Can sensory issues suddenly get much worse, almost overnight?

[Anonymous]

Three year old DD has always been a bit sensitive to certain sounds and has always been a bit sensory seeking, but all in all she's a happy-go-lucky, easy-going child. Within the past week or so she suddenly seems much more anxious about loud noises, much more fearful in general--and her sensory-seeking behaviors have also increased. There have been no changes in her life or environment (with the exception of a week or so holed up in our apartment due to snow and no school). She's still generally happy, but much more clingy and not as relaxed out of the home environment. Is this typical with SPD? It literally felt like it happened overnight. She has some motor and speech delays and I always felt like I could handle anything as long as she was a happy kid...so this behavior really worries me.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I think all kids go through anxiety phases and periodic upticks of difficult ehaviors. I've seen this both in my child with special needs and my neurotypical child.

[Anonymous]

My son went from happily sleeping in the dark to terrified of it within a week. The ped said it is probably due to a cognitive developmental leap. He fell apart in other ways too. He never seemed to be bothered by loud, shrill noises but around 2 and a half yrs old, he started reacting very badly to those kinds of noises.

[Anonymous]

My kid went through a similar phase at 3, it's a big time for anxiety. One of her little friends seemed to have greatly increased auditory sensitivity, lasted a few months.

You might want to do some research, some stuff I have read links the vestibular system with anxiety (look at Handel and Carol Kranowitz, think I saw it one of those places). The sensory seeking is separate but probably related. With being cooped up, her sensory diet may be a lot less. Does she do OT? Do you have a mini trampoline? We do lots of wheelbarrow walking and sommersaults here (also in an apartment). Also lots of silly dancing and spinning. My kids also like to do that walk up your legs and flip over thing.

[Anonymous]

If it's literally almost overnight I would look for a biological cause. Has your child been sick lately? Also, is it possible there are any vitamin or mineral deficiencies that would account for it? B-12 and Magnesium are two supplements (or lack thereof) that some parents say have an almost overnight effect on their children.

[Anonymous]

In a word yes. Can I figure out what sets it off...rarely. Plus, a major sensory issue will finally go away and a new one will appear. I have read even typically developing kids csn go through phases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's literally almost overnight I would look for a biological cause. Has your child been sick lately? Also, is it possible there are any vitamin or mineral deficiencies that would account for it? B-12 and Magnesium are two supplements (or lack thereof) that some parents say have an almost overnight effect on their children.

OP here...thanks for the input! I haven't had DD tested for vitamin deficiency...is there any danger in trying those supplements if she's not deficient? I actually took DD to the doctor yesterday to rule out strep, etc...and she's fine. The doc suspects it's cabin fever.
Hope it's just a phase!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's literally almost overnight I would look for a biological cause. Has your child been sick lately? Also, is it possible there are any vitamin or mineral deficiencies that would account for it? B-12 and Magnesium are two supplements (or lack thereof) that some parents say have an almost overnight effect on their children.

OP here...thanks for the input! I haven't had DD tested for vitamin deficiency...is there any danger in trying those supplements if she's not deficient? I actually took DD to the doctor yesterday to rule out strep, etc...and she's fine. The doc suspects it's cabin fever.
Hope it's just a phase!

No, no danger.

If you want to try B-12, make sure it is "Methyl B-12" also known as "methylcobalamin." You can by a raspberry chewable version at Whole Foods.

If you want to try Magnesium, you can use a magnesium supplement. Magnesium is well known to be necessary for proper nervous system development and functioning, nonetheless it is rarely (if ever) included in common multi-vitamins because the dosage is so bulky. You can buy chewable versions formulated for young children OR you can start giving your child nightly baths in Epsom Salts (aka Magnesium Sulfate) which can be absorbed through the skin.

Finally, you could try fish oils. If you go that route, you may want to do 2 combined products: #1 Omega-3s (Nordic Naturals and Coromega have formulations that are appealing to young children) AND L-Carnitine. We used Omega-3s for years with good results, but were nonetheless amazed at the boost the addition of L-Carnitine made (but our sensory issue child does not eat ANY read meat products, so the redress to his deficiency in Carnitine was almost immediate).

I am not by any stretch a bio-med freak - we absolutely do private OT! Nonetheless, I was amazed at the difference a few key supplements made.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's literally almost overnight I would look for a biological cause. Has your child been sick lately? Also, is it possible there are any vitamin or mineral deficiencies that would account for it? B-12 and Magnesium are two supplements (or lack thereof) that some parents say have an almost overnight effect on their children.

OP here...thanks for the input! I haven't had DD tested for vitamin deficiency...is there any danger in trying those supplements if she's not deficient? I actually took DD to the doctor yesterday to rule out strep, etc...and she's fine. The doc suspects it's cabin fever.
Hope it's just a phase!

No, no danger.

If you want to try B-12, make sure it is "Methyl B-12" also known as "methylcobalamin." You can by a raspberry chewable version at Whole Foods.

If you want to try Magnesium, you can use a magnesium supplement. Magnesium is well known to be necessary for proper nervous system development and functioning, nonetheless it is rarely (if ever) included in common multi-vitamins because the dosage is so bulky. You can buy chewable versions formulated for young children OR you can start giving your child nightly baths in Epsom Salts (aka Magnesium Sulfate) which can be absorbed through the skin.

Finally, you could try fish oils. If you go that route, you may want to do 2 combined products: #1 Omega-3s (Nordic Naturals and Coromega have formulations that are appealing to young children) AND L-Carnitine. We used Omega-3s for years with good results, but were nonetheless amazed at the boost the addition of L-Carnitine made (but our sensory issue child does not eat ANY read meat products, so the redress to his deficiency in Carnitine was almost immediate).

I am not by any stretch a bio-med freak - we absolutely do private OT! Nonetheless, I was amazed at the difference a few key supplements made.

Good luck!

Thanks for all of the great info, PP!