I believe my daughter has sensory issues.
She is and I've never really brought any of her issues up with her, because other than a few problems she is a very smart girl who is growing and learning in leaps in bounds.
Most of the time things go pretty smoothly with her, but then one day its like I am struck with a problem that lasts for weeks. My new (not new because I"ve dealt with it before) problem are socks/shoes. She has never liked socks and it seems that fall is the time of year when we struggle the most as she hasn't had to wear socks all summer. I have found some ways around this issue by finding some socks she prefers or puts up with over others. We also have problems with tights most of the time but I try to just avoid having her wear them the best I can or we have to make sure the sewing part at the end is on top of her toes. But my biggest problem is she got a blister about 3 weeks ago from wearing a pair of shoes without socks and it was torture for her. We resolved that problem by wearing crocs. (Which she had from the summer and never wore because she didn't like the style) Her blister is completely healed now but she still prefers the crocs. Two days a week she has to wear tennis shoes per her teachers instructions for gym and its a fight on most of those mornings. I find if I distract her I can get her out the door without too much a fit. I basically force her to wear them.
My other issue which I believe to be a sensory problem is winter coats. She hates the bulkiness of them and she also hates the feeling of her sleeves in the coats. Long sleeves tend to be better because she can hold the sleeve while putting on the coat. Short sleeves are 3 quarter sleeves tend to give her the most trouble most of the time.
Anyway all this said, she doesn't really have any other problems. She wears all other type of clothing just fine. She goes to parties/family gatherings that are loud. She has quite a few friends at school. She does very well academically in school. She does dance and she's always been quite athletic.
Does she need help for this? Am I missing the boat on getting her help for this? Or do I just keep dealing with this the best I can?
Thanks for the replies.
I do think my child is an HSC (Highly sensitive child) there are other things about her that make me think this. And I have read Elaine Aron's book but I did notice other people in Elaine's yahoo group also consider their child to have SPD. And although I have seen things where my daughter has problems, she isn't too bad. I just wondered if because of these couple issues she needs more help. Most things I have overcome with the help of Elaine Arons book, but sometimes its a struggle.
Sounds like completely normal sensitivities to me. Most children have things like that, we used to call them "quarks" but now they are sensory issues. My son has some very similar issues. He sees an OT for a different reason, she suggests just going with it for these clothing issues. Whenever possible let her wear what's comfortable for her. I know its a pain, but its nothing detrimental and nothing "abnormal".
It sounds very borderline to me . . . I second the suggestion of "The Out-of-Sync Child" just for reference information.
It's funny because I detested sneakers and socks when I was a kid too - desperately wanted to curl my toes and couldn't do it as easily. I would ask her what she is feeling that makes her uncomfortable. Maybe she could get a sneaker-type shoe that is more like a loafer where she can kick them off while she's sitting in her seat at school (??).
Now I live in southern FL where I can almost always get away with flip-flops. :)
PS: I detest winter coats too - another problem solved by living in FL! Is it possible she is my daughter LOL?
Try the book "Out-of-Sync Child"- lots of good info. If you are concerned, chat with the pediatrician and ask for an Occupational Therapy evaluation referral. The OT will do a Sensory Profile with your child- it's a checklist that you and the teacher will complete. It's very long, but worth the time.
If your child's responses to sensory input fall into the "likely" range, the OT may prescribe a sensory diet and some OT for your child. This will NOT be covered by the school, but if your doctor makes the referral, your insurance should cover a set number of sessions per year!
My daughter is highly sensitive - we had to cut out tags and buy specific underwear (or wear skorts without underwear in summer), smell issues (we had to leave a restaurant since she could not bear the smell), it is often too hot or too cold, etc. She is now 13 and doing much better, but at a young age we totally adjusted everything to her, now she is better at adjusting to the world. I would go to a good shoe store and buy her step-in sneakers that are a little big (or replace sneaker laces with elastic yourself, or add to the laces a spring/toggle used on lots of outdoor clothing on the bottom to keep it against your body). The same with a coat, perhaps she could find a poncho-type coat? I saw a kid with a great one, basically a double layer of polartec cut in a large circle with a small circle for the head, the neck was sewn with big loops of a thin strip of polartec and the bottom edge was cut in strips and tied like those blankets you can make yourself - sounded pretty easy to make, It even had pockets inside so the kid could put her hands in). About the gym shoes: could she just bring them and only put them on for gym but leave them in her cubbie or backpack? Our school just requires non-marking shoes that stay on, and my kids have worn those moccasins that have an elastic gore and are pull-on.
There is a great book called "How to raise your child in a world that overwhelms them" by Elaine Aron (Amazon and our library have it) and this is my child - always pausing to check if something is "safe" for her, highly sensitive emotionally and physically but it comes with deep empathy for others, a sense of others feelings, soul-moving appreciation of music and art, and many other wonderful qualities. Sounds like your daughter just had normal little things she dislikes, not the obvious from birth issues my daughter has had. Good luck, love her, give her what she needs now, adjusting to her now will not make her spoiled but will give the confidence that she can function in the world and that will help her make her own way later. Cheers.
Try a down vest with a hoodie for winter.
socks- have you ever tied knee high hose? Works for us.
We also keep the sneekers at school, and our croc wearer changes for gym.
M.
My daughter (shes 29) now had sock issues and shoe issues too...the shoes were too tight, the socks bugged her; she also had (has) auditory issues; I am an occupational therapist and 25 years ago there was not much talked about in the field about "sensory" issues. However, now I know she too had (has) some. What I have learned over the years, both professionally and personally is that we all have sensory issues!! As adults most of us know how to temper them and handle them appropriately so that they do not interfere with life and we do not let our quirks hang out all over the place. My daughter still has issues with noise at large gatherings and will remove herself for a bathroom break or go into another room for a few minutes just for a break. Truth be told I have auditory issues too.
Okay - back to the socks, one thing I have read that has worked for some kiddos is to wear their socks inside out so the seam is on the outside against the shoe and not their skin. Such a simple solution, don't know why I never thought of that.
I have not read Elaine Aron's book but plan to. I also agree the Out of Sync Child by Kranowitz is great as is a book called Quirky Kids (I don't know the author).
Sounds like your daughter makes the adjustment, but doesn't like the transition. You and she are the best team to figuring out things that work. And then if you need help or the issues become too big and start to interfere with function, then I suggest professional help.
Better late than never! There should be someone at the school who assesses those sorts of things. Speak with your daughter's teacher and tell her you have sensory concerns (it does sound as if she has some sort of sensory issues--my daughter has the kind your daughter doesn't have--busy and loud places, social anxiety). She should direct you to the proper person and they will schedule a full assessment. Even if she doesn't qualify, they usually are very good at offering ideas to help you and your daughter cope with her sensitivities. Best of luck!
Have you looked at the website www.sensorysmarts.com? This site will give you many more examples of SPD. I am not a professional, just a Mom with a SPD kid who has a laundry list of issues -- to me it sounds mostly like your child may have some hypersensitivities. Having said that once you tune into what SPD is you might start seeing other areas with your child that you never noticed before. One of first thing I noticed with my child was the socks and shoes issue but then the list grew (and grew and grew!)
