Come to Your Senses 2009

Imagine wearing a shirt made out of sandpaper; or feeling hundreds of crawling caterpillars all over you that you can't get off; or trying to walk with your shoes on the wrong feet or during an earthquake. If you can imagine what it's like to be in any of these situations, you may have an idea of what it's like to live with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

SPD is a disorder that interferes with the brain's ability to effectively process sensory information taken in from the environment. It's as though the brain can't read the messages it receives so it can't tell the body how to respond-or if to-the sensory stimulation is comes in contact with. And because the body isn't being told how to respond, it can make the world a very confusing, scary and overwhelming place.

Almost 40 years ago, Dr. A. Jean Ayres-a phenomenal occupational therapist with knowledge and experience in neuroscience-observed that some children didn't seem to enjoy certain activities or social interactions the same way the other children were. She found that these children reacted in odd and often in severe ways to sensory stimulation or wouldn't react to it at a1l. She noticed that some of these children struggled with certain actions, such as moving their bodies in a coordinated way or that they'd become fearful when even slightly off the ground. She soon realized saw that these children's reactions to people, objects, toys or situations stemmed directly from sensory stimulation, or a lack of it, and began her lifelong quest to bring awareness to this dysfunction in sensory integration.

Sadly, Dr. Ayres died before seeing her quest through but today there are many researchers who have taken over her valuable insight and observations. They continue to study, observe and research, figuring out all the "Why's" so that those of us caring for these beautiful children understand their needs and how to help them live the best lives possible.

With recent SPD research finding that as many as 1 in 6 children suffer with tactile and auditory over-responsitivity it's become essential to learn everything we can about SPD, including how to diagnose, assess and treat it most effectively. My daughter, Jaimie, was diagnosed with SPD when she was only 2 ½. That was after more than two years of us trying to find someone to help our daughter who screamed at our light touch, but felt comfort in deep pressure or crashing into things; who spun endlessly without getting dizzy but yelled when we'd picked her up; who fought us getting dressed, having a bath, brushing her teeth or any other sort of tactile interaction; and who'd become so fearful of the outside world and how it made her feel that we couldn't leave the house on days that were too sunny/windy/noisy/smelly/etc.

October is National Sensory Awareness Month (NSAM). Please help those who care for, teach or treat children with SPD raise awareness about this often misunderstood, misjudged and misdiagnosed disorder. SPD is much deeper than the behaviors and reactions we see-learn what you can and pass the information on. Knowledge is powerful and that's how we bring about understanding for these children and their families.

Visit S.I. Focus for your volunteer package today or visit the SPD Foundation (or SPD Canada) to learn more about SPD and the children living with it. See what you can do in your community to help raise awareness for children and their families living with SPD. Please also visit the Lily Wolf Words website and blog for information, research updates and other invaluable tips throughout the month of October.