Noah's Therapy

Noah had his first evaluation at Pediatric Therapy Associates yesterday. We were really impressed with the facility and pray that it will benefit Noah greatly! Just with the initial visit, the therapist said that she does feel Noah has a sensory integration dysfunction. This is common with people who have Autism, Asperger's (like Noah), or other developmental disabilities. Children with sensory integration dysfunction have difficulty processing information from the senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing) and responding appropriately to that information. These children typically have one or more senses that either over or under react to stimulation. Sensory integration dysfunction can cause problems with a child's development and behavior. Symptoms include:

• Either be in constant motion or fatigue easily or go back and forth between the two.
• Withdraw when being touched.
• Refuse to eat certain foods because of how the foods feel when chewed.
• Be oversensitive to odors.
• Be hypersensitive to certain fabrics and only wear clothes that are soft or that they find pleasing.
• Dislike getting his or her hands dirty.
• Be uncomfortable with some movements, such as swinging, sliding, or going down ramps or other inclines. Your young child may have trouble learning to climb, go down stairs, or ride an escalator.
• Have difficulty calming himself or herself after exercise or after becoming upset.
• Jump, swing, and spin excessively.
• Appear clumsy, trip easily, or have poor balance.
• Have odd posture.
• Have difficulty handling small objects such as buttons or snaps.
• Be overly sensitive to sound. Vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, hair dryers, leaf blowers, or sirens may upset your child.
• Lack creativity and variety in play. For instance, your child may play with the same toys in the same manner over and over or prefer only to watch TV or videos.

Some of these symptoms relate to Noah, while some do not. He has good motor control, balance, and strength, yet he causes himself to fall down alot. It appears that the sensation of falling or the impact of the fall provide some sort of sensory "high" for him. He complains about people talking too loud, smells of certain foods, and prefers to eat the same things all the time as well as wear the same type of clothes all the time... right now, that means jeans and football jersey's. He plays with the same things all the time and cries when he has to get his nails trimmed. I always thought he was just over-reacting to it, but apparently there really is a reason. He will continue to go to therapy once a week for 45 minute sessions. The therapist will begin working with him on strategies that will help him and us identify when there is too much or not enough stimulation. We completed alot of paper work that will aid the therapist in helping us with specific strategies to communicate better with him. I was also given a questionaire to have his teacher at school complete. I was so proud of the way he willingly talked to the therapist today! He did great:) They have alot of equipment that they use for therapy so he was very excited to get to use some of it today. It was like a big playroom and he was very comfortable. As we continue with these sessions, we'll keep you updated and ask that you pray specifically for Noah's therapy and his over -all health. He'll also be facing the dentist on Thursday! 6 teeth have to be extracted so that the orthodontic process can begin... braces, expander, head gear, etc. This is alot for him to be facing. Pray that we would minister to him well in the days to come!