I am trying to udnerstand what ADHD is compared to sensory processing. Where are the differences. Maybe I just need a better understanding of each?
My son can be the sweetest child, or he can be the devil himself. He can listen like an angel at times, and other times you think his ears are truly for decoration only. I get that at time when I give him an order, as much as he might want to Comply with that order he just can not. I am trying to understand what cause his inability to recieve the directions and follow throgh. Is it from ADHD or other sensory issues.
EX. When he is with my mom, there are a few kids he plays with. Two different families. One family when my son plays with thier son he can still listen and mind my mom. The other family he goes "bannanas" and stops listening. This is the same reaction everytime. While I know kids have thier good days and bad, this does not see to fall prey to that. That is of course just one example. so I am trying to understand what the difference is for the ADHD vs Sensory
Wow, lots of helpful responses. I have taken him to a Ped. Psychologist to start the process. I have talked to his doc, who asks about him every time I come in (I have a daughter who is 1so tonight was her 1 year check up). I will definitely to looking to get some of the books mentioned. I think this is what I am looking for.
I am not going to bury my head in the sand, I am just trying to see how I can help my child grow and learn the best way possible. During the school year he does meet with the OT, speech etc.. While his speech is awesome fora 3 just about 4 year old. His listening is not. I also think his impulse control needs work. He is on an IEP and we will be re-doing his IEP Next year to help with the behaviors. But in the mean time I need to understand what I am dealing with since Daycare does not seem like a viable option.
Read "The Out of Sync Child" by Carol Kranowitz. It's mostly about SPD, but it touches on ADHD etc. You'll probably get the information you're looking for there.
They are two completely different disorders although both are neurological disorders. Someone can have both ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder (also known as Sensory Integration Disorder).
In addition to "The Out Of Sync Child" there's another fantastic book you should read along with it called "Raising A Sensory Smart Child." Both should be by your bedside and in your car and in your purse and in the bathroom for guests to read. :-)
SID essentially affects nearly every sensory system... and then some. It's not just sight, scent, hearing, touch, and taste but also how someone feels the space around them. They might feel overstimulated or understimulated and their emotions and behavior will reflect how they're feeling.
Some signs of SID might be sensitivity to sound or certain sounds; sensitivity to certain tactile sensations such as shaving cream or water or bread or sand; being a very, very self-restricting eater aka "picky"; might get overwhelmed very easy in crowds; may have difficulty during the transition periods of waking up and going to bed due to the changes in sensory input.
Someone with ADHD might also have trouble with transitions and get thrown very easily if their routine is thrown off. They may talk too much; want to do everything they can that interests them but be short on the follow through; get overwhelmed when it's time to clean up a mess and have no idea where to start or continue cleaning; has trouble following directions if there are more than a couple of steps unless they're written down; shows an inability to focus and settle down OR shows hyper-focus when a subject is very interesting; gets bored easily; expects others to provide ideas to entertain them; very dramatic emotional highs and lows; want to be in control and come off as bossy; spacy and often described as "flighty" or "flaky" by others; often described as bright and cheerful but "needs to apply oneself"; described as disorganized; has difficulty learning to be organized even when shown simple methods of organization and those methods are reinforced; may show an improvement in behaviors with dietary changes such as reduction in Red 40, HFCS, sugar, and other processed foods.
That's all just the tip of the iceberg.
The key is that the symptoms are overwhelming in both at-home life and school and spill over into basically every area of life.
I would suggest an evaluation by a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician but they can be very difficult to make an appointment with. You can also see a pediatric psychiatrist or a pediatric neurologist or both in order back up the diagnosis or diagnoses, and see whichever one has an opening first. Make sure you choose one that has ADHD/ADD, Sensory Integration Disorder, and Autism as some of their specialties. That's VERY important when you search for the appropriate specialists.
Please read the following book:
The Out-of-sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder, written by Carol Stock Kranowitz.
Jo is giving you an excellent answer here. In addition, you need an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory problems to work with your son. SI presents in many different ways with different children. My own son would run into walls just to "feel" something - he needed sensory input desperately.
ADHD is totally different, but kids with one can have the other. Please go get him evaluated by an OT who deals with SI. It will really help.
Dawn
At the very least, it's worth mentioning the problems to your pediatrician to get a referral to a specialist for further input so you can get reassurance all is fine.
I can tell you that with ADHD it's 24/7. It doesn't go away. The child will have trouble listening, focusing and, in the combined type (with hyperactivity), behaving. Our son never listened like an angel. In fact, by two, we put him in a little devil costume for Halloween! :)
ADHD is a form of sensory processing issues. It's just that SPI can go even further. What does your doctor say? That is who you should be talking too.
Most basically, ADHD describes how the brain processes and stores information differently than most people.
ALL information. Sensory, cognitive, emotional, motor, impulse control, long term memory, short term memory, visual memory, muscle memory, etc.
Sensory Processing Disorder is a different way that the brain processes and stores Sensory information ONLY.
Most brains that process and store information differently than other people (ADHD, Autistic, Gifted, etc.) have "sensory schtuff" or could be classified as SPD, even though the way their brains process sensory information is usually just a facet of the disorder.
SPD, however, can occur completely on it's own.
Get the book "Sensational Kids: Hope and help for children with Sensory processing disorder." It has a wonderful section in there highlighting the differences between SPD and ADHD.
SPD can co-exist with ADHD...... and many times, it is misdiagnosed as one or the other.
SPD can take many forms... a child SEEKING input may be very active, or crave strong tasting foods, may constantly be touching things to get the sensory input, things like that....
Some SPD kids find that things overstimulate them.. they may not like textures in food, and prefer bland, smooth items, may not like certain kinds of clothing, things like that... they may not like loud noises, the fans in restrooms, certain lights may really bother them....
This website has a lot of information....
http://www.sinetwork.org/about-sensory-processing-disorde...
My grandson was diagnosed with SPD a year or so ago... his muscle tone is low in some areas, and he does have balance issues, and core muscle issues. He is in physical, occupational, and speech therapy to address some of those different things he has problems with, but mostly, knowing what he may have problems with helps us understand and work with him.
My son is the same way. We have had him tested for everything. He does not have ADD/ADHD, but he does have other issues in addition to sensory issues. I see you are going to take him to a specialist and hope you find some answers. It is a difficult road and I hope you find answers soon. Good luck!
ADHD is a sensory processing disorder. If you think about your own 6 senses, it might help you understand. Say you are in the kitchen and you hear a noise. If it is a familiar noise, it might be ingnored and you continue with your activity. If not, you would react and see what it was. On the other hand, say you are in the kitchen and you hear someone sawing down a tree next door, the tv is on in the other room and kids are playing upstairs. Your brain would filter the extra sounds and focus on the weather report on tv - at least until you hear something break upstairs and need to investigate. This same idea can be applied to all senses. I included the 6th sense which is not esp but your position in space (kinesthetic). You have already found one thing that seems to trigger your son's activity level. Now you need to be the detective and refine it. At the "other" family's house, there could be so many things going on that he can't filter out the extra sounds and sights which cause an overload. That's when you see the irratic behavior. This is when you need to find what will calm him. I know this was a long reply but it is just a very simple explanation. Sometimes medication helps but mostly he would benefit from a Sensory Integration Occupational Therapist. It can work.
