Signs of SPD in Children – from Picky Eating to Temper Tantrums

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) affects five to ten percent of all children.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) affects five to ten percent of all children – an average of one child in every classroom.

Imagine having a child who finds hugs unbearable, or a child who throws temper tantrums virtually every time he or she is taken to a restaurant or store, or a child who refuses to eat. These behaviors are daily realities for more than three million children in the United States alone.

Sleep Issues: Diagnosing the Wrong Deficit

By s_evenseth on Flickr

My son has sensory issues. No doubt about it. But when he doesn’t get enough sleep, it becomes that much worse. When we was younger, we didn’t realize he was having sleep problems. Vman had enlarged adenoids that was causing him to wake up throughout the night. Ultimately, he wasn’t getting good sleep, which was making his fits that much worse by the end of the day.

Parents Are the Best Advocates for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder

Parents know when their child has a sensory problem, but too often their observations are discounted because they are ‘just the parents.’

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition that affects the way the brain receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. SPD affects more than one in twenty children– that’s one child in every classroom.

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

Just what is Sensory Processing Disorder? This is easily the most common question on this site. Here’s another take on answering this question…

Image by Nhoj Leunamme == Jhon Emmanuel via Flickr

Sensory Processing Disorder 101

Need an intro to what Sensory Processing Disorder is? Here is a recorded Webinar with Cara Koscinski, Occupational Therapist, Author and special needs mom who shared her presentation – Sensory Processing Disorder 101.

Your Child’s Motor Development Story

Book: Your Child‘s Motor Development Story: Understanding and Enhancing Development from Birth to Their First Sport

Amazon Description: Your Child’s Motor Development Story is written by an occupational therapist who describes for the everyday parent how BEST to help their kids develop. She takes them from birth to crawling, all the way to their first sports. Problems like slouching are tackled from lack of core strength, along with more pervasive coordination difficulties that many children face. Any new parent, and their kids, will gain from this book.

Understanding Your Child’s Sensory Signals: A Practical Daily Use Handbook for Parents and Teachers

Book: Understanding Your Child‘s Sensory Signals: A Practical Daily Use Handbook for Parents and Teachers

Amazon Description: A practical, daily application handbook for parents, teachers, and caregivers to help understand sensory signals versus behavior and how you can help! This user friendly “go to” handbook is geared for daily use and as a quick sensory reference guide. Enjoy the simple, organized format to give you the essential and useful information for over 110 sensory signals. The handbook provides simple every day sensory strategies and techniques to help ALL children; including SPD, autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, APD, and developmental disabilities. This handbook provides guidance and understanding as to why children do what they do in regards to unique sensory processing differences and needs.

Calming Activities for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

I’m always on the lookout for new ideas to help out my SPD kid. Check out this list… it may give you something new to try.

Kids Who Feel Too Much

“Children with sensory processing disorder sometimes overreact or underreact to touch, sounds, and food textures. Doctors debate the condition, but parents say it’s real, and therapists say it’s treatable.” – Parents magazine

Kids Who Feel Too Much

Related articles

• Sensory Processing Disorder and Autism (thesensoryspectrumblog.com)
• Your Essential Guide to Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder (thesensoryspectrumblog.com)
• Sensory Processing Disorder: Ambiguous But Real (thesensoryspectrumblog.com)
• No Longer A SECRET: Unique Common Sense Strategies for Children with Sensory or Motor Challenges (thesensoryspectrumblog.com)

Holly Robinson Peete: Autism, Meet Adolescence

Logo of World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, by United Nations. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Holly Robinson Peete has been an outspoken advocate for children with Autism. And while she focuses on Autism and adolescence, I can’t help but wonder how our kids with SPD are facing adolescence.