Table of Contents

Introduction 13

Chapter 1 Introduction to Sensory Processing Disorder 15

How Your Brain Builds Your World 15

The Seven Senses 17

Preferences and Phobias 19

Why Kids Can't Just Adjust 20

From Discomfort to Discombobulation 24

Occupational Therapists to the Rescue 25

Naming the Disorder 28

Chapter 2 Diagnosing Sensory Processing Disorder 29

Is This for Real? 29

At Long Last Proof 30

Receiving a Referral 31

The Value of Observation 36

Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) 37

What a Diagnosis Gets You 41

What a Diagnosis Won't Do 42

What If You Can't Get One? 44

Chapter 3 Look-Alike Problems 45

ADHD (Inattention) 45

ADHD (Hyperactivity-Impulsivity) 48

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 51

Reactive Attachment Disorder 52

Oppositional Defiant Disorder 54

Anxiely Disorder 56

Chapter 4 Just a Piece of the Puzzle 59

Autism Spectrum Disorder 59

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder 62

Seizure Disorder 65

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 66

Post-Institutionalized Children 66

Learning Disabilities 67

Chapter 5 Occupational Therapy Using a Sensory Integration Frame of Reference (OT-SI) 69

Tested Treatments 69

Fun and Games 70

The Therapist's Playground 72

Fine-Motor Strategies 78

Gross Motor Strategies 79

Improving Processing 80

No Quick Fixes 81

Chapter 6 The Sensory Diet 82

YOJ Aren't Just What You Eat 82

Putting a Plan Together 84

Minimum Daily Requirements 86

Special Circumstances 88

Going Off the Menu 89

Don't Set It and Forget It 92

Other Diets for Sensory Processing Disorder 92

Gross Motor Strategies 79

improving Processing 80

No Quick Fixes 81

Chapter 6 The Sensory Diet 82

YOJ Aren't Just What You Eat 82

Putting a Plan Together 84

Minimum Daily Requirements 86

Special Circumstances 88

Going Off the Menu 89

Don't Set It and Forget It 92

Other Diets for Sensory Processing Disorder 92

Chapter 7 The Parent as Therapist 94

From Clinic to Home 94

The Wilbarger Protocol or Deep Pressure Proprioception Technique (DPPT) 96

Educational Kinesiology 98

Play Therapy 98

The Parent as Researcher 100

Your Greatest Responsibility: Understanding 104

Chapter 8 The Tactile Sense 105

When Little Things Bug a Lot 105

What Not to Wear 107

Too Sticky, Too Slimy 109

Feeling No Pain 110

The Tickle Threshold 111

Don't Touch Me! 111

Chapter 9 The Visual Sense 115

Seeing Is Believing 115

Lights and Colors 117

Too Busy, Too Boring 118

Attack of the Math Problems 120

Overstimulating Reading 122

Avoiding Eye Contact 124

Chapter 10 The Auditory Sense 125

Hearing Challenges 125

Too Loud, Too Soft 126

Imperfect Pitch 129

Auditory Discrimination 129

Watch Your Tone of Voice 131

Getting the Message Through 133

Chapter 11 The Gustatory and Olfactory Senses

Taste and Smell Together 134

Avoiding Sharp Sensations 136

Cravings for Spicy and Sour 137

I'm Not Eating That! 139

Scented Soaps and Shampoos 141

Smoke and Other Environmental Hazards 143

Chapter 12 The Vestibular Sense 144

Keeping Your Balance 144

Playground Perils 147

Bending Over Backward 150

Don't Sweep Me Off My Feet! 151

Gravitational Insecurity 152

Judging-and Misjudging-Distances 153

Chapter 13 The Proprioceptive Sense 155

Muscles and Joints, Reporting In 155

Jumping and Flapping 157

Hitting and pushing 159

Biting and Butting 160

Running Into Walls 161

Too Hard or Too Light 164

Chapter 14 Motor Planning 166

It Only Looks Easy 166

Every Activity Has Steps 168

Mapping It Out 170

Getting from A to B 172

Failure and Frustration 173

Show, Don't Tell 174

Chapter 15 Low Muscle Tone

Limp as a Dishrag 175

Spaghetti Legs 179

Modulating Movement 180

Comfortable listening 181

Getting a Grip 182

A Lifelong Challenge 183

Chapter 16 Sensory Over-Responsive (SOR) and Sensory Under-Responsive (SUR) 185

When a Little Is Too Much 185

When Too Much Is Not Enough 186

Swinging Between Extremes 187

Both at Once: An Apparent Contradiction 189

What It Takes to Stay Alert 190

Finding the Comfort Zone 191

Chapter 17 Sensory Processing and Behavior 193

Behavior Analysis 193

Changing the Environment 194

Tantrum or Sensory Overload? 195

Distraction or Sensory Seeking? 197

Disobedience or Poor Motor Planning? 198

Giving Children Choices 200

Chapter 18 Sensory Processing at Home 202

Self-Care Challenges 202

Petty Training Problems 205

The Appeal of Routines 206

Realistic Expectations 207

Sibling Conflict 209

Playing to Strengths 210

Chapter 19 Sensory Processing at School 211

The Classroom 211

Sitting Still 214

Paying Attention 215

Writing Right 217

Working with Teachers 218

When the Teacher Won't Cooperate 220

Chapter 20 Sensory Processing at Play 221

Swing Set Slowdown 221

You Touch Me, I Hit You 224

Motor Planning and Sports 225

Playing by No One Else's Rules 227

Computers and Video Games 230

Social Insecurity 231

Chapter 21 Sensory Processing in the Community 232

At the Grocery Store 232

At the Shopping Mall 234

At Worship Services 236

In the Car 238

At the Doctor's Office 240

With Family and Friends 242

Chapter 22 Sensory Processing at All Ages 244

Babies 244

Toddlers 247

Preschoolers 251

School Age 254

Teenagers 257

College and Beyond 260

Chapter 23 Explaining Sensory Processing to Your Child 262

Areas of Strength 262

Likes and Dislikes 264

Sharing Feelings 265

Revisiting the Senses 267

Putting the Picture Together 269

Areas of Concern 271

Chapter 24 Helping Children Manage Their Sensory Needs 273

Recognize What's Working 273

Recognize What Doesn't Work 274

Socially Acceptable Strategies 276

Practice at Low-Stress Times 280

Pass on What You've Learned 280

The Alert Program 281

Chapter 25 Sensory Processing and You 283

Understanding Your Own Sensory Processing 233

How Sensory Processing Affects Parenting 285

Mismatched Sensitivities 286

Communicating Your Feelings 288

Using Strategies on Yourself 288

Building a Family with Good Sense 291

Appendix A Books and Websites 293

Appendix B Sources for Sensory Processing Products 297

Index 299