Therapeutic Listening

If you have a child with SPD or any sensory issues then you probably already know about Therapeutic Listening and what it offers. But in case you don't know what I'm talking about then let me explain a little.

Therapeutic Listening is basically a therapy of music. The specially designed music works with your child on vestibular, sensory, auditory, etc. and is very powerful. The music goes really high pitched and low pitched. It's like a roller coaster of sounds and can make you dizzy or even sick if you listen to it too long and/or don't need it. To learn more please click here. Although TL is great, it is expensive and is not recommended for every child or every need. It is not something to mess around with and should only be done with the support and supervision of your Occupational or Developmental Therapist that is trained to work with it.

We are starting TL with Little Miss and today did a little extra. We (April & I) put her at the table with her headphones on and some sensory activities to play with. Doing both at the same time gives extra input and can really help their mood, behavior, spacial awareness and so on. Little Man does TL in a swing at his therapy sessions once a week too. Swinging while doing TL is another great way to give your child extra input.

We started with a very low CD for her called Rhythm & Rhymes. It is great for Little Miss because they're actually songs she will listen to and at some point start singing along with the music because they are toddler songs that every kid listens to and enjoys but redone in a way that works with certain issues. Little Miss did great with it today. She sat at the table, listened and played with a water activity and then some whip cream on a place mat. Those two activities are great for sensory play. After about 10 or 15 minutes she decided she was done and gave them back to me. Here are a couple pics of her this morning.

If your child has sensory issues and you're interested in learning more about Therapeutic Listening ask your OT or DT about it! Most therapists that are trained in it will have items that you can borrow. Like Little Miss' therapists; April (DT) gave us the headphones, travel pouch and a couple cds to start with. And Little Miss' OT gave us a kids therapeutic cd to work with. But please do not attempt to start Therapeutic Listening on your own. ALWAYS consult with your child's therapist(s) before starting any therapy.

I would also love some feedback from those of you that are or have used it with your kids. Did they like it? Did it help? Would you recommend it? What are your overall thoughts on it?

Therapy Thursday (Question/Answer)

Here it is, our first Therapy Thursday question. Shireen, our Speech Therapist, has answered your question. I hope this helps. If anyone has another question please email me at: bloggymommy3@yahoo.com

Question: I have a SPD question for you. My 7yo son is constantly playing with the baby toys. He always has. Tonight he was playing with this toy https://www.tinylove.com/toy.aspx?toyId=25 and I asked him why he liked it so much. He said he likes the gears that turn, the squeaky ball, the levers that go back and forth, the ball that spins, and the music. Is this a sensory thing? Are there more age appropriate things for him to play with that will meet those sensory needs? I'm pretty sure he's got a strong tactile sense. We have lots of clothing issues with him, and he has to constantly touch EVERYTHING. I'd get him some other toys geared at babies and toddlers, but with him being 7, and he's pretty rough on toys, I'd hate for him to break them. I guess what I'm asking is how can I constructively channel this need for touch and to play with the baby toys. We don't have many of the baby toys left as my youngest is now 2 and is on to bigger and better things.
Sincerely,
SPD Follower

Answer: You are right that that toy is not very age appropriate for him, but there are plenty of other toys that are. Some suggestions I have include Gearation or Gears Building Set, Light n' Chaser, Visual Tracking Ball Tower or other marble run, and the Light Up DNA ball or Window Ball. All of these toys can be found at www.beyondplay.com I have no affiliation with this company. I just think they have some great sensory toys. There are also things at home to give him more tactile input like playing with water, sand, playdoh and shaving cream. Hopefully this gives you some ideas of some more age appropriate toys for your son. A book I can recommend with many more ideas is "The Out of Sync Child Has Fun", by Carol Kranowitz. Thanks for your question and let me know if this helps!
Sincerely,
Shireen (Speech Therapist)

Don't forget about Therapy Thursdays!

Don't forget about Therapy Thursdays. If you would like to submit a question for this weeks Therapy Thursday please email me at bloggymommy3@yahoo.com by tomorrow evening so I can get the email over to one or both of our therapists to answer. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon! :)

**Oh and just to let you all know, I will be hosting my first review and giveaway here on the SPD Life sometime next week so make sure to check back!**

Shireen's Intro

Hi, my name is Shireen and I am a speech language pathologist who has both professional and personal experience with SPD. Stefanie has invited me to this blog to help out with Therapy Thursdays and answer any questions that I can. I would like to tell you a little about myself and my experience with SPD. I became a speech language pathologist and worked in an elementary school for a couple years before my daughter was born. I loved my job and I quickly learned about SPD and many other disablities. However I had no idea that this job was really just the beginning of my training.

In 2000, I had a beautiful baby girl and took maternity leave from my job. It soon become apparent that something was going on with my daughter. She was constantly fussy, and had to be carried all of the time. The only way she would sleep is with me and with her feet pushed up against me. I could not even get out of bed to go to the bathroom without her waking up screaming. It took two years to get her evaluated and realize she had delays in language, gross motor, fine motor, and SPD. By this time, I was pregnant with my son. He was also fussy baby, but his sensory needs were not the same as hers. He also was diagnosed with developmental delays and SPD. I took off a few years to stay home and do therapy with my own children. I spent hours doing research and therapy with my own children.

