Sensory disorders can affect children's behavior
By BILL RADFORD
The (Colorado Springs) Gazette
Margo Wells and her husband had always regarded their son, Jacob, as an intense child.
"As a baby, he squirmed a lot when you held him," Wells says. "You could tell he didn't like to be held."
He also didn't sleep much and resisted when it was time to change clothes or take a bath. "He was pretty happy; he just seemed to always be alert," his mother says.
His behavior became more of an issue when he started preschool.
"He would scream at the other kids and hit them, and you could tell he was overwhelmed," his mother says.
At age 3, Jacob was diagnosed with sensory-processing disorder, which affects a person's ability to interpret and respond to the information he or she receives through the senses.
The disorder, first called sensory integration dysfunction, covers a broad range of problems. Some children are hypersensitive, unable to cope with the noise of a crowded room or driven to a tantrum by the feel of a tag in a shirt. Others are underresponsive and seek out stimuli, such as the noise from a washing machine, or have motor-skill delays because of problems processing sensory information.
A controversial diagnosis
A link between sensory issues and behavior was pioneered by Jean Ayres, a psychologist and occupational therapist who brought the disorder to light in Sensory Integration and Learning Disorders in 1972. A quarter-century later, sensory-processing disorder is not recognized by the DSM, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is commonly used to diagnose mental disorders. And some insurance companies don't cover sensory-integration therapy, calling it experimental.
"Sensory-processing problems are very real, and they can be extremely debilitating," says Michael Kisley, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs who researches sensory issues. But sensory-processing disorder remains a controversial diagnosis, he says. More research is needed to show whether it is separate from other disorders with sensory-processing components, such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
Rebecca Hendricks, an occupational therapist in pediatric rehabilitation, says she sees more referrals from doctors citing sensory-processing disorder or sensory issues as the problem.
"It's probably one of the most frustrating diagnoses you can have, because it's not static," she says. Problems may overlap, or children may swing from one type of sensory-processing disorder to another, she says.
"I think the hypersensitive kids get recognized more often because it gets in the way of their daily life more," she says.
How it looks in adults
Adults can have sensory-processing issues, too, but they're less likely to be recognized because adults learn to cope, partly by avoiding certain situations, Kisley says.
That's one thing her son, now 5, is learning, Margo Wells says. They recently went to a local family fun center. She could tell Jacob was having difficulty coping at the center, but he avoided a meltdown.
"When we were walking to the car, he said, 'I don't think it's a good idea for me to come back here.'"
Adults have greater control over their environment. Kids with sensory-processing disorder who seek to control their environment may be criticized as manipulative, says Tami Lamphere, an occupational therapist at the Child Development Center of Colorado Springs, Colo. But those kids -- from the infant who can't stand anyone's touch except Mom's to the child who can't seem to handle a change in routine -- are simply trying to control a sensory bombardment that may be unbearable to them.
The KID Foundation, http://www.kidfoundation.org/,
303-794-1182
Red flags
There are several forms of sensory-processing disorder. Here are the signs of some:
Sensory overresponsiveness: Child bothered by noise in a restaurant, mall or gymnasium; any loud, unexpected sounds; feeling crumbs on his mouth; food textures; fuzzy or furry textures; playing on swings and slides. Typically irritable, fussy and moody. Aggressive or impulsive when overwhelmed by sensory stimulation.
Sensory underresponsiveness: Child doesn't seem to notice when someone touches him or her, doesn't cry when seriously hurt, prefers sedentary activities. Typically passive and withdrawn.
Sensory seeking: On the move constantly, loves to play music and television at extremely high volumes, seeks opportunities to feel vibrations such as leaning against stereo speakers or the washer and dryer. May be angry or even explosive when required to sit still. Typically intense and demanding.
Sensory-discrimination disorder: Child has difficulty judging how much force is required for a task or telling what is in his hands without looking. Trouble identifying sounds or following directions. Aversion to playing with puzzles or other visual games.
SOURCE: "Sensational Kids, Hope and Help for Children With Sensory Processing Disorder," by Lucy Jane Miller
-- The Gazette