For those who have kids who have MILD sensory issues

[Anonymous]

Do they ebb and flow? I wrote in General Parenting about being worried about my 2.5 year old going to school because of the way she behaves around other children--had always been fearful to sit near kids, anxious on playgrounds when kids run by her, etc. A couple of people suggested she may have mild sensory issues and I should get an OT eval. So I sign up for MontgCo Infants and Toddlers, they're coming out next week and as if she knew I was doing this, in the last two weeks she has been INCREDIBLE around other children. Actually ENJOYED the play area at the mall. Actually PLAYED with two girls she hadn't met before at a recent playgroup meetup. AND she was totally fine during the recent storms--yesterday barely flinched at the thunder in the morning! I haven't taken her to a storytime since I signed up, that's for some reason where she gets the most nervous, maybe because all the kids are sitting in one condensed area? but I feel like I've been making up all the behaviors she's had for the last 2 years! I do know that her symptoms are mild, she doesn't have the sensory issues of tags bothering her, not liking food/paint on her hands, that kind of thing.

Anyway, my question (before I cancel the eval, which I'm tempted to do because I think they're going to laugh at me), do sensory issues ebb and flow? She's starting school on Sept 7th and my concern is that this will all blow up again.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Anonymous]

I always go by what my pediatrician told me when my mild spd kiddo was younger. If you look at all of the checklists etc, all kids are going to show some of those symptoms. But , when they start getting in the way of everyday life...then it becomes a problem. If it were me, I would keep the evaluation. It's free and it might give you some peace of mind to rule it out. Just my two cents...

[Anonymous]

No one is going to laugh at you. No reason to cancel. Sensory issue certainly can ebb and flow, even during things like allergy seasons or in environments with varying demands. If the behaviors resurface, I'd have a private OT take a look, Infants and Toddlers isn't the best for sensory integration stuff. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I agree that sensory issues and certainly ebb and flow. I also agree that you will probably need to get an eval from a private OT. Child Find wasn't much help for us for the sensory issues and it didn't seem to me that is something they typically treat. You may want to see how your DD does in school and then go from there. My DS has sensory issues and sometimes he is perfectly fine, other times he is not. He seems to have more issues at school than he does at home or with us. Just to give you some perspective.

[Anonymous]

Ditto PP. My son can be quite a wreck at school where he is easily overstimulated but home is pretty quiet and chill. He did great w/ a short stint of OT and didn't have problems again until 9 months or so later when he probably hit a growth spurt and a developmental leap. He is now having problems again and I am worried about the demands of full-day K on him. I'd keep the appt. and I also agree that private OT is the way to go if you have real concerns.

[Anonymous]

OP,
Not sure where you are located but we had an eval by Lynn Balzer Martin in Chevy Chase (insurance covered some) and did therapy at Leaps & Bounds in Tennleytown. My DD was very similar to yours. There did seem to be ebb and flow and the "unpredictability" had social ramifications for my kiddo in preschool. For ex, if girls came up and said "hi", pre-OT she might say "hi" or she might stand there kinda frozen. The other kids don't know what to do with that response and kind of avoided her. After OT, she seemed much less anxious and more able to freely participate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ditto PP. My son can be quite a wreck at school where he is easily overstimulated but home is pretty quiet and chill. He did great w/ a short stint of OT and didn't have problems again until 9 months or so later when he probably hit a growth spurt and a developmental leap. He is now having problems again and I am worried about the demands of full-day K on him. I'd keep the appt. and I also agree that private OT is the way to go if you have real concerns.

Our experience is similar to this poster's. We had no idea before school. I also agree with the advice to seek a private OT evaluation if you can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Sensory issues HUGELY ebb and flow. In the past three years of my now 6 year old dd there have been many times where I thought, "wow, we're out of the woods now" and then suddenly the symptoms can return. keep the appointment. It can't hurt.

[Anonymous]

Thank you SO much, everyone. We will keep the appointment and keep in mind that if things blow up at preschool (my heart is pounding just thinking about it) then we should hit a private OT. We are in Rockville near Rockville High School, but willing to travel a bit if necessary. THANKS!