Making Sense

My inner writer has finally nagged me enough to bring me back here again. It feels like a lot has happened in just six months so it's a little hard to jump back into writing. But no way to jump in but to jump...

Z has a delay in sensory integration.

There it is. Such a simple sentence with so much strain, effort and struggle behind it. Raising Z has never been a walk in the park, but after he was in preschool for a few months I decided to meet with his teacher and pick her brain about his behavior and if she had any big ideas for helping him. I just thought that if he was such a challenge to me at home then he had to be challenging her as well. I asked her if he interacted readily with the other kids, if he got angry, if she had ever seen him pedal the bike. That first meeting inspired his teacher, Mrs. D., to observe him more and note anything unusual in his behavior or development. I still praise God that Mrs. D. had enough experience and knowledge to look further into sensory integration as a potential problem area for Z.

Since then we have confirmed Z does have a delay in sensory integration. I like to say this more than "he has sensory integration disorder." Disorder seems unsurmountable. Delay is something he can overcome.

So what the heck is sensory integration disorder [also known as sensory processing disorder (SPD)]? Here's what wikipedia defines sensory integration dysfunction: "inability to organize sensory information as it comes in through the senses." A more useful description is available in "The Out of Sync Child," by Carol Stock Kranowitz: "SPD can cause a bewildering variety of symptoms. When their central nervous systems are ineffective in processing sensory information, children have a hard time functioning in daily life. They may look fine and have superior intelligence, but may be awkward and clumsy, fearful and withdrawn, or hostile and aggressive. SPD can affect not only how they move and learn, but also how they behave, how they play and make friends, and especially how they feel about themselves."

I've had some time to read and understand this so this is how I explain it to friends. A delay in sensory integration means that a child hasn't learned how to interpret all of the signals his senses send to his brain in the appropriate way. This could look very different in different kids because of all of the senses involved: touch, sight, sound, balance and movement (or, tactile, visual, auditory, proprioceptive and vestibular). It can also take the form of a child being either over-responsive or under-responsive. For example, a child over-responsive to touch may not be able to tell the difference between a light touch by a bee or by her mother. In the case of the bee, the child should be alert and careful. In the other, the child should be comforted and reassured.

No imagine that occurring with every sense-- imagine how overwhelming it would be to feel like every sense is potentially harmful. Imagine how it would feel to have your body in a state of "flight or fright" a lot of the time. Children in the situation learn how to protect themselves from those negative responses by secluding themselves, not being willing to try new things, being defiant or difficult or withdrawn.

I have seen all of those things in Z. Often it has been at times that seem inexplicable as it was a situation most kids love (bounce house, birthday party, park). So many times I was disappointed and confused by his terrible behavior, such as tantrums or aggressiveness, in places that were supposed to be fun. It happened enough that I did learn how to prevent and ease these reactions when I could. I guess I learned Z without knowing some of the why behind him.

Now that I have more information on sensory integration and how the brain and body respond, there are many mysteries about Z that have come clear. It's good to know that we were doing a lot of good things for Z already, but I sure do appreciate having a deeper understanding and rationale behind those decisions. It's a lot easier to say no to the second birthday party in one day when I have science to back up my mother's instinct.

So what now? I mentioned that a delay is something one can overcome. And it is true, that with some help (occupational therapy), Z's brain and body can catch up on the connections that aren't working quite right. And the therapy isn't tedious or difficult - it is playing! All of the things kids do all of the time help them make sense of their senses. Spinning, running, climbing, playing in water, play-dough, eating, dress-up. Isn't it wonderful how kids naturally do the things that help them grow! So Z is just getting a little extra, extra-special, play time. And we've already seen some good improvements, so stay tuned, if you're interested and I'll write more on that next time.

Thanks for listening!