Is Mixed expressive language disorder one of the LD's that are common with SPD?

by Donna
(Warren, RI)

From the time my son was born I can look back and see that as an infant in the NICU (he is a twin and they were born 6 weeks early) he was distressed. With all the beeping, monitors, lights etc... my sons little face always had a scowl on it. Not knowing any better we use to joke and say the NICU was stressing him out. Only when I took him to a quiet room would his face relax. When I think back to that now, I could cry. I had no idea what we were in for.




For the first 3 years of Zach's life, I was told by my family , pediatrician that he was fine. I was comparing him to his twin sister, "He's a boy", "He's a twin", "Stop looking for something to be wrong". My husband and I know something just was not right.

SInce this is a long story I will skip ahead. He has been diagnosed as mixed expressive language disorder. I see some of the symptoms in him. But a million more of SPD. such as picky eater, hypersensitive to smells. CLothes. Fine motor skills. Visual, spatial, processing, memory.

HE sees a psychologist (by our insistence, since he lacks self esteem) and sees an OT at school once a week for his fine motor skills .. ie: grasping a pencil, cutting with scissors. this has been going on or 3 years and in the last 4 months we have seen a dramatic increase in hostility, depression. He says he hates his life (not suicidal), he's stupid. He now hits himself in the head, or bangs his head on the wall.
I am at a loss of what to do next. Nothing seems to be working.

Help !! I have gone into depression. My marriage is in shambles and our daughter tries to coddle her brother just to keep the peace so he doesn't flip out.



Comments for Is Mixed expressive language disorder one of the LD's that are common with SPD?

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Oct 08, 2009
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stay positive
by: Anonymous

Do not grieve. It was difficult. BUT a blessing in disguise in many ways. My severe "imbalance" lent itself somehow to my being extraordinary in many ways. If I do say so myself, ha ha. I was in gifted classes all through school. I have a master's degree and I am a certified public accountant. Not uncommon for SPD individuals to function well in society. I "imploded" within for years as I suffered with my SPD symptoms. This has caused a lot of damage to my body and energy over the years. Your son won't have to implode or explode w/ frustration because he is getting treatment. I may have been even more "successful as defined by society" had I had intervention at an early age.

Oct 07, 2009
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Is Mixed express.lang. disorder one of the LD 's that are common with SPD?
by: Donna

Thank you anonymous. I have wondered what life will be like for my son as he gets older.

Even though I am hopeful that he will learn how to deal with his disorder and be able to self regulate his emotions, I cannot help but grieve about the life I had hoped for him to have.
If u don't mind please tell me what type of education, job, family, relationships you have been able to have.
May god bless you.

Oct 06, 2009
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understand your frustrations
by: Anonymous

I don't know if I have any answers for you. But, I do know that I empathize with your son. I am 35 years old and I just fell into this vast world of knowledge (on SPD) - and it explained all the years of rage, fighting with my parents, frustrations, suicide attempts, etc. Please encourage him to express explicitly what is bothering him. I was mis-diagnosed as having been "depressed" and "manic" - but what was really going on was that my auditory sense was extremely overresponsive. Not to mention problems with most other senses as well. PLEASE continue working with the OT. And maybe in addition to a psychologist, he needs to be evaluated by a neurologist? If I had that as a child, my family wouldn't have to suffer as much as they did. I recognize your pain. It's what my mother went through for years....they just thought I was a depressed, angry bitch! :-) Hang in there.

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