SPD question

[Anonymous]

My son is 4 and is having a lot of behavior issues in school (very hypersensitive to touch, becomes defensive when touched, becomes defiant and unruly when made to sit near other kids during circle time, lack of self-regulation, etc). I am having him tested for sensory issues based on my friend's rec (she is an OT). His school doesn't have much experience (if any) w/ kids w/ sensory issues. I am hoping to take the results from the evaluation to the school. Has anyone had the OT speak to teachers/directors at school about SPD? Whenever I have brought it up at a meeting, I can almost see his teacher and the director roll their eyes at me. How can I educate them about SPD? Has anyone w/ a child w/ SPD seen any positive results from OT? My son doesn't seem to have any of these issues at home w/ me and people he knows. He is extremely bright and is already reading so his development is very uneven.

[Anonymous]

You and the school will see immediate benefits from beginning OT so perhaps that will open their eyes and then then they will be more receptive to implementing some ideas in the classroom. Does he have any social engagement issues?

[Anonymous]

My daughter has SPD and has had a lot of positive results from OT. I found it very useful to have the OT visit the preschool since these issues were much more apparent in the school environment. I have now had 2 different preschools - one was very receptive to working with our OT and one was not. Not surprisingly, my daughter had much more success at the school that was open to working with her OT. SPD often does first appear in the school environment where there are many more demands on the children. It is very common and the preschool should be familiar with it. If they are not and are not open to working with your OT, I would look for a new preschool where your child may find more success. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks PPs. The director at my son's preschool said she knows a bit about sensory issues, just not the ones my son has (it figures I will ask the OT, at the very least to speak to his teacher and the director about the his sensory issues. Right not, they seem to just think he is badly behaved and probably don't believe me when I tell them he doesn't act like this at home. I have answered many questions about our home life b/c they just can't understand how a child can act one way at home and act completely different at school. Is it typical for an OT to offer services within the preschool environment? I am relieved to hear that OT can help b/c my son is starting to develop "I am a bad boy" complex b/c he is often sent to the office. They seem to think his behaviors are done on purpose (when it is pretty obvious that he is simply reacting to what he perceives as a stressful situation- pushing people away, hitting, occasionally biting when he is touched by a teacher) and he should therefore show some remorse for them. I know when he behaves badly on purpose and this is not it. The school is getting a new director soon who has experience in special ed as well as in the local public school system so perhaps this will help. Glad to hear that OT may provide some light at the end of the tunnel.

[Anonymous]

OP again. My son doesn't have social issues although it took him a while to warm up to the kids in his class (I think he was just trying to figure out if they were going to hurt him since he is so tactile defensive). His teacher said he is doing fine socially and plays fairly well w/ both boys and girls. He likes playing w/ slightly older children who talk as much as he does. Younger kids who don't talk don't interest him and he tries to stay away from them.