When extended family, teachers, neighbors, other parents, and service providers ask you what Sensory Processing Disorder is, the following are research-supported statements you can make. Sensory Processing Disorder is a complex disorder of the brain that affects developing children and adults. Parent surveys, clinical assessments, and laboratory protocols exist to identify children with SPD. At … Read more
Occupational therapy for children Occupational therapy (OT) for SPD in children is fun! During sensory-based OT sessions, the therapist and your child interact in a sensory-rich environment with lots of swinging, spinning, tactile, visual, auditory, and taste opportunities that seem to a child more like a giant playground than a therapy center. Sessions are subtly structured … Read more
When two disorders co-exist in one person, the phenomenon is known as “comorbidity.” The SPD Foundation has sponsored and conducted a number of studies into the comorbidity of SPD with other common childhood disorders such as ADHD, autistic spectrum disorders including Asperger’s, Fragile X Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and other diagnoses. SPD and ADHD SPD and … Read more
Although not yet recognized in the DSM-V, Sensory Processing Disorder can be identified and categorized by an occupational therapist with advanced training in sensory processing and integration. Of primary importance is linking sensory impairments to challenges in functioning at home or school. Identification usually begins with screening, which is basically a professional’s search for red … Read more
All children can benefit from appropriate sensory experiences. There is much research available demonstrating the benefits of sensory-rich environments for animals and the same appears to be true for humans. For children who have atypical reactions to the sensory environment, the world can be a scary and challenging place. Many aspects of home and family … Read more