Occupational Therapy - Helpful?

[Anonymous]

My 3 yr old was recently evaluated at KKI and was found not to have autism. However, the OT part of the evaluation team noted that he could benefit from OT because he is a huge sensory seeker. So we made our first appointment with an OT...but really, will it help to regulate some of DS' behavior? Just looking for perspectives from other parents. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

What are the behavioral issues that he has? If he goes into OT, he should have specific goals that involve specific behaviors. "Sensory seeking" is not a behavior and mediating it is not a goal.

[Anonymous]

No we found it a waste of time. Gymnastics and playground were far better.

[Anonymous]

I really don't like terms like "sensory seeker" because we are all sensory seekers and sensory avoiders. Does he have issues that are interfering with his life? Why did you seek an evaluation?

[Anonymous]

Sensory ot helped my child tremendously. My dc was older when we started. Can you give more information about your situation and your dc's behaviors/issues?

[Anonymous]

Changed our lives. Very helpful in regulating my DC's explosive behavior.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I took him in for an autism evaluation. Mainly for behavioral issues - frequent tantrums, difficulty transitioning between certain activities, extremely active, obsession with trains/cars, etc. He was seen by an OT, SLP, and a neurodevelopmental pediatrician during the evaluation.

No speech/language issues. But his energy and level of activity was very apparent. Here are some of the issues noted:

- has a need to touch everything and everyone
- has little sense of danger; will run ahead of us (parents), or try to jump and climb playground equipment in inappropriate ways
- loves to crash, bounce into things
- constantly climbing on furniture, etc
- loves to be swung high, tossed into the air
- carries around a little car in one or both hands almost all of the time when we're out and about. It's almost like a security blanket for him

The OT noticed that his fine motor skills were less developed -- does not like to draw, color, etc. and is easily frustrated with a fork

Potty training has been a completely nightmare. Does not tell us when he has to go, and doesn't seem bothered by being wet (but will tell us that we need to change him after he poops).

Some of the tantruming behaviors have improved since the evaluation, but the other "sensory seeking" behaviors have not changed. We are particularly concerned about his need to touch everything and everyone. We've talked to him repeatedly about personal space and things, but it's just not sinking in. He can't seem to help himself.

[Anonymous]

It scares and saddens me that these behaviors would be attributed to autism. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I took him in for an autism evaluation. Mainly for behavioral issues - frequent tantrums, difficulty transitioning between certain activities, extremely active, obsession with trains/cars, etc. He was seen by an OT, SLP, and a neurodevelopmental pediatrician during the evaluation.

No speech/language issues. But his energy and level of activity was very apparent. Here are some of the issues noted:

- has a need to touch everything and everyone
- has little sense of danger; will run ahead of us (parents), or try to jump and climb playground equipment in inappropriate ways
- loves to crash, bounce into things
- constantly climbing on furniture, etc
- loves to be swung high, tossed into the air
- carries around a little car in one or both hands almost all of the time when we're out and about. It's almost like a security blanket for him

The OT noticed that his fine motor skills were less developed -- does not like to draw, color, etc. and is easily frustrated with a fork

Potty training has been a completely nightmare. Does not tell us when he has to go, and doesn't seem bothered by being wet (but will tell us that we need to change him after he poops).

Some of the tantruming behaviors have improved since the evaluation, but the other "sensory seeking" behaviors have not changed. We are particularly concerned about his need to touch everything and everyone. We've talked to him repeatedly about personal space and things, but it's just not sinking in. He can't seem to help himself.

Sounds a lot like my son, and OT has helped us enormously. He also has speech and social deficits. FWIW, he was not initially diagnosed as being on the spectrum (first eval was at age three), but was later diagnosed at age four.

[Anonymous]

He is three. Give the kid a break. That is normal for boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I took him in for an autism evaluation. Mainly for behavioral issues - frequent tantrums, difficulty transitioning between certain activities, extremely active, obsession with trains/cars, etc. He was seen by an OT, SLP, and a neurodevelopmental pediatrician during the evaluation.

No speech/language issues. But his energy and level of activity was very apparent. Here are some of the issues noted:

- has a need to touch everything and everyone
- has little sense of danger; will run ahead of us (parents), or try to jump and climb playground equipment in inappropriate ways
- loves to crash, bounce into things
- constantly climbing on furniture, etc
- loves to be swung high, tossed into the air
- carries around a little car in one or both hands almost all of the time when we're out and about. It's almost like a security blanket for him

The OT noticed that his fine motor skills were less developed -- does not like to draw, color, etc. and is easily frustrated with a fork

Potty training has been a completely nightmare. Does not tell us when he has to go, and doesn't seem bothered by being wet (but will tell us that we need to change him after he poops).

Some of the tantruming behaviors have improved since the evaluation, but the other "sensory seeking" behaviors have not changed. We are particularly concerned about his need to touch everything and everyone. We've talked to him repeatedly about personal space and things, but it's just not sinking in. He can't seem to help himself.

Sounds a lot like my son, and OT has helped us enormously. He also has speech and social deficits. FWIW, he was not initially diagnosed as being on the spectrum (first eval was at age three), but was later diagnosed at age four.

OP here. PP, how was the initial evaluation different from the 2nd one that ultimately led to a diagnosis?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I took him in for an autism evaluation. Mainly for behavioral issues - frequent tantrums, difficulty transitioning between certain activities, extremely active, obsession with trains/cars, etc. He was seen by an OT, SLP, and a neurodevelopmental pediatrician during the evaluation.

No speech/language issues. But his energy and level of activity was very apparent. Here are some of the issues noted:

- has a need to touch everything and everyone
- has little sense of danger; will run ahead of us (parents), or try to jump and climb playground equipment in inappropriate ways
- loves to crash, bounce into things
- constantly climbing on furniture, etc
- loves to be swung high, tossed into the air
- carries around a little car in one or both hands almost all of the time when we're out and about. It's almost like a security blanket for him

The OT noticed that his fine motor skills were less developed -- does not like to draw, color, etc. and is easily frustrated with a fork

Potty training has been a completely nightmare. Does not tell us when he has to go, and doesn't seem bothered by being wet (but will tell us that we need to change him after he poops).

Some of the tantruming behaviors have improved since the evaluation, but the other "sensory seeking" behaviors have not changed. We are particularly concerned about his need to touch everything and everyone. We've talked to him repeatedly about personal space and things, but it's just not sinking in. He can't seem to help himself.

Sounds a lot like my son, and OT has helped us enormously. He also has speech and social deficits. FWIW, he was not initially diagnosed as being on the spectrum (first eval was at age three), but was later diagnosed at age four.

Also, how did the OT help?

[Anonymous]

Son diagnosed

Therapy was waste of time or money

Would have been better spent on taking home to park for same time and/or sitting and reading books for same time

[Anonymous]

It was amazingly helpful for our child. You have to find an OT that is specifically focused on sensory processing disorder in children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He is three. Give the kid a break. That is normal for boys.

For a child with true sensory processing disorder, a true sensory seeker, there IS a big difference and it's not just "being three."

An OT trained in SPD can help that child get what his body needs. He'll feel better in his own skin and his parents will better know how to make him happy and healthy.