I received a lot of push back from people, family, friends, strangers, school staff, etc. on trying to diagnose my son. Let me be the first to say that I do not look at anyone with a "label". We are all unique individuals that carry different strengths, weaknesses, and abilities. All this to say that when you do have a diagnosis you have answers, and unfortunately it's sometimes the only way you can receive help. So, my purpose in looking for answers with a diagnosis started with helping our family meet the needs of our son, and educating us as parents and finding ways to educate his sibling how to help him and how to understand it. Keep in mind, the waiting list for these programs is long, but asking around about the best approach, connecting with local Facebook groups, and finding others experiencing the same thing is important. They will tell you where your child's needs will best be met, so don't be afraid to ask. Remember, it's worth the wait (even if it's 1 year), but during the waiting connect with the support to help you through the waiting days.
At age 4 my son was screened for sensory processing disorder. It was an interesting process of walking, swinging, manipulating objects, balancing, spinning, etc. Since I had prior knowledge of the terms (and done my own DIY evaluation) I was more familiar with what the results meant. What I didn't know was how to help him. That is where they came in. They told me that it's not just exercising that will help my son receive the input (pressure to his body) that he needs, it's certain exercises that will target the areas of deep pressure where his brain will be able to receive the signals. I know, brilliant, right?! So, instead of becoming my son's constant jungle gym I was able to help him navigate things he could do with my assistance, or places we could go at local playgrounds. These included doing the "wheelbarrow" with increased body weight into the pressure of his joints of his shoulders; playing on the monkey bars, stretching the body using body weight, and things like jumping jacks (each vertebrae of his back being activated by the jumping). These were some whole body exercises. We also worked to increase his tactile senses by bean bins, clay and water play (bath time!!) I still have my son take a bath if he's starting to fill bowls of water and play his Lego guys in them, it's obvious he's needing sensory input-water is one of the best ways to receive input on whole body. I did consider gymnastics (great for sensory seekers) but couldn't afford it at the time.
He went to his OT at this establishment and they made goals, worked on input and processing for his body and his mind. It was amazing to see the results! My boy was in his element, and he was calmer, he was able to understand more (he wasn't trying to process his body needs AND language at the same time) and we were seeing him be able to manipulate things he never could before. He can button up a sweater!!! We still had food struggles (still do...working on that) and safety issues that needed to be resolved, but he heard us more, and we knew how to help him.
This is why I always tell people, it's not about what they call my son, he is not confined to a label or a diagnosis, he is a bright, sweet, kind, loving boy who just needs to climb! Now I know this, and without all the testing, and working towards finding answers I wouldn't have been able to help him or had the support we now have for him. We know it's not who they are, but it's a way to find out more of who they are without all the "noise" getting in the way.
More exercises I found in this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Out---Sync-Child-Has-Revised/dp/0399532714/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476726568&sr=8-1&keywords=the+out-of-sync+child+has+fun
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