Worsening symptoms after beginning Occupational Therapy

by Amy
(Hackettstown, NJ)

My 7 year old was recently diagnosed wth SPD. He has tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular issues. We have been to 4 occupational therapy sessions. We really like our OT and my son loves going to sessions. However, since beginning therapy, his symptoms have worsened. For example, we are now having total meltdowns at birthday parties if he is asked to transition from games to cake. In addition, we attended a camp that he has attended for the past several summers. At the end of each day, the children perform the songs that they have learned. In years past, my son ran to be first on stage and loved to sing and perform. This year, he hid in he back and actually came down to me in the audience crying because he could not take the noise. We spent the remainder of the performance in the hallway waiting for his sister to be dismissed.

Despite this recent diagnosis, he was always a very confident boy, who was excited and exuberant about life. Since beginning therapy it seems that he is crumbling emotionally, and finding things challenging when they were once effortless. It's heartbreaking for his father and I. Is this normal? Have other parents experienced this in one form or another?