Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) can plague children and adults with or without other special needs. Is it a real diagnosis? YES! Everyone suffers from a sensitivity of some sort. We all know someone who can’t stand a certain smell or a noise that gives that ‘nails on a chalkboard’ feeling. When that sensitivity is causing someone to stop enjoying everyday activities, it is worth looking into further. SPD is described as:

“Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID, also called sensory processing disorder) is a neurological disorder causing difficulties with processing information from the five classic senses (vision, auditory, touch, olfaction, and taste), the sense of movement (vestibular system), and/or the positional sense (proprioception).

For those with SID, sensory information is sensed normally, but perceived abnormally. This is not the same as blindness or deafness, because, unlike those disorders, sensory information is received by people with SID. The difficulty is that information is processed by the brain in an unusual way that may cause distress or confusion.” (Wikipedia)

It is often linked to other neurological issues but even if your child does not have Autism, ADD/ADHD, or Tourette Syndrome, the child may still suffer from sensory issues. So if your child gets upset with seams in socks, tags, different types of material, noise, no noise, lights, no lights, textured foods or no texture, touching everything, music, humming of lights, or just seems very overwhelmed, then some research into SPD might prove to be what you are looking for.

Home learning can offer a calm environment, a flexible schedule for therapy, more consistency in therapy integration into your everyday lives, and a loving place of acceptance. Whether you have got the diagnosis of SPD years ago or if you just found out, below is some information to help you.

Articles:

Symptoms of SPD
What is SPD? How do you describe it? This articles offers support and understanding. It explains the parent’s view, the teacher’s view, and the professional’s view. A good introduction into SPD.

Is SPD real?
Why has SPD eluded the DSM V testing? How can you get a real diagnosis? Soon it will be in the testing and information on what you can do to help in the meantime.

Dysfunctional Sensory Integration
An article written by Julie Shepherd Knapp describing SPD and gives helpful resources.

Services:

Research & Literature
A series of articles made into PDF and listed from the National Library of Medicine about Sensory Integration Disorder.

Sensory Processing Disorder Checklist: Signs And Symptoms Of Dysfunction
A tool to help you understand the sensitivities that could be affecting your child, teen, or you.

The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation
Resources, articles, help, and support.

Books:

The Out of Sync Child-Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder
Carol Stock Kranowitz
A book that provides drug free alternatives and therapies.

Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder
Lucy Jane Miller, Ph.D and Doris Fuller
An excellent overview of Sensory Processing Disorder.

Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Integration Issues
Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peske
A comprehensive handbook that walks through understanding your child to dealing with therapy.

Additional Links:

Sensory Homeschool
A yahoo group made specifically for families that homeschool children with Sensory Processing Disorder. It says it is a brand new group but it has been running since February 2005!

Sensory Street
Sensory Street is a yahoo group whose members share ways to support children/teens/adults with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

Does my Home School Child have a Sensory Integration Issue?
A mom answers her own question and offers support with homeschooling her child.

HS-Plus
A yahoo group for children that homeschool special needs children. All special needs and styles are welcomed.

Notes and Advice:

Sensory Processing Disorder can be debilitating in nature or just something that itches constantly. It can be a struggle for parents to find other people to believe them, support them, and help them. Help is out there. Parents can find what they are looking for. I hope the above links are a support and lead you to keep researching and get the word out that Sensory Processing Disorder is real and can be overcome!

If you have more links, books, or articles you would like to share, or just a story to tell, please log in and let us know!