Tactile proprioceptive defensiveness? Or something else?

by Kim
(Chicago, IL USA)

My son has SPD (2 and 9mo)and has a lot of "hand issues". It started with holding cylinder-like objects, a plastic french-fry to be specific, in one hand. Then it turned into holding objects like this in both hands, then the objects had to be the exact same, then similar (like same color), then less similar (like a horse and a cow). Then the object obsessions wore off and he would just hold his hands in fists all the time (did this during the object obsession period as well...from about 18 mo to 31 mo). And now at 33 months he is always keeping his hands in odd positions--fingers twisted, holding out pointer finger or middle finger only, and of course clenching fists. Whatever the position, his hands always have to match.

And lastly, the newest hand behavior is that he will often keep one hand to his ribs while doing some task with the other hand--playing, eating, running, etc. And the position he holds the hand in is fingers extended flat but with thumb touching the fingers (like if you had your hand inside a puppet). He has some fine and gross motor delays, along with motor planning difficulties and is in OT 2x/week.

She believes, and I agree, that much of what he does with his hands is proprioceptive defensiveness. But there are also many things that just can't be explained by this theory. For example I have a short video clip (for upcoming neuro appt) where he is holding his left hand into his body while trying to kick a ball from a kneeling position/due to motor planning probs). He falls over and quickly catches himself with the "protected" hand and THEN immediately places that hand into a nearby wipes pack (crinkly, sticky label, and cold).

We both feel a little perplexed by it--is it strictly SPD, strictly OCD, a combination of both? OR, my most recent theory, simply a delay in right brain/left brain coordination? He has great difficulty using both hands together for one goal (holding paper with one hand and cutting with the other, can't jump, and also has no idea how to pedal and also never operated a push toy with his feet).

We're seeing a pediatric neuro next week so hopefully I can finally get some answers. It really impacts him in that he is quite delayed with fine motor things like using a fork, dressing/undressing, and holding crayons/pencils/markers, etc. He refuses to color and most meals are tear-filled b/c he can't figure out his utencils. Of course we help him, but it's just always such a big mess.

Any insight about this would be appreciated. I figure someone out there must be familiar?!!!