The causes of Sensory Integration/Sensory Processing Disorder are not entirely known because the disorder is neurological and so very diverse. It was first recognized 40 years ago by A Jean Ayres, Ph.D., OTR.

Sensory Integration Disorder is a neurological disorder that results from the brain’s inability to integrate information received from the body’s sensory systems. Those particular systems are responsible for sight, sounds, taste, temperature, pain, position, and movement. The brain takes information it receives, analyzes the information, and tells the body how to react to the information. When a child has sensory integration the brain misinterprets the information it receives …read more

No, I am not talking about food here folks, I am talking about a diet built for the senses…for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder. If you read my blog regularly, you will know that one of AJ’s main issues is Sensory Processing Disorder or otherwise known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction. World Renowned Occupational Therapist Patricia Wilbarger coined the term Sensory Diet (as well as the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol).
A Sensory Diet is a carefully designed activity schedule that provides your child with sensory and nervous system input to help him/her stay focused, alert, and organized throughout the day. It is VERY …read more

Many children with autism, SPD, and ADHD also have an underline disorder of visual processing disorder that is often missed and even misdiagnosed. I have heard parents in my Special Needs playgroup tell me that their Occupational Therapist’s respond to them with comments like “oh, he just sees things differently” or “that is part of his Autism Disability”. However, if a Visual Processing disorder goes undiagnosed a child misses out on an entire different set of teaching strategies and interventions that can be utilized both at home and at school.

There are literally hundreds of books on Sensory Processing Disorder now, especially now that it may be recognized as an actually “disorder” in the DSM. But, the book, Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Integration Issues is my favorite book about Sensory Integration because it gives practical advice on how to parent a child with SPD.

I hate to admit this but about six months after we adopted AJ it crossed my mind.
Fleetingly.
And you all know that I am as honest as the day comes.
I was exhausted. I was not just tired, I was exhausted to the point that getting up in the morning was painful. I would daydream about naptime and I would forfeit my lunch just to get a few more minutes of precious sleep.