It’s called sensory processing disorder (SPD), something that physicians haven’t heard of, but I’m sure the drug companies will be correcting that soon:
Never heard of it? You’re in good company. Neither have many pediatricians, neurologists, psychologists and teachers. But in the parallel universe of occupational therapy, which focuses on the more primal “occupations” of life–dressing, eating, working, playing–SPD is commonly treated.
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{ 6 comments }
What parent hasn’t claimed their kid has selective hearing? Just one more axis on the behavior spectrum that has been medicalized. Why have OTs been finding and treating it; because there is a billing code
I was treated for this as a child in the 80’s.. I jokingly tell people now that i am medically proven to be clumsy.. and as a child i did not like to be touched or hugged, and normal smells would send me into a tizzy and i was clumsy.. (there went my dreams of being a prima ballarina!
_… and i think it is mostly bunk.. and that the vast majority of kids grow out of it naturally. But in today’s society we want to ‘treat’ people that are different from the norm. But luckly for my parents a school based OT did the work, so it was covered under the ISP that the school wrote up.. and as for my dreams of being a world class ballarina dashed, i spent my time becoming a world class swimmer who went to university on a athlecic schoolarship.
Come to my house, spend time with my son, and you’ll see just what it’s like. SPD is real. It has nothing to do with “selective hearing.” It’s as if what you say goes into his ears and gets trapped somewhere in his brain. By the third time you say something, he seems to come back from wherever he was, and, voila, what you’re telling him sticks. Drugs aren’t the answer. Learning to accept it and encourage the good things that come with it are the answer: high aptitude for artistic pursuits, such as drawing and music; high energy translates into wonderful opportunities for lots of exercise for the whole family, provided you limit TV time and absolutely outlaw video games; high intelligence, or at least curiosity about all subjects. And doctors who don’t believe in it? Trust me, they become my son’s ex-doctors.
Actually, it’s called autism. It’s for the parents in denial who want a softer label.
umm. These kids are fully connected with the world.. they just respond differently to stimulations.. so there for, not autism..
Autism? No, my son has Sensory Processing Disorder. His behavior was poor, especially in school although he wasn’t “bad” enough to get help in school. When you have a child that has this issue you are not making it up. I do know my Child got OT services and it helped him adjust and accept things better. His behavior has gotten sooo much better. From just 12 weeks of OT.
And for the joker that said it is called Autism, you really don’t know what you are talking about. My son is personable, talkative, and very intelligent. He is just overly sensitive to the world.
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