The sensory processing disorder answer book : practical answers to the top 250 questions parents ask

242 Pages·2008·3.2 MB·English

by  Tara Delaney

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TARA DELANEY, MS, OTR/L Susan Ashley, PhD
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Copyright © 2008 by Tara Delaney
Cover and internal design © 2008 by Sourcebooks, Inc.
Cover photo © iStockphoto/YazolinoGirl
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Publishers and Associations
This book is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified physician. The intent
of this book is to provide accurate general information in regard to the subject matter covered. If
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All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade
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Published by Sourcebooks, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Delaney, Tara.
The sensory processing disorder answer book : practical answers to the top 250 questions parents
ask / By Tara Delaney.
ISBN: 978-1-4022-1933-7
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Sensory integration dysfunction in children. 2. Sensory integration dysfunction. I. Title.
RJ496.S44D45 2008
618.92'8—dc22
2008012929
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
BG 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
SensoryProcessing.int:Layout 1 5/9/08 2:22 PM Page iii
Contents
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
Chapter 1: What Is Sensory Processing Disorder? . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Chapter 2: Understanding Sensory Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Chapter 3: Recognizing SPD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Chapter 4: Other Signs and Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Chapter 5: Getting a Diagnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Chapter 6: Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Chapter 7: Your Child at Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Chapter 8: Sensory Integration Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Chapter 9: School-Based Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Chapter 10: Strategies for School Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Chapter 11: Social Situations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Chapter 12: Touchy Topics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
Chapter 13: The Adult Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
Chapter 14: SPD and Other Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
Chapter 15: Special Populations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173
Chapter 16: Therapeutic Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
Chapter 17: Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197
Appendix A: Sample Sensory Diet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203
Appendix B: Behavior Flowchart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
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Acknowledgments
I owe a deep thanks to June Clark of Fine Print Literary Agency for
her dedication to her writers and her openness to ideas, as well as her
intellectual insight. Your spirit and passion for life are infectious!
Thanks to Sara Appino, my editor at Sourcebooks, for offering valu-
able advice and truly “welcoming” all the answers on Sensory
Processing Disorder.
To all my colleagues and friends in the therapy and research world who
I learn from every day, I am in constant awe of your skill, commitment
and ability to inspire and help kids. To the faculties at the University of
Texas Health Science Center and the University of Wisconsin
Occupational Therapy schools: I owe a debt of gratitude to you for equip-
ping me with knowledge as well as inspiring me to seek answers.
To the team at BabySteps, your professionalism and commitment to
children touch me. Thanks to Mary Hamrick, Director of Speech
Therapy, for all the brainstorming sessions and your desire to make life
better for the kids we serve.
Thanks to the Donaghy, Delaney, McPhillips and McCaghey clans
for encouraging creativity and seeing possibilities.
I am truly grateful to my three sisters, Heather, Megan, and Megan, for
thinking I can do anything! To my parents, Julie and Denis McCaghey,
thanks for your unceasing love. Mom, you believe everything I write is
important, and of course the world will want to read it! Dad, you taught
me that failure only comes when you quit, so keep going.
Thanks to Maggie and Liam, my children, for teaching me that ques-
tions and answers are lived and learned. My greatest gratitude goes to
my husband Bill for making my passion his and devoting many late
hours to reading and reworking ideas. You are a gift.
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Introduction
It’s interesting how life is… I have been a pediatric occupational thera-
pist for fifteen years. I specialize in Sensory Processing Disorder, as
well as autism spectrum disorders, in my private practice, BabySteps,
a pediatric therapy and educational services company. Because I teach
sensory processing courses to fellow therapists, educators, and parents,
I am asked a broad range of questions that I record and incorporate
into my practice and courses. As life would have it, those questions and
answers are more pertinent to my life than I could have imagined.
In 2004 I adopted a little girl from China. All those questions I was
asked as an occupational therapist were now mine as a parent, because
I now had a child with sensory “issues.” Questions such as: Why
doesn’t she like to be cuddled? We’re supposed to bond! Why does she
arch away from me—doesn’t she like me? Why does she scream when
she gets near water? Babies are supposed to love water! How can I
parent a child who is afraid of everyday sensations?
Even as the questions flooded my brain, the answers, my answers,
were sitting right there. Seeing my child struggle with everyday
sensory information drove me to organize the wide body of knowledge
floating around about Sensory Processing Disorder into a coherent and
useful answer book.
This book systematically endeavors to answer some of the most
common, as well as unusual, questions about Sensory Processing
Disorder and how it impacts our children’s lives. I attempt to answer
all the pertinent questions about what sensory processing is, how to
tell when it is not functioning properly (Sensory Processing Disorder),
and what you, as a parent, can do about it.
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WW II
HHAATT SS
Chapter 1
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■ What is sensory processing?
■ What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
■ What causes SPD?
■ What are some of the general signs of Sensory Processing Disorder?
■ Who “discovered” SPD?
■ What percentage of the population has Sensory Processing Disorder?
■I’ve heard it called Sensory Integration Dysfunction and Sensory Processing
Disorder. Which is it?
■ What are the three categories of Sensory Processing Disorder?
■ What is Sensory Over-Responsivity?
■ What is Sensory Under-Responsivity?
■What does sensory seeking or craving mean?
■ What are the Sensory Based Motor Disorders?
■ What is Postural Disorder?
■ What is Dyspraxia?
■ Don’t we all have some sensory “issues”?
■ Is Sensory Processing Disorder a real diagnosis?
■ Can a child have SPD without having another diagnosis?
■ Can a child have SPD in addition to another diagnosis?
■ Do more boys suffer from sensory processing difficulties than girls?
■ It seems like Sensory Processing Disorder is on the rise. Is that true?
■ Can you see sensory processing difficulties in an infant?
■ How early can you detect sensory defensiveness processing disorder and
treat it?
■ Is there a cure for SPD?
■ Are all sensory processing disorders the same?
■ I was told to take my son to an occupational therapist. What is that?