United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My 2 year old son was diagnosed with Sensory Integration today. Does anyone know anything about this? I was told to look on the internet. But, with my 2 year old it is very hard. Any general information is appreciated.

Thank
Ivette

Sensory issues can come in many forms...it's a sensory overload with sound or touch, etc.
My daughter is affected with this and it started out with noise and vibration when she was a toddler and now (she is 9 yrs now) it has moved to tactile things.
She use to scream when my son would play with a bumble ball or have his toys that vibrated or made too loud of noise were on. The vaccuum was upsetting to her.
She now overcompensates with the tactile issues by trying to touch as much of her body to something...chair, talbe, etc as possible.
There are many good websites with information; just do a goodle search on Sensory Integration Disorder

Peggy

I realize now that many of my problems as a child were related to sensory integration.
I still can't stand my clothing tight, flashing lights, certain materials. I hate anything tight on my arm.
My friends use to tease me because I kept so busy, I could never sit still for to long.
I managed to sit in school for some reason but I went to a strict school and the room was always quiet, maybe I liked it.
My granddaughter was laughing because I had a bed jacket (shirt) on inside out.
The inside pilled when I washed it she and thought it was funny that I could not stand the feel of it.
I drove my poor Mother crazy when it came to fabrics etc.
As I matured, I managed to compensate and take control of the things I could not handle and it is not a big problem for me now.
Except for my husband, most people don't really know that I have so many issues with these things.
Those that do, probably, just think I am being picky or finicky.
I think my own kids thought I was picky about certain things until I found UBPN and began to understand myself.
On second thought they probably still think I am a pain about somethings...

Hang in there
Kath

I'm curious if anyone has heard of chronic pain being related to sensory integration issues?

I ask, because I had very bad carpal tunnel from 1990 to 1995 (when I finally had bilateral release surgery). Also during that time, my whole body was extremely sensitive to tactile sensations. It sounds a lot like what Kath described - couldn't stand any constriction from clothing (on my arms or anywhere else), I couldn't bear the feeling of certain materials or fabrics, couldn't sleep if the sheets were wrinkled up over my toes or the bed sheets had "pills" in them. It was horrible.

I never realized how much pain I had from the carpal tunnel until it was relieved; the "lack" of pain was overwhelming! I had been in touch with the especially actue episodes, but had "tuned out" the chronic pain. And... immediately after the surgery, my tactile sensitivity issues disappeared. It's hard for me now to believe that such things drove me so crazy.

Anyway, it makes me wonder if there is a connection between brain sensory "overload" due to pain and the inability to tolerate other "normal" sensations or integrate them correctly?

Kate

My good friend's 4 year old son was just dianosed with sensory integration. She took him because he hated noises like washing machines, vacuums, blowdryers etc. He is scared of the dark (extremely) and has to touch something or someone at all times. I don't know exactly what is being done. But I will surely find out. and share what she tells me

MArlyn

Kate
I have never heard of chronic pain being related I assumed it was due to sensory losses from obpi.
I have global so I assumed it is related.
I always had pain issues and they would be worse during growth spurts or hormone changes when I was young.
Lately some of these things are more irritating.
I have spinal stenosis and sciatica in both legs for the past few months.
Hmmm wonder if that could have made these things worse... or at least more annoying than usual.
Kath

Hello, Ivette. I know you don't have a lot of time to search the internet, but maybe having a list of a few reference sites might help? We haven't had this problem, but I did bookmark a few sites a while back:

http://www.brighttots.com/sensory_integration.html

http://www.adoption-research.org/sid.html

http://www.kid-power.org/sid.html

http://www.sinetwork.org/


Also, we've received a therapy product catalog in the past (Abilitations) and I've noticed that there are a lot of products geared toward sensory integration problems. It's a therapy catalog, so the products are very expensive, but I've found that browsing the catalog can give you ideas of things to buy at a lower cost elsewhere (at least similar products if not the same) and / or things that you can make yourself sometimes.

http://www.abilitations.com/

If your online time is limited, maybe you could just go to a few sites and print print print lots of info. to read later when you can. HTH.

~Tina

Ivette

I just remembered something the mother of a grown obpi posted years ago.
She made a quilt of assorted materials with different textures and played games with it.
I don't remember who it was sorry.
I spent a great deal of time working with clay as a child.
It is harder to squeeze than play dough but it was used as a therapy tool.
Kath adult/obpi

My 2 yr. old non-bpi child has this. There is a great book that has helped us. The Out of Sync Child. It tells all about this disorder. There is a book that goes with it called "The out of sync shild has fun". It has wonderfull therapy play things that have really helped us. With sensory issues, I have learned that you find new things everyday to help your child. We have slowly learned what works and what doesn't with him. Hope this helps. Heather

My 8 year old non-bpi child has this as well as ADD and a non-verbal learning disorder...we have had her in school since she was 3, prior to that she received services with Early Intervention Program...We have had her extensively tested with the school district, as well as a Neuropsychiatrist who helped a great deal in writing her IEP...I would certainly have your child evaluated by your state's early intervention program and get your little one in the system now...it will certainly make your child's transitions in school so much easier...we finally resorted to medication a year and a half ago and it has made a world of difference in her ability to attend...we have her evaluated every 3 months by our physician who has a PA that is an expert in ADD and ADHD...I also would suggest that you get the book "The Out of Sync Child"...this will also help you...Good luck to you...