Sensory processing disorders are classified into three broad categories:
Sensory modulation disorder (SMD)
Sensory-based motor disorder (SBMD)
Sensory discrimination disorder (SDD)
When my kids were diagnosed they were told it was simply a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) so that is what I call it. I do not know what category we all fall into.
No matter what you call it, it disrupts life all around it. The person who has it is affected. Those who live with the affected person are affected by it. Those who interact with the affected person are affected by it. It is non-discriminatory; be it by age, race or gender.
SPD is not fun... for anyone...
This is our story.
Having a child with SPD was bad enough. Having a spouse with it is not easy but livable. Realizing you have SPD yourself is even worse. For me at least.
Between the brightness of the lights, the loudness of tapping, the touching of fabrics life can be tortuous at times to some. For us, most of our issues are mild compared to some I have talked to. Adam's are the worst out of all of us though. Taste, sight, hearing, touching, smelling... it all can be too much. The melt downs happen, the frustrations and anger when things just do not stop. The bombardment of sensory inputs can be so overwhelming and almost scary at times. The pain it can bring can be bothersome to some - debilitating for others. Shutting down or lashing out are just some of the reactions sensory overloads can bring. They can ruin an entire day. A day that has been filled with joy and excitement can be ruined with a 5 minute sensory bombardment in the car ride home after too long of a day out and about; setting off hours of unexpected meltdowns. Cooking becomes laborious as you try to accommodate the varied sensory issues. One will not eat this, another will not eat that. One can feel the seams inside his shirt. Another can't take the noise of talking or the radio. It's not a matter of being picky it's a matter of too much sensory input. Outsiders think you are a push over and too accommodating but only you know what goes on behind closed doors. Only you know what the meltdowns are really like. How do you cope when one child has SPD? Worse though, how do you deal with your whole family having it? That is our story. I hope my insight can help you.
My family - my hubby, myself and my 2 boys - all have our own SPD story, our own sensory problems. Each one is a bit different and each one is a bit similar to the others. Some are bothered by textures others by sounds. Some need to make noise others like it quiet. Some have outgrown their issues some have not. My boys are now 18 and 16. Over the last 18 years I have learned so much about SPD but I still have much to learn. This is my list of how SPD fits into your life, and how it has helped us treasure life even more.
1 - It is what it is - don't fight it. Life is full of issues that we need to address. There are problems at every turn. Sensory issues do not have cause fights. Understanding the needs of each individual goes a long way in living peacefully.
2 - There are ways to accommodate - Doing what you can to help alleviate any sensory overloads and in turn preventing meltdowns can be (and should be) done. If one likes to tap see if tapping on something soft will satisfy that sensory need. This will help those who are sound sensitive as tapping can be very irritating.
3 - It can improve - Given time and given therapies things do improve. One can learn how to handle their own sensory issues so that they do not affect their life as harshly anymore. Learning the sensory needs of those around you also can help make you more understanding and more willing to accommodate.
4 - Never stop searching - Never stop searching for ways to improve yourself and overcome your sensory needs. I know one cannot overcome all sensory issues but over time one may be able to learn to live with them so they are not as bothersome. For me, I do not like some fabrics so I avoid them. I am light sensitive so I keep sunglasses with me almost all the time. Never stop searching for help if you need it. Never stop searching within you to cope. Never stop seeking God's help. Never stop, that's the key.
5 - Never think of it as a curse - A curse is something that is burdensome. Since your sensory issues are part of you, or part of a loved one, they are cannot be seen as burdensome without the person who has them seeming burdensome too. It is a package deal. One cannot live without the other as they cannot be separated. This one goes with # 1. It is what it is. Accept it and move on. Each part of a person's personality can be seen as a blessing, if you look at it the right way. Your sensory issues may seem like they hold you back but they might just be showing you something better. For me, the light makes it difficult to see well. Shades help me focus better and I can see sharper with them. Not a curse, a blessing of clarity.
6 - Move on in friendships - Some people just cannot get past those idiosyncrasies sensory issues bring. Some people cannot see the real you and therefore cannot appreciate you as much. You cannot change them so move on. Now, that doesn't mean drop those friends. Some may have to go but for the most part I see that if people desire to understand the sensory issues friendships can flourish. If someone is too bothered by them or does not want to work to understand then their friendship isn't as true as it may seem. That's ok though. The world is full of more beautiful people who are understanding.
7 - God does not create mistakes - In all things God creates wonder. We are created in His image. If we are created in the image of God how then can we be mistakes just because we have a few sensory issues? Does God have sensory issues too? Well, that's not exactly what I mean when I say 'in His image'. God makes no mistakes but this world is a sinful world and with sin comes problems. Since the fall of man, in the Garden of Eden, sin is indwelt in each of us. The moment we are born we are filled with the possibilities of sinning. Just as sin causes problems without behavior it causes problems in our bodies too. That is why there is disease. Our bodies are decaying and we will eventually die. There is cancer, diabetes, cerebral palsy, birth defects and many more things that can go wrong with the human body, just add sensory issues to that list. It's NOT a mistake, it's a result.
8 - You are amazingly, fearfully and wonderfully made - Psalm 139:14 shows us this. He knows the number of hairs on your head and counts you more value then sparrows. See Matthew 10:30. If He, God himself, values us to be so precious how can we disagree? He is the Creator of the universe and all that is in it after all.
No
matter what sensory issues your children have take time each day to rejoice in
who they are, not what they have. If you focus on the what you miss the who.
Before you know it they are all grown up and you have missed their childhood.
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