Changing Life with Sensory Issues

Each and every child and adult on the spectrum has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) to some degree. Some are full blown sufferers while others find things a little easier. For those on the spectrum, SPD takes form in the inability to process the many images that are coming into their brains at the rate in which they’re coming in. It can also involve smells, taste, feelings and many many more sensory feelings. Changing the life of someone with SPD is a process. Each action that you make can either ‘make or break’ the child. Major changes take time but with the help of a process of activities it can be done, it just won’t happen over night. Having your child assessed for this is a really good start to see how the sensory issues are affecting your child.
 
For instance, toilet training: It’s very common for children on the spectrum to have problems learning to use the toilet. If you consider your own bathroom and using it after someone else has been there and the odours left behind, you know yourself that it isn’t nice. A child on the spectrum may have problems with the smell of the room on a general basis, it could be the room itself, they may have problems feeling comfortable on the toilet as it may not feel safe, they may need the feeling of the nappy/pants around their stomachs in order to be able to go; many many issues can be involved with toilet training a child on the spectrum. Parents should never beat themselves up if at times it feels like one step forward two steps back because there are so many sensory inputs happening with their child that they have no control over.
 
Going out in public. Some parents will tell you that this is one of the most scariest things they have to do with their child. There are so many things in the outside world that may upset their child’s ability to stay calm that it can at times seem easier to stay home or have the child looked after. Imagine yourself in a nightclub with a band playing when you were younger you were probably very happy to be right up the front and as close to the speakers as you can get, as an older person you may cringe at the thought of being so close… and why? Well it’s simple. Your sensors are unable to cope with the noise being blasted at you. A child on the spectrum feels like this on a daily basis. Those overwhelming feelings play a huge part in a child’s life and with the inability of being able to process the information coming in they can react in a myriad of ways, the main one being a meltdown. Parents are always on the lookout for the signs of a meltdown occurring (sometimes they happen with no warning at all) and are able to diffuse the situation by removing the child to a quieter area, some children wear headphones to offset the amount of noise, some will wear sunglasses to cope with the bright lights, some children need deep pressure therapy such as being cuddled in tight, some need something as silly as tickling. Every family has different ways of coping with their child’s sensory overload and while it may seem to the ‘regular outside world’ that the parents are making excuses, they are in fact doing exactly what a child needs in order to help them cope with their sensory overload.
 
Another issue for parents can be food. Understanding that a child will sometimes only eat certain things and that many live that way for their entire lives can be difficult and when a child has allergies it can be even harder to understand the different levels of need. A child knows when a food will make them sick and will refuse to eat it for that reason even in food trials. There is many reasons as to the why a child eats this way… texture, taste, smell… are only a few of the known reasons. Many children on the spectrum are known to only eat particular foods for these reasons. Some will only eat chicken nuggets, some will only eat weetbix, some are known to have the strangest and what some would consider the most disgusting of ideas on foods such as only eating yoghurt with tomato sauce in it. The food needs and combinations are endless. Which ever the reasons behind their choice in food, it is perfectly normal and should never be considered a problem as the child is eating and who knows what tomorrow will bring or what changes will occur and just what you’ll be shocked that they’re willing to try!!
 
Teaching a child how to use a cup and move on from a bottle is another well known issue. When a child on the spectrum has sensory issues there can be a dependency to the oral stimulation of using a bottle. As using a bottle isn’t the best of options for a child who will grow into an adult, there are many oral activities that can be done to help in the transition from a bottle to some other form of acceptable drinking device. Blowing bubbles, blowing through a straw (ping pong balls or anything else easy to move), blowing feathers, blowing party favours, massaging the face (if the child is sensory able to cope with that feeling) are all great ideas to help replace the need for the bottle as well as many more. It also helps to speak with an occupational therapist that can assess your child for the extent of the sensory needs your child has and make a plan to help them (in all areas) and they will also have ideas to help you. Changing a child from a bottle won’t happen over night but it can be done in time with these replacements in place for some time.
 
Remember that to change the sensory needs of your child that you need to follow the cause and effect principal. In order to achieve your wants for your child you need to replace the sensory needs they have with a need (or needs) that are to the ‘value’ of the needs they live by now and always remember… it takes time!! And ALWAYS remember that just like the rest of the world, every day is different. What works today may be too sensory tomorrow but work again the day after or next week, that’s why it’s important to have more than one ‘replacement’ if you possibly can so things are always happening to help. Don’t push your child to do the things you want them to do. If something doesn’t work or it seems like they’re becoming anxious about it then wait a bit and try something else, every day will be different. Pushing a child into doing what you want them to do today may have them regress and you may find they take longer to get ‘on board’ to what you’re actually trying to help them to learn.