If you are familiar with SPD please chime in

[Anonymous]

my son is 6 and the following list of symptoms started about 6-8 months ago. A school counselor suggested we look into SPS. He hates all underwear constantly tugs and pulls on it. Puts his hands in his underwear to adjust it. Shirts, sweaters, and jackets "hurt" his underarms so he want to wear everything that is super loose. Prefers sweatpants. He has a lot of fears primarily bedtime and about being alone on the second floor when adults are on the first floor. He is very quick to get angry and cry. Cannot let anything go holds on to grudges against peers. He is very sensitive in terms of emotions, very empathetic, always worried about what Is fair and what is not. Has somewhat lagging fine motor skills in terms of penmanship and using utensils and scissors. Poor balance when it come to riding a bicycle or a scooter. Overall very intelligent, inquisitive, observant with incredible vocabulary. However he worry wart and some of the above mentioned behavioRs are interfering with school such as he will go to the bathroom many times to adjust his underwear. So the school is suggesting SPD. However if he had SPD wouldn't It show way before 5.5?

[Anonymous]

All of these things are new, or are some of these things things that have just become more noticeable as he's reached an age where expectations are higher? For example, did he used to ride a scooter well, and now can not, or used to draw and write in an age appropriate manner, and now doesn't, or was it that you felt that not riding a scooter at 5 was normal, and now six months later all his friends and classmates have mastered it and you're aware that he hasn't?

[Anonymous]

Op here he never really rode or took to the scooter. We never really worked on it. With his bike we just took off the training wheels and he cannot baLance at all. I thing anxiety or fear over falling is a major player here though. In terms of fine motor skills he is and always was beHind his peers. However the sensitivity to clothing and crying/anger started a few months into kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

The sensitivity to clothing is a classic marker of sensory over-responsiveness. BUT I think it would be very odd if, in retrospect, you did not recognize other sensory sensitivities that pre-date Kindergarten. How was he with things like big crowds, carousels, live music events? Has he been a picky eater? Has he been picky about fabrics on bedsheets, pillows, etc? When you go to the zoo or a farm or have a BBQ, is he super bothered by the smell? Does he have sensory seeking behavior, like long-term use of the paci or sucking on clothes; excessive hugging; or running into things?
If, even looking back in retrospect, you don't see any other sensory issues of note, then I suspect there might be something going on other than SPD. Maybe just anxiety and the clothing adjustment is a anxious tic, or like a mild OCD kind of thing? Or maybe he is having some skin allergies and things that didn't bother him before are suddenly bothering him because his skin is more sensitive (which could also, I guess, make him more emotional, if he's uncomfortable)?
The whole picture, particularly the fears at bedtime, sort of suggest anxiety to me -- maybe with the higher demands of K, he is more aware (even if in a way he can't express) that he is lagging behind peers on the motor skills, and it's expressing itself this way. If that's the case, then some OT for the fine motor and balance issues may help with the anxiety, as it improves his confidence, but I would think you would also want to start on some things like behavioral management to help him learn how to express and deal with his anxieties in a healthy way.
Also, just an idea, but yoga could help with a few of these problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The sensitivity to clothing is a classic marker of sensory over-responsiveness. BUT I think it would be very odd if, in retrospect, you did not recognize other sensory sensitivities that pre-date Kindergarten. How was he with things like big crowds, carousels, live music events? Has he been a picky eater? Has he been picky about fabrics on bedsheets, pillows, etc? When you go to the zoo or a farm or have a BBQ, is he super bothered by the smell? Does he have sensory seeking behavior, like long-term use of the paci or sucking on clothes; excessive hugging; or running into things?
If, even looking back in retrospect, you don't see any other sensory issues of note, then I suspect there might be something going on other than SPD. Maybe just anxiety and the clothing adjustment is a anxious tic, or like a mild OCD kind of thing? Or maybe he is having some skin allergies and things that didn't bother him before are suddenly bothering him because his skin is more sensitive (which could also, I guess, make him more emotional, if he's uncomfortable)?
The whole picture, particularly the fears at bedtime, sort of suggest anxiety to me -- maybe with the higher demands of K, he is more aware (even if in a way he can't express) that he is lagging behind peers on the motor skills, and it's expressing itself this way. If that's the case, then some OT for the fine motor and balance issues may help with the anxiety, as it improves his confidence, but I would think you would also want to start on some things like behavioral management to help him learn how to express and deal with his anxieties in a healthy way.
Also, just an idea, but yoga could help with a few of these problems.

This is OP no to all of your questions. He is very social loves parties, crowds, etc. he is not a picky eater, although he eats in small amounts. He was never bothered by fabric at all prior to K. I think anxiety is playing a huge role in all of this.

[Anonymous]

My son has some of the same issues. Bad with writing, scooter, bike, not daring (doesn't jump up or climb), quick to anger.

Now with OT and counseling and sports and martial arts, he's much better. Improving on writing, definitely less quick to anger, and less angry about a stray touch from a classmate (didn't have clothing issues).

Has mild hypotonia, dyspraxic tendencies, and "near ADHD" according to eval and dev ped.

As is usual on DCUM, I'll suggest an eval. Things are much better for us now!

[Anonymous]

Pp if you don't mind sharing what type of counseling?

[Anonymous]

He did play therapy and school counseling, since a lot of his biggest issues were at school. School counselor considers herself 'eclectic' style. Also did Social Thinking - good curriculum.

[Anonymous]

OP with the mix of anxiety and fine motor issues I would see a developmental pediatrician or get a neuropsych evaluation.

Regarding the sensory issues, sometimes kids develop them and grow out of them. I'd let him wear tag-less underwear and sweat pants or pants that he feels comfortable in.