When your child is first diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder, you may feel overwhelmed by all of the information you learn. Whether your child has a sensitivity to touch, noise, taste, sight or smell, learning to navigate the world while avoiding his or her triggers can be a challenge. Whether you are in the early stages of having your child diagnosed with SPD or are in the process of creating a treatment plan, here are three truths to remember while navigating your child’s diagnosis.
Early Intervention Can Help Your Child Thrive
The earlier your child is diagnosed with SPD, the sooner you can get him or her the help he or she needs to thrive. Kids can be tested for SPD when they are toddlers, so if you notice that your children are either overly sensitive to everyday stimuli or lack sensitivity to certain stimuli, you may want to seek an SPD diagnosis. A professional will document your child’s symptoms and develop a better understanding of his or her triggers through activities and play that are age-appropriate. Additionally, look for the most common symptoms, such as revulsion towards specific food, sudden movement or irritation due to noise, delayed speech, reading disability, and a few more. By identifying these signs, you can look for appropriate therapy solutions that can help your child to adapt to SPD and reduce extreme symptoms. For instance, speech therapy could be one option to look into if your child is taking longer to comprehend a language or faces issues while learning the alphabet and common words.
Different Kids Show Various Signs
If your child has SPD, he or she will show different signs than other kids with the same diagnosis so it is important not to compare. Many children struggle with a single sense instead of all five, so while your child may exhibit extreme picky eating due to a sensitivity to the taste and texture of food, another child may be a wonderful eater but unable to handle everyday loud noises such as the sound of a toilet flushing. Even children with the same sensitivity may present different symptoms. For example, one child with a sensitivity to light may become overstimulated in bright environments and seek out darkness as often as possible while another child may purposely seek out bright light because he or she underreacts to the stimulus. No two kids are the same, so your evaluator will use a form called SPM-2 to document individual signs and determine the extent of your child’s disorder.
Being Different Isn’t a Bad Thing
It is easy to become overwhelmed with the weight of your child’s diagnosis, but you need to remember that your child only sees the world differently and that is not a bad thing. With the right interventions, your child can learn to react appropriately to various stimuli and manage triggers. Teach your child that it is okay to embrace his or her differences and celebrate how he or she sees the world. A little guidance will allow your child to thrive even if he or she becomes overstimulated at times. The techniques learned in therapy can help kids cope when exposed to under or overstimulation. You can get your child into home therapy sessions as well to provide them with familiar surroundings. Other benefits may include cost-effectiveness, convenience, time-saving, etc. You can avail such services in your local vicinity, or you can explore online options like Kinspire or other similar consultations.
Having a child with SPD is challenging. You may struggle with the implications of your child’s diagnosis, but you can learn to navigate the world of SPD and help your child overcome his or her challenges. Cling to these three truths to remind yourself that SPD is only a different way of viewing the world and does not define your child.
The SPM-2, a revision of the leading sensory processing measure, is scheduled to publish in 2021. Visit WPS for more details.
