When a child psychologist with the Davis County School District tested our son for Autism, she found that although he did not have Autism, he exhibited several autistic traits. She suggested that he may have a form of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), and asked that we read "The Out-of-Sync Child" by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A.
Kranowitz defines SPD as the inability to take information received through the senses and use it to function smoothly in daily life.
SPD, formerly known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction, was first described by occupational therapist A. Jean Ayres, Ph. D. in the 1940's. Although it is now called Sensory Processing Disorder, it is not new. SPD is a new definition for a problem that has existed for a very long time.
SPD is not one specific disorder, but covers several neurological disabilities including: Sensory Modulation Disorder, Sensory Discrimination Disorder, and Sensory Based Motor Disorder. These three disorders then have their several sub-types.
Children with SPD have difficulty recognizing verbal and non-verbal cues from their environment. For example, beginning at age 1 and continuing through age 6, our son Sam would react negatively to the "Happy Birthday" song. When ever it was sung, whether on his own birthday, or someone else's, he would cover his ears, scream and cry. He was unable to take the cues of happy, smiling people and connect them to the song. To him the song was disturbing, and he would counteract the noise with noises of his own.
Sam's reaction to auditory stimuli falls under Sensory Modulation Disorder, and its sub-type of Sensory Overresponsivity. Other sub-types include Sensory Underresponsivity, and Sensory Seeking. These, as well as other components of SPD will be discussed in future articles.
For more information on SPD you can visit www.out-of-sync-child.com.
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