Sensory Integration Dysfunction: Can someone talk to me about it?

Question

Ok. My son will be 10 years 2 months when I take him to an Occupational therapist. Is he going to be too old to be tested with the SIPT test? Also, What am I going to need to take to the OT appointment and what kind of documentation should I have to show the doctors that he needs to be tested? Time is of the essence I have been trying to get the school's OT to see my son for 6 years now (2 years headstart &K-3rd) going on 7 and they keep giving me the run around. If I don't test him this year If I wait for the School's OT my son will slip through the cracks & he won't get the help he needs when he goes into Middle School. Should I get copies of all his school records to take to the doctor so that she will refer him to the OT? Should I write down my own observations at home? And I have been looking at signs of SID and some I am not sure about. All but a couple of them fit. Does he have to have all the signs or most? And he has to spin rock or bounce always. Can someone give

Answer 1

The first thing you need to understand is that even if the testing you are having done does provide you with a diagnosis of sensory issues and recommends theraputic support in the schools, the schools will still have to test them themselves.  Legally, testing results from private providers do not have to be accepted by the schools as the basis for beginning the IEP process.  The results can be used as the basis for you to make a formal request for the school to begin the evaluation process.  Even after they complete this testing, they will evaluate the scores and your child may not meet the requirements for being placed on and IEP and getting services.  Generally, children have to show greater than a 20% defficeny in scores in two or more areas.  Get a copy of your parent rights from the school when you request the testing and read them over..they will explain the process as well as the time limits in which each step must be completed.

I would bring copies of any reports from the school that you may have..especially reports from school OT and PT, as well as any written comments or communications from teachers addressing his behavior.  No need for you to write out anything about your own experiences...the tester will take a background from you and probably ask you to provide information through a written statement and/or questionnaires.

Answer 2

Keep a binder with you of all documentation you have, everything, even teachers notes that you think are relevant. The best thing I had for the doctors was a simple list of all the SPD behaviors that I was concerned about. Every doctor had their own questionair or other evaluation thing they did, including a lot of questions for me... but they all appreciated that list, and looked over that first. By the time I got to the school OT... after Dr.s appts etc., I had put my own "evaluation" together. I can't find my books right now, they are burried in the rubble of my room, but I think the main one was called Raising A Sensory Smart Child. I simply read it, then decided to run my own "tests". Example... he didn't like icky stuff to touch. I already knew this, but I decided it was time to finger paint anyway... then I wrote down my observations of his actions, such as he would paint if there was a towel there where he could wipe off his hands each time he touched the paint to paper..... The OT wanted to make a complete copy of all that I had done.

SPD is another spectrum diorder. So no, he does not have to show signs of a problem in all areas... and don't be surprised if he doesn't show all of his signs every day.

Again, like someone else already posted, he will have to be "so" far behind (I don't remember the numbers, but she has already posted them) before the school would provide services. My school didn't seem to know what a sensory diet was. On the other hand, there are some schools that have developed a sensory room for OT. My school provided proprioceptive and vestibular input therapy... yeah, a trampoline, swing set, and sand box. Getting advise yourself from the OT that you are going to see will be great. If your health insurance will cover therapy through the medical field for awhile, take advantage of that as long as you can. Also be prepared to talk to your  son's teachers every year... just in case he never qualifies for services from school.

I hope this was somewhat helpful... Good Luck!

Kat

Answer 3

The first answer was right on. In addition, the services provided have to have educational relevance. If your son is keeping up, then he probably won't get services.

If your son is failing in school, then tell the school that you want a child study team to evaluate your son. They will write an academic improvement plan and run it for a few weeks. If improvement is not seen, then you can get a referral for testing by the psychologist.

Another option is a 504 plan if your child is not having academic difficulties. If you get results from your doctor that suggest an sensory integration deficit, go to the counselor and ask for this. Please read up on it on the 'Net so you understand what you are asking for.

OT services in school mostly deal with fine motor issues. In other words handwriting. They may also prescribe a sensory diet.

While your son seems to have some issues, deciding that he has SID may be a reach. That is why testing by a school psychologist is in order. He or she will give your son some tests that will reveal if there is any kind of processing disorder going on. This information will be fairly precise in identifying if there are process deficits. Be sure they give him a test for visual motor integration such as the Beery Test of Visual Motor Integration.

Again I have to warn you that services are not extended to students who are performing in the average range on academics. Then you need to look at a 504 Plan.

Answer 4

I think that it is helpful for you to explore the sensory integration issues, especially as these issues often contribute to learning difficulties.  He is not too old to have the SIPT done, but understand that the SIPT is a VERY expensive evaluation to get (in my area, OT's will charge anywhere between $800-1200) and that the evaluation has not been restandardized since 1987, so there are some school systems that question its validity.  There are other evaluations that you can have done for half the cost and that will give you the information that you need, specifically, how is he processing environmental stimuli and how is the way he is processing the input affecting his ability to function in all areas of life.  

Get the book, "The Out of Sync Child" by Carol Stock Kranowitz and it will help you observe your child better and have specific questions to ask your occupational therapist.  Many children have great strengths in one area and distinct weaknesses in others, so there is no child with sensory integration disorders that look exactly like the next with a sensory integration disorder.  If he does have issues with processing certain kinds of sensory information, he may do better to start with private OT rather than the school, who works more on educationally related goals such as visual motor and fine motor skills.  I would recommend that you also seek out a full psychoeducational evaluation privately so that you can get a more complete picture of what your son's learning style is and what remediation tactics may work best with him.

This is not as complete answer as I wanted to give you, but in a nutshell, gather as much information as you can, pester everybody and dont back down from being your child's strongest advocate - he is very lucky to have you!

Read the book I mentioned, it is very very helpful to parents.