Without them I would be dead. I would if been miserable and depressed my whole life n I hated school cause it was very difficult fir me n k no one helped me so at 17 I dropped out.
If your child needs medication I do t know why you wouldn't try it n see if it helps if it helps n makes them better n happier r you gonna with hold that n let them suffer. My 7 yr old is on 10 mg Prozac. You can tell when he duesnt take it he can't stay focused n he falls behind I. Class. Stop w the anti medication stigma. MentL health is the same as any other issue. It's you all that make it sound like it's such a horrBle thing. It's not fun n when people make it out to be so horrible. You all make us w depression or anxiety feel like if we take medication were all nuts n put a scarlet letter o. Us all.
Jun 25, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		just my opinion
by: Anonymous

i dont think that the school should write your child off so easily the therapy needs to be given a chance to work i thought my now 7 year old son was going to need special schooling until he got help via ot. what a difference it has made. it has changed him unbelievably for the better. i now know that a special school would not be the making of him. as for prozac this worries me(just my personal opinion) of course,i am not a professional but until all non medicinal therapy has been tried i wouldnt consider oral medication at the moment. i consider my son is very lucky because his school benfieldside primary and their senco has been paramount in his therapy and extra help.i read so many comments parents have written about school being no help.schools need to be up to scratch with children who have special needs because this makes the difference between a child who grows into a functioning adult.whether they have spd or other needs. i never thought in a million years my son would be where he is now it has been so difficult. i implore you to find a non special school that is understanding.you may not think so now but wait for the therapy to kick in it should be an eye opener.i wish you the best of luck with your child and above all i understand,it feels like there is only a handful of us parents out there who do x
Jun 13, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Child with Sensory issues
by: Krista

Read your comments at I empathize with you soo very much. I have a 6 year old with moderate SPD who is sensory defensive. We did not know what was wrong for the longest time and the extreme mood fluctuations and meltdowns led us on a path where we eliminate food that has any artificial colouring in it. It is actually called
to Feingold diet but we have not eliminated all the things in it...The dyes are the worst for her.What a difference. She is now in OT once a week and we have seen some big changes in her. We always have something soft on hand for her to touch as well as a pad and pen which is very calming for her. She is much better at telling us what she needs now or maybe we are just better at listening. Finding the balance of a good sensory diet key we are still on the path to finding the balance...A good teacher who is supportive makes all the difference in the world because a good day at school can make a huge difference in how the mornings and after school functioning goes..Best of luck




Jun 10, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		no meds!!!
by: Anonymous

I am a mother of a 7 year old son with SPD, and I am also a teacher. I see medicated children every day of the week-------sometimes on their meds, sometimes off their meds. I would absolutely NOT medicate my 7 year old. Do not numb your child to his world. The adults/teachers must "meet his needs" in order to lessen his SPD issues, which will in turn make him feel better. The adults need to change, not your child!
Fight for him----all day, every day!!!!!!
Did the school put him through the entire CST testing? including the Educational component? If so, use these results to educate his 2nd grade teacher. If the smaller room worked for him, then keep him in a smaller room, and educate his teacher on "meeting his needs". I've found it necessary to educate my son's teachers every 2 months!!

Good Luck! Fight for him!
Jun 08, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		AJ
by: Anonymous

so to answer your concern/question, i would think given what you've written, i think it is too soon to move him out of mainstream. he needs more time and it sounds like you will have to continue to advocate for what you think is best for him. always listen to your motherly intuition, it's a gift. :) it feels/sounds as if you think that if he's given some effective tools to deal with his issues, he will improve. and i believe there is always possibility for improvement when you address other issues that can be contributing to the bigger picture.

i'm sure you realize too that spd and autism spectrum can indeed look very much alike. there can be such cross over in appearance, of course because they are both conditions which affect the neurological system. how frustrating to have one say one thing and another eval say another. i think you are wise in seeking help for spd. there are so many resources, so many types of therapy, so many tips/ideas/strategies for helping these children. helping them learn to self regulate, to be in tune with what their triggers are, to help them learn effective and acceptable ways of dealing with their challenges. i validate that this is real, you are not alone. i am living it too.

i don't know what other issues your son is struggling with, but i'd be happy to share some of the resources/things we have done and implemented which have helped my son (and all of us).

ps- i wonder if you have looked into your son's diet at all? food allergies, sensitivities, texture issues, etc? one of the best things physically we did for our son was to put him on a daily pro biotic and limit his dairy, wheat and sugar intake for a period of time.

good luck! it's a journey for sure! you're doing a great job.

astringham@hotmail.com
Jun 08, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		AJ
by: Anonymous

i just came across this post and had to respond. granted, i am not a doctor. i am a mother of a young child who has some spd challenges, among other things. i have done A LOT of reading and research though on so many things pertaining to sensory processing, neurological health, autism spectrum, gastrointestinal issues, vaccinations, adhd/add, etc...

i have been working with an OT with my son for 3 years now. we had some of similar issues as you have described. subject to frequent melt downs, unpredicatble emotional responses, responses out of proportion for the circumstance, strong emotional reactions for unexplained reasons, inability to have changes in routine that didn't upset, anxiousness, etc. these things have all improved with time and regular visit with the ot.

we have had very positive experiences working with our ot's. they can be such a wealth of knowledge, a set of new eyes, a sounding board for concerns. but it absolutely BAFFLES and ASTOUNDS me, that an ot would suggest medicating a 6 year old for emotional difficulties especially without FIRST addressing the myraid of other issues that could be making emotionality and certain behaviors difficult AND at that, after only working with him for a month. seems way overboard and way too soon. wow!

too be continued... i'm out of space. :)
Jun 07, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		emotional and sensory disorder
by: Anonymous

If I can afford counsel, to avoid giving drugs to young children. emotional disorders, etc. are part of ASD. Try it with behavioral therapy to help overcome the emotional and sensory excessive.

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