Highly Sensitive Child - Houston,TX

You need two books: "The Out of Sync Child" and "Raising A Sensory Smart Child."

You'll find that the books do talk about/include children that have Autism and ADHD in them because those are common comorbid diagnoses with Sensory Processing Disorder but the books themselves are about Sensory Processing Disorder and how to cope. I keep them in my bathroom and in my office at work. And my bedroom. They're required reading around here since my middle daughter has SPD as part of her Autism Spectrum Disorder.

My grandson is SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder). With this, some kids are sensory seekers (like textures, big hugs, lots of touching, lots of movement), and some are sensory avoiders (don't like tags, rough clothing, spicy foods, may have oral aversions, many things like that...)

Some kids have blends, and are seekers for some, and avoiders for other things.

My grandson doesn't like loud noises (vacuum, thunder, fans in public bathrooms), but we've gotten him over a few of those... he still doesn't like some public bathrooms because of the very noisy hand driers or fans... but loves spicy/strong tasting food...he has eaten raw onion in the past, and loves tomatoes.... he also has some other issues, like tags in clothing, and things like that.

Reading the information on the following website has really helped us all understand him a bit better, too.....

http://www.spdfoundation.net/about-sensory-processing-dis...

I don't have any resources to share, but wanted to let you know I was the same as a child. It took years to semi-adjust to the world, because they weren't going to adjust to me. I still hang back and observe, am still very empathetic and sensitive to emotions, I get overstimulated and upset and frustrated very easily, and tend to have strong anxiety if I don't get a handle on it. I can't stand loud noises or bright lights.

There weren't books on the subject when I was growing up, but my Mom handled it well. She acknowledged my feelings, helped me ease into uncomfortable situations, and never held me back. I am the oldest of 11 children and by the time I was 10 I was pretty much expected to handle that responsibility with no problems.

I still, at 60, don't like things touching me, my eye surgery last month was a true test of my endurance. Drawing blood and inserting the IV were a piece of cake compared to having my face covered with a cloth to isolate my eye throughout the surgery with only local anesthesia. I wanted to rip it off numerous times. And prayed a lot.

And, I have found that all the things I experienced as a child were probably precursors to my developing fibromyalgia. Many of the sensitivity to things then are now greatly magnified, ugh. Learning to deal and live with sensitivities then helped me as an adult to deal with the fibro. Encourage your daughter to grow despite her sensitivities so she can learn to face whatever life throws her way. Best wishes and congrats on your new baby!

I am a certified parent educator and I have been assisting parents like you for many, many years. Based on what you mentioned your daughter fits the description of a child with sensory integration dysfunction. Now, it's called sensory processing. I, of course, cannot say that that is exactly what it is, but, I have it. I was EXACTLY like your daughter when I was little. Unfortunately and sadly, I did not receive any intervention. After going to college for spec ed and, then, getting my certification to teach parenting and being able to assess kids and refer them to specialists, I have been able to help soooo many.

I rec the book, "The Out of Sync Child."

In fact, I just worked w/ a good friend of mine who described her child as such 6 years ago. Her child just started getting intervention last week and it has not been easy for anybody in the family.

I had the same issues and I was a "bear" to raise. One day, my parents noticed that I loved a friend's twirly bird pc of playground equipment. I would spin for an hour or more. Little did they know that it helped me to "feel" in sync. Luckily, they bought one for me and my sibling. I craved that kind of movement. I have not outgrown my sensory. I do occupational theraphy each and every day on my own.

I used food to cope and compensate for this nuerological dysfunction. I was obese by the time I was at the end of my second grade year.

What I experienced...(sensory)...were like traffic jams...My central nervous system and my brain were not working in sync. I never slept, I cried alot, I had sooo many sensitivies to clothes, noises, lighting, etc...
I used to sit at a table and color when I was little. The saddest part of this was that I was labeled "shy and sensitive"---I was overly cautious and always on alert. I have 1 child who has sensory...She has received OT, auditory processing theraphy and a whole host of interventions. The special ed teachers have been great w/ her the past 15 years !!!

I have my own "sensory diet" that I follow each and every day. There are so many kids on the autism spectrum today that occupational therapists are now well informed and can work wonderfully with your child. With some much awareness now...I would seek OT for your daughter. It will help her cope with daily activies so much better ! SP can overlap with ADD, depression, etc...It's always better to rule all of these out rather than never know!

I always ask parents what they would do if they saw a child fall off of a swing and were not able to get up and walk. They usually say that they would want to call help to see if a leg was broken. This is pretty much the same. When a child struggles w/ daily life activities to this degree---Seek assistance -- and get the child up and running without all this anxiety---and it's such a learning experience for everybody in the family.

My daughter, "was" JUST like that ever since she was born and out of my womb.
Except, she didn't have a lot of nightmares.
It was really no problem.
We know how she is, she knows who she is, and I simply taught her to KNOW herself. And she does. She is 10 now.
And she has become LOTS more adaptive to things.
And she is great.
And... she is VERY cognizant of other people/situations. It is an inherent ability of her's. She too, hung back to observe and was "shyer" etc. But I knew why. I knew her personality and proclivities. She did, too. Because I taught her to know, herself. Not treat it like something is "wrong" about it.
She can "read" people very well. She chooses friends very well. She is "wise" for her age.
ALL of the traits that you mentioned about your daughter, is and was how my, daughter is and was. BUT... I saw it as a GOOD thing and as a strength. And I taught her that. I did not treat it as a negative thing.
And she is thus a very self-reliant and self-aware, child.
She is very self-assured. In a good way.
She knows her rhythms. And we do too.
And it has never ever, impeded her, socially nor academically.
But has been a strength, for her.
All of these traits.
And now at her age, she is very adaptable. Even with these traits.

I highly recommend that you ask your ped for an OT who is very experienced with these kids and sensory integration disorder.

An OT with this experience can help your daughter SO much. She doesn't have to go through this as hard as she is. I'm not saying that OT will get rid of all of it, but I really believe it will make it a lot better.

I like understanding your child's sensory signals by Angie Voss.

If you look up the book on Amazon, similar books will show up. Read the reviews for those and see which ones appeal to you.

Try the Feingold diet. ADHDdiet.com Don't let the website name food you. Basically, it takes everything artificial out of your diet. My middle son is highly sensitive (and ADHD) and this helps him a lot.