Is it Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, or both?

June 24, 12:18 PMWichita Special Needs Kids ExaminerJenn Brockman

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Wichita Special Needs Kids Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

 

Sensory processing (sometimes called "sensory integration" or SI) is a term that refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. Whether you are biting into a hamburger, riding a bicycle, or reading a book, your successful completion of the activity requires processing sensation or "sensory integration."

Research by the SPD Foundation indicates that 1 in every 20 children experiences symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder that are significant enough to affect their ability to participate fully in everyday life. Symptoms of SPD, like those of most disorders, occur within a broad spectrum of severity. While most of us have occasional difficulties processing sensory information, for children and adults with SPD, these difficulties are chronic, and they disrupt