Sensory Processing Disorder
..and us.
When people clap, I instinctively cringe - anticipating the melt-down that can turn good times into a disaster. Been there, and done that - too many times to count. It could be as simple as enjoying a quiet meal out with family and then a few tables over it is someone's birthday and they start singing. Happy Birthday ends with clapping. I think we got away with clapping at your first birthday party when I made you caterpillar cupcakes. By your second birthday, clapping made you cry and it has been that way pretty much every birthday since then. And, even though all the family and friends know "We do not clap after happy birthday" -
someone always does clap.
And you'll cry.
Even on your birthday.
Alex has a diagnosis of PDD-NOS with sensory processing disorder. We live with a host of sensory issues including sensitivity to loud noises, especially clapping. One thing we've done to help him "cope" in loud and crowded situations is to use ear muffler headphones. We have also found that playing on the Nintendo Wii has helped him work on his "clapping" issues. Some days, lately most days, have been good days with sensory issues under control. Still, we live each day anticipating the next clap and trying to dodge meltdowns - sometimes with more success than others.
10 comments:
I am always fascinating to learn the various ways SPD manifests. Everyone's story is so vastly different. Thank you for sharing yours, as always!
Thanks for sharing your story (or at least a part of it--the story of day-to-day life is so complicated with kids with special needs). My son has auditory sensitivities too, but they don't typically make him cry. They send him into weird hyper mode where he laughs maniacally, runs around, pushing people, jumping and just all around being out of control. It is really hard to settle him down afterwards.
My Josh covers his eys with his hands. I call it the ostrich. He is nonverbal so my guess is I dont see you you dont see me. Therefor you are not there lol. I am so glad he hasnt figured out putting his fingers in his ears to quiet the sound. We are not party animals either. We make things smooth and natural because thats how Joshua rolls lol :)
I have a yin & yang in my house... percy will turn the stereo up full blast and stand in front of it, unfazed... while poor Thomas huddles in a corner, hands over ears, muttering "too loud, too loud"
I could never get Matt to wear glasses, headphones or a hat. Also not gloves in cold weather, although not that cold compared to NJ.
I was telling Matt's aide this morning that sometimes when Matt makes his vocalizations it sounds like he is speaking Japanese.
Birthdays have always been bittersweet for Nigel too. He could not process the singing, all the different voices. It's gotten better as he's gotten older, though. He turns 14 in two weeks, so we'll see how he does!
The sensory challenges never cease to amaze me. Frog is a mixed bag both over reacting and under reacting and searching out sensation. Then there is the under reactive search for additional sensory input that puts him over the top into over reactive melt-down. Yikes! It is very difficult to accurately explain to others what might set him off.
It is so cool that Alex is getting some integration and desensitization from playing the wii. It often seems the kids know best what they need.
I was at a birthday party this past weekend with a 4 year old little boy with a sensory processing disorder and his poor mom looked like she was on eggshells worrying about when something would set him off. Fortunately the other kids didn't seem to notice or mind when he lost it a couple of times and he was able to recover and join in for the rest of the party.
Ack! The clapping AND the ear-covering AND the Wii-playing sound SO much like my Little Man. Thanks for sharing a little bit about your Alex with us all...
Hi again!
I just wanted to let you know that I'm having a book giveaway on my blog this week. I have five copies of "Meghan's World" to give away. It's a children's book about SPD. The author was kind enough to donate them to the cause.
Please drop by and see what it's all about!
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