When my son started in an Early Childhood Special Ed program, I decided to go back to work part time. I am a much better therapist now because of what I have been through personally. I can really relate to parents and help problem solve daily issues. I love working with young children and families. I would love to help you in any way I can. I think this is such a valuable resource for parents, and I would have loved to have this available years ago. Please ask any questions related to SPD, speech therapy, behavior issues, or even being a mom to children with SPD.

Join us for Therapy Thursdays

Hello everyone and welcome back! I am here to tell everyone that now on Thursdays we are going to have something called Therapy Thursdays. All you have to do is email me or Michelle with any questions or comments that you want either heard or answered and we will put them in a post with the advice from one of our therapists on Thursdays.



We are bringing two therapists on board to help with questions, comments, new ideas and so on. They are Little Miss' Developmental Therapist, April (we will post her intro as soon as we can) and Little Miss' Speech Therapist, Shireen (who has already posted her intro). Please give them a warm welcome and have your questions and/or comments in by Tuesday of each week so they have time to answer all of them.



From time to time they may also post links to new places for you to check out, new ideas on different therapy ideas, at home recipes for you to try with your youngins and so on. I can't wait for our first Therapy Thursday which will start next week. So mark your calendars and submit your questions by Tuesday. See you all then!

SPD Interview #1: Mommy Cracked

Here at the SPD Life we are going to have interviews on parents who have a child(ren) with SPD every now and then. We will ask them to share their story and answer some interview questions. This will enable us all to get to know each other a little better *and* give other tips and advice on how we each work with our kids.

So our first interview is Mandy from Mommy Cracked. Here is her story and her answers to our questions.

My Story:
When we received our son's diagnosis of SPD we were confused, a little sad for all he has gone through, but also elated to finally have answers to the many questions about his behavior that had puzzled us from the time he was almost 2 years old. We were almost resigned to the fact that our son was very strong willed and highly temperamental, but as an educator, I knew that these "quirks" in his behavior were not normal. Our pediatrician didn't think there was a problem until our son was 3 years old and still not speaking full sentences. I also happened to film a particularly draining tantrum of his with my digital camera and showed it to our doctor. He was immediately concerned and we were referred to a neurologist and speech pathologist for further testing. Our pediatrician suspected that he may have a high functioning form of autism but did not want to diagnose it without neurological testing.

It was the speech pathologist who was also trained in occupational therapy that diagnosed our son when his neurological exam came back fine. She was a pediatric OT and knew immediately what the problem was. After completing a questionnaire on our son's developmental and behavioral habits, she was able to schedule him for his first therapy session. After 8 months of occupational and speech therapy our son is now speaking in full sentences, able to handle motion like swinging, and thriving in a 3 year old kindergarten classroom. We still have our days when the meltdowns and tantrums are really bad, but we have learned how to help our son through these times and give him the therapeutic play he needs to deal with his sensory issues.

When was your child diagnosed?

He was formally diagnosed at 3 years of age. The symptoms appeared much sooner, almost by age 2.

What is your biggest challenge that you face with SPD?
The misconception that his behavior is deliberate and that he chooses not to learn things like potty training simply because he doesn't want to or that his tantrums are because we are lenient on his behavior.

What are some of the things you do with your child to help them during a meltdown or tantrum?
When a tantrum occurs, I first remove him from the situation and take him to a quiet place. I hold him tightly and sing and rock. Sometimes he doesn't want to be held at all, so I just have to let him cry it out when all offers of comfort are refused.

What are some of your child's symptoms?
He develops vocal ticks, he is very upset if his routine changes slightly, small things like fingernail clipping or lightly touching his arm cause him to complain of pain, speech delays, becomes very anxious around crowds and is upset by loud noises. He can also stay awake for very long periods of time. When he has tantrums, they can last for up to 45 minutes and he almost seems like he is in a trance when he is crying...it is very hard to get him to focus on what you are saying when he is this upset.

Does your child receive therapy for SPD?
He received almost 8 months of occupational and speech therapy. Due to insurance problems we have had to discontinue those therapy sessions for the time being, but we work with him at home on the same concepts he was taught in therapy.

How do you deal with your stress?
I have to be really empathetic and remember what he is going through. When I need a break, his grandparents are wonderful about taking him for a night or a few hours to get some respite. His therapist has been a huge source of support in helping us understand and handle his diagnosis. I also connect with other SPD moms online to get support and help.

What is something you want all parents of children with SPD to know?
I want them to know that the diagnosis of SPD is not the sum whole of their child. It's simply a part that makes them unique. The challenges are difficult, to be sure, but their child is still so full of potential.

Thanks Mandy, for your story and answers! We appreciate you letting us get to know you and your situation a little better.