SPD - no big deal in Germany

by Julie D.
(Germany, Ruhrgebiet)

We are on a 4 month familyrecover. We chose to do Houseswapping from Germany to Australia, because we are just burned out. We had good and bad days around here even if the surrounding is just perfect. We have got time, we have got space - no appointments, no work.

Strolling through a local library I read everything that is wrong with my boy in a single chapter of one book, by incident?! Here in Western Australia in the real never - never, everybody seems to know about Sensory integration dysfunction.(Even a waitress patted my shoulder and said, my daughter has SPD, while my son cried about nothing) I started reading books and tears kept running, why don´t german specialists know any better,( The told me:it is maybe epilepsy or we don´t know, go check his eyes he might need glasses).

I knew something is wrong with my now 5 1/5 years old Vince when he was few month old. I am really interested in kids development because I had 4 miscarriages before. So I want to do everything right and there is an enormous amount of love to give. But it turned out to be a nightmare ... I don´t understand my own child. Why does he cry when we want to go somewhere nice, why does he cry after a calm visit at grandmas house, why doesn´t he just get into the car, why is he paralyzed when he gets into Kindergarden and is supposed to just put on his shoes, why does he hurt himself by accident all the time, why can´t he remember easiest routines we are practicing since he arrived at the world - I started to get angry, very angry and guess what it doesn´t help, patience doesn´t help either.

I blame me, I do sports, I got self employed and run a good business - teaching, I went to rehabilitation, we took long holidays, I talked to friends - nothing helped. At the same time I get my Vince checked at innumerable institutions in Germany, pediatrists, occupational therapists, psycologists, motopediatists, dentists, cranio sacral therapists, neurological clinics, no one has a clue ... I just don´t believe this!

I am a wreck at the moment but relieved knowing whats wrong - Vince shows the full spectrum - but where do I get help? Searching the Internet there are people talking about SPD in Chile, Israel, Australia, Canada, USA but what´s wrong with Europe? The play it down to a little disturbance of awareness, no need to worry that will grow out. But it doesn´t. The everyday life is so difficult I can´t go any further without help.

And now I know I will take my help. I am still angry but at all those ignorant institutions I have met so far and I will release my anger by informing them all about the seriousness of SPD.