Sensory Disorders - Grove City,OH

Updated on April 15, 2009
C.W. asks from Grove City, OH
6 answers

After several years, and several diagnoses, I think we have some answers. I feel happy knowing that my gifted 9yr. old has an initial diagnosis of a sensory disorder -- right sided apraxia (an umbrella term of sorts). He's just got a few quirks making him different and there's a reason that isn't quickly solved by shoving a pill at it!
History:seasonal allergies, ADHD, ODD, Sleep Apnea at 4yrs. with tonsils/adenoids removed, counseling and several different medications for ADHD, losing weight and side affects causing more issues than meds. helped, 2nd sleep study -- periodic leg movement with mild daytime sleepiness, new med for this and got rid of ADHD meds., some improvement ---5 years of questioning---
AND still issues with school---- My gifted son who only enjoys the first week of Christmas break and the first 2 months of summer breaks because he misses school, Since FEB. didn't like going to school.
We saw a great pediatric neurologist, and have some answers!! We have one more test to do and the follow-up appt. to specify the diagnosis.
My son is better understood by Daddy now and is smiling/giggling because he has hope of learning how to help himself.

***I feel strange feeling happy that my son has a "mild" neurological disconnect. Please share some of your experiences and possible "treatment plans". We are only at the mid-way point in this process, but we now have hope.
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I don't mean any disrespect with the next comment because I know several people that have found ADHD meds. to be very helpful, I myself, take one for narcolepsy (a sleeping disorder) and it works wonderfully. I pray that this simple note will help others that haven't found help with using meds. and need another direction to look. True ADHD is much more rare than diagnosed. Easily 20 other diagnoses can mimic ADHD and most of them have actual tests, not questionnaires.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the comments and sharing your histories. My soon to be 10 year old is gifted, however also has a language deficit and auditory processing deficit. This caused the right side of his brain to try to compensate. This has caused the sensory issues. We are going to pursue at least a 504 (legally requires the school to accommodate his learning needs,without the weight of the IEP).
We truly never expected a language issue. His vocab is awesome and verbal skills are even better. It's his ability to "translate" the auditory info he hears that causes him difficulty. This causes mental exhaustion and the many other small issues. It only affects 2% of the population and his overall ability masked it until now. It isn't ADD/ADHD or his just not putting in the effort as others wanted to dismiss it.

We didn't stop looking! We will continue to research until he regains the success he once had.
We feel great understanding why our son is the way he is, even when there isn't an answer or simple plan to follow. We know that we can now better help him find the success he once knew.
Thanks and continue to advocate for your child! Hard work and lots of prayers pay off.

More Answers

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C.E.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi C.,

It sounds like you have been through a lot! I don't have experience with this, but my manager's son does and he is 9 years old. he is too is very gifted in school and very paticular about things. I know that he had some issues in class because he would get frustrated when kids didn't know the answers to something. One technique that they use is brushing him (his skin). She stated that seems to work wonders. There is also a place in Cincinnati for children like this thatis almost therapeutic. I'm not sure of the name but if you want it write back and I will find out.

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L.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi C. W,

Could you be more specific about what you want to address eg social problems, behavior problems at home or school and or learning problems?
Thanks
L.

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L.M.

answers from Cleveland on

My son (just turned 4) has sensory issues as well. We are just starting what they call a sensory diet. So far we are doing sensory brushing and things like that, there are books out there for the Out-of-Sync Child that focus on sensory issues.

Good Luck! and I KWYM about being happy to finally have a diagnosis, now you know what to focus on.

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E.W.

answers from Cleveland on

I have a 10 year old son with PDD-NOS and dyspraxia. We have been seeing many specialists since age 3 when he was diagnosed with speech delay. We work with a neurologist, speech therapist and behavioral psychologist. We have done many therapies. THere are some summer camps you may want to check into. I don't know where Grove City is. There is Camp Nuhop. In Cleveland there is Frontier Day Camp. There may be other camps out there in your area. This helps with the summer down time. I'm not sure what you are looking for. I've done a lot over the years. Enrolled him in sports for the socialization and physical activity. Bal-a-vis-x for balance adn coordination. Speech/language therapy. We are not on any meds. He does not have add/adhd diagnosed at this time. He will be entering the fifth grade next year. He is very smart but thinks in black and white terms. Creative and silly. Does not,like to go outside.

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S.L.

answers from Columbus on

Dear C.,

I can't urge you strongly enough to visit Dr. Sandra Pinkham in Arlington about this. She is my doctor, and she is terrific. She began her career as a pediatrician, specializing in treating children with anywhere form mild to severe behavioral and developmental disabilities. Her patients ranged from school children with ADD or growth issues to severely disabled group home children. She was alarmed at the traditional medical community's recommendation for medication to treat everything, so she began to do research on alternative forms of treatment. She prefers to treat her patients thorough diet and supplements first, and then she will use medication if it's absolutely necessary.

As Sandy's young patients began to show dramatic improvement, their parents started making appointments with her. Now she has a family practice. I began seeing her over a year ago when chronic pain, allergies, and general sense of ill health became too much for me to handle. Within three days of beginning the program that Sandy suggested for me I began to feel better. By the end of the week, I was able to walk without an ankle brace for the first time in more than 6 months. I have never felt better, and I wish I had gone to see her years ago.

Again, she is an M.D. who takes an integrative approach to medicine, and she will be happy to work with your son's other doctor(s) whenever she can. I urge you to give her office a call and see about making an appointment for your son.

Dr. Sandra Pinkham, M.D.
2170 Riverside Dr.
Columbus 43221
###-###-####.

Good luck!

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P.R.

answers from Indianapolis on

Thank you for sharing. I have a nephew who drowned at 18 months old and has sensory problems so I can sympathize with all you have gone through. The thanks is for the sharing about ADHD medication and DX. My grandson is "border-line Asperger Syndrome" and has some anger control issues. They have given him ADHD medication several times to treat the issue, doesn't work, sigh.

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