I know I've talked about my daughter's Sensory Processing Disorder in the past. Maybe more than you care to hear about. But, it's simply fascinating to me, therefore, I have the need to share. L had her very first occupational therapy (OT) appointment today followed by speech therapy. OT is nothing short of amazing how it all works wonders on a person's nervous system.
We've begun an intensive therapy approach with L to help her reduce sensory defensiveness. Sensory defensiveness is a tendency to respond to certain harmless sensations as if they were dangerous or painful. This defensiveness creates avoidance behaviors, fearfulness, and anxieties if left untreated. Luckily, L's sensory defensiveness falls into the mild category meaning she may appear quite normal, but she may be described sometimes as "picky", "over-sensitive", "slightly overacitve", or "slighty controlling." Even though it's mild, her sensory defensiveness covers a wide range of areas: tactile (touch), oral, gravitational, postural, visual, and auditory. All of these were determined by a trained Occupational Therapist through a series of skill tests. The tests in themselves were amazing how they revealed the levels and areas of defensiveness.
The most amazing thing, however, is the therapy approach. We will use therapressure. In a nutshell, we will use a surgical scrub brush to brush her hands, arms, back, legs, and feet with firm strokes. Then, we will follow up the brushing with joint compressions to the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles. By doing these things, L's body will release more seratonin and dopamine. These hormones are major neurotransmitters in the body and both help to regulate the central nervous system. Because Sensory Processing Disorder is a neurological disorder, these forms of therapy, if done intensively and regularly, can greatly reduce and even remove sensory defensiveness. Nothing short of amazing!
And because her brain does not currently process information accurately, the OT requested L get a speech evaluation to make sure she is processing speech/language properly. L tested great in all areas of speech except for the area of pragmatics: this includes social/interaction and play. L tested about one year behind in these areas. Speech therapy will help her develop proper social skills through interaction, turn-taking and imaginative play. She has not developed these areas very well on her own. But with OT coupled with speech therapy, L will be getting way ahead of the game. And since she is already very gifted with exceptional cognitive skills (tests revealed above average cognition), therapy will help her nervous system be more organized so that she can put her giftedness to work in very effective ways. Watch out, World!