Sensory Integration Dysfunction

[mommy2cnj]

Anyone happen to have a child with SI and care to share their experience(s)? Daughter was diagnosed years ago, but they didn't know as much about it back then as they do now, and her being in second grade, we are seeing quite a few issues that are stemming from SI and further hindering her learning.

We are ready to have SI put into her IEP, but school said therapy rules have changed, that any therapy related services provided has to be related academically. Individual also stated that she's pretty familiar with SI, given she's been to many workshops. Erm....OK, then I think she should know that that's a huge issue with kids having SI.....it hinders them academically.

The more I am learning about SI, the more my head is moving back and forth vigorously......ACH!!! :D

Would love to hear others' experience(s), if any.

Thanks!!:)

[mommy2cnj]

Erm........has anyone ever even heard of this??!!? ? ?

[lolathechecker]

maybe you could print out some info on si and take it to her. i dont know anything about it, but i was told i had add growing up and the special education department didnt want to give me any help, so i went to the library and made copies out of state law books and highlighted a bunch of stuff to show them that they had to help me and they put me into a better program that week. i also took copies of information on add to the special ed teacher.

[mommy2cnj]

We had the meeting; I requested the OT be present. Due to her, not only did she bring out ways they were giving "some" "SI therapy (although it's a combination of OT/SI or PT/SI therapy), she was also willing to add quite a bit of input, as to other things they can do that could help improve the situation(s). I did not push for SI in her IEP at this time, simply due to the increasing SI therapy support brought up at the meeting. However, I am going to follow up on this matter, and make sure the therapy support is actually put in play.

Thank you for your post, Lola. I was armed and ready for come what may!! ;)

[Barb]

Well, years ago C was labeled with SI but then they turned the label into Autistic Spectrum Disorder with atypical social skills (basically meaning he has all the sensory stuff of autism but somewhat typical social skills) so I was hesitant to answer. The autistic label basically forced the school to take it seriously. The school always fought the label but since he was medically diagnosed there was nothing they could do about it.

[mommy2cnj]

I have heard an awful lot of SI/autism/which is it?!! issues. My daughter leans more toward the SI side of things. Then again, SI is so 'unknown', there may be a whole lot more out there about Autism that I just haven't read as of yet. :|

I just have to keep reminding myself, "Wherever you go, there you are!" Basically, things just aren't making sense as of yet....could there be more out there? Is SI what it's limited to?

Time will tell.......as well as a lot of research! :D

[StrictNon-Conformist]

Well, I can't answer in this case what's truly accurate, but for a traditional autism/Asperger's (just somewhere else on the spectrum) there's typically sensory issues, and I must warn you: SI seems to be more of a case acclimatizing the victim/patient to things that aren't pleasant to them (unless they've figured out a method that doesn't do that, which I doubt) and this is a torturous thing to deal with, in reality. If you're hypersensitive to various senses, there's really only one method to adapt to it: get burned out by applying that sensory experience, and maybe (not convinced of this myself from personal experience that this works or if it does, that it's always worth it) it won't be as unpleasant/painful anymore. However, from my personal experience, there are certain things you'll never manage to find tolerable or anything other than painful: the best a third party observer could realistically hope for is that the first party individual learns to put on a good face while they bear it when they're exposed to it.

There are other features of what constitutes being autistic that (AFAIK) aren't part of what hydrocephalus tends to be attributable for, above and beyond the body language/non-verbal communication issue. I'd suggest you look up online "inertia" with autism, and also keep in mind that the sensory issues (sensory overload) as well as being verbal/non-verbal (those on the spectrum are very difficult to accurately test the IQ of, and especially those that are non-verbal: keep in mind that being non-verbal means little in real terms for indicating intelligence) as well as the non-verbal communication issues are all interrelated, and can't be separated out, and can't be "cured" with any drug, therapy or dietary interventions.

That's not to say that useful things can't be done: however, the most useful things (speech therapy and occupational therapy as well as things to build coordination) aren't the latest and greatest things (or so the people claim) but are the straightforward things of learning by doing: the best thing you can do to help someone become functional in a practical manner is to play with them in such a manner that they develop coordination by using it, preferably in a manner which is fun. What's sad is how many parents haven't had the most important things you can ever hope to learn by watching National Geographic animal specials sink into their heads, or watching litters of kittens or puppies develop in front of their eyes, or even little kids being natural little kids without planned out explicit distraction from what's natural and right: we learn how to be functional adults by playing as silly kids, and this is an almost completely universal and natural thing in the animal kingdom for higher animals that aren't born with all instincts and survival knowledge hard-wired into their brains. So, in other words: get your kids bats, balls, and other such things, and have them play! Strongly encourage them to be physically active, and not all buttoned-down and straight-laced all the time: where there's no play, there's no growth. All work and no play makes Jack a dead and worthless boy, not merely dull. And of course, just because you're an adult, doesn't mean you should stop playing: I'm convinced that the #1 reason why adults have kids is so they can still act like kids, play with their toys, etc. while having an excuse "But I'm not acting like a kid, this is perfectly reasonable, since I'm teaching kids!" so they can pretend to preserve their dignity :P

[Barb]

GREAT post!

In our case, and take this for what it is worth, the 'autistic' label demands more attention, funding and accountability on behalf of people who deal with us. That was the big 'benefit' to us rather than labeling it PDD or SI. It is sad that people have to that route to get the help they need.