Friday, I got the form officially welcoming Matthew into the summer program, which starts in late June. The same day, I got a guide to all the summer programs run by the city we live in- I discovered that at about the same time as his summer course, the local elementary school (which is a block over, and the one Lauren will be going to come Kindergarden), is having their own summer session. The start and end times for both are about 15 minutes off, and I'm not sure if I can swing getting both to their prospective "classes" in time, but I'm seriously considering it. Hers would only be one day a week, though. Matthew's is 3.
Speaking of Matthew, it seems like all I do is prepare for his various "therapists" to come over and visit with him. He has his regular therapist/teacher, the speech therapist, and then an occupational therapist. The last time we saw her, was at their educational center. Matthew (and Lauren, actually) spent some time in their motor centers (there are several in the building). There was much fun to be had on trampolines, swings, platforms (off which they jumped, onto a pile of foam), and more. He had a blast! (So did Lauren. We barely managed to get them out of the building). I'll be taking him back on the 22nd for some more motor time.
Not sure how much I've discussed Matthew's sensory issues. I haven't known what to call them til now. I found a website which labels it pretty darn good (and simply): Sensory Integration Dysfunction. According to this website, "Sensory Integration Dysfunction is the inability of the brain to correctly process information brought in by the senses". Below is a list of *some* behaviors exibited by children with SID (those underlined being most obviously exhibited by Matthew):
-- Loves to spin, swing and jump--this will seem to calm them down after several minutes.
-- Complains of how clothing feels, does not like tags left in their clothing and have to have their socks on just so, or a certain kind of sock.
-- Picky eaters--get stuck on one certain food and is basically impossible to get them to eat anything else.
-- Oversensitivity to smells. Or undersensitivity--may sniff people, objects, food.
-- Oversensitivity to sounds--will frequently cover ears. Or undersensivity.
-- May have an exceptionally high pain tolerance
-- Social and/or emotional problems
-- May tire easily
-- Unusually high or low activity level
-- Resists new situations
-- Hand flapping/repetitive movements
-- Delays in speech, language, or motor skills
-- Problems with muscle tone, coordination, motor planning
-- Can be very impulsive or distractible.
-- Persistently walks on toes to avoid sensory input from the bottom of the feet. This can also be a sign of cerebral palsy if the child is unable to bring their feet down flat when asked or trying.
(I didn't underline motor planning, but he is having a difficult time using a spoon. I think he wants to use it exactly like he would a fork. Also, he never did get the concept of a regular sippy cup. He went pretty much directly from breast to straw. LOL He will not tip his head back for drinking. Which is odd when thinking about it, because he loves to have his head back.. to be spun around, held upside down, etc).
The site says that this can be noticed in children with Autism (among other disorders), but we have not yet established that Matthew is actually Autistic.. or anything else, for that matter. My 8 yr old cousin is Autistic, and because of how much his disorder has become the center of the lives of many people on my mom's side of the family, the fact that Matthew has some developmental issues has hightened their concern that he might be Autistic as well. I have really fought with that, because he and his cousin are SOOO different in so many ways. My cousin is High Functioning, but I would have to venture a guess that IF Matthew were Autistic, he would be so minutely so.
I'm no doctor/psychologist obviously, and I know there are many areas of the "spectrum", but still. To be on the safe side, I did speak with Matthew's regular teacher during her last visit, and have asked to get Matthew on a waiting list for a psychological evaluation. That sounds wierd.. my kid's only 2 1/2. The therapists he has cannot tell me whether or not they think he might be Autistic, but they do acknowledge that there are some "red flags" (which might/probably include this SID)- so for that reason, I'm going to have him checked out.
Anyway, back to the SID.. I'm supposed to be "de-sensitising" Matthew, I guess it's called. I found this pic on the web, but it shows a brush that the occupational therapist gave me to use on Matthew several times a day (like every 2 hours, I think):
He actually likes this on his skin. I have a wooden massager brush thingie I have used on him, which he enjoys as well. And (oddly enough- or so the therapists think), he also really likes what we call "wrestling". Basically, very light touching of the skin. He says "waxing" (relaxing). He will hold out an arm or leg, and ask me to do it. Doesn't like wearing clothes, but he likes mommy to wrestle him. LOL
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