Healing Sensory Processing Disorder

My husband and son both have symptoms of sensory processing disorder.  Until two years ago, I had no idea what sensory processing disorder was.  Now I have an arsenal of techniques to reduce or eliminate its effects.  To read more about sensory processing disorder, visit www.sensory-processing-disorder.com.

When our son was three going on four, he was distracted by everything he saw and had to touch–everything.  Much of what he touched he broke.  Anything that made it into his hand went into his mouth.  He chewed on everything. He never sat still.  He hated playing with playdough or anything that stuck to his hands.  He hated getting wet.  He never played with blocks.  He refused to play with the other kids on the playground at preschool (a real red flag for the psychologist!).  He had trouble focusing on tasks–unless they happened to particularly interest him–then he could focus for an hour with no problem.  He was terrified of automatic toilets, automatic towel dispensers, automatic sinks, and automatic hand dryers.  He was both terrified and obsessed with automatic garage doors–that great noise!  Going into public restrooms with him was a great challenge.  He was not very interested in engaging with other kids, and was behind in his social development.  My husband and I knew he had problems, and if he was going to have a successful academic experience and happy social life, we were going to have to take some action to get him there.

Now, two years later, our now 5 year old son is in a mainstream kindergarten class reading at a first grade level and doing first grade math.  He fits right in and has friends and an active social life.  He is (now finally) starting to build things with legos.  He is no longer auditorially sensitive, and can go into any restroom and do his business and wash his hands using the automatic appliances without help.  He does beautiful artwork, is taking violin, and writing is one of his favorite pasttimes.

How did we help get him to where he is today?

First of all, we made a commitment to get him well.  I can’t tell you how many people I know whose children have sensory or other problems who don’t take this step, and their children and other family members suffer for it, because without this commitment, over time, the problem becomes woven into your fabric of life.  The parents stop searching for ways to help their kid.  You must step back and ask yourself–is this what I want?  It is a commitment that reflects tremendous optimism and faith.  We have that.  I wish I could sell it to you!  But I can’t.  It’s a  gift you alone can give yourself and your family.  You must find it in yourself.  Then go for it, and more power to you!

These are the steps we took to help our son:

1. Joined online groups for information about healing sensory processing disorder, autism, and ADHD

2. Implemented a GFCF Diet for the whole family

3. Started OT with an OT trained in working with kids with Sensory Processing Disorder.

4. Obtained craniosacral therapy with an outstanding osteopath (MD)

5. Completed Berard AIT (auditory integration therapy)

6. Completed The Tomatis Method (following the protocol in Dorene Davis’ book Sound Bodies Through Sound Therapy)

7. Began therapy with an outstanding homeopath

We did not map out this plan and then pursue it.  We planned it out as we went along, paying attention to our son’s greatest areas of need, then addressing those.

GFCF Diet

As soon as I realized our son was having problems–I didn’t know what kind of problems at the time–I decided to take him off wheat and dairy.  This is  a common treatment for kids with sensory processing disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and ADHD, and I had heard from others that it might be helpful.  Going on a GFCF (gluten-free, casein-free) diet is easier than it sounds (see my GFCF diet blog).  After three months our son was a different kid.  He was much less tactilely defensive, he stopped touching everything and chewing on things, and he was starting to integrate with the other kids in the classroom (but not on the playground yet).

Note:  If you are going to do try this diet, it is very important you realize that you may not see any effects for as much as three months from when you start the diet, because it takes three months for the gluten to work out of a person’s system.  Once you are on the diet for a few months, any accidental infractions will have an immediate effect, and you will begin to know the effects of gluten on your child’s system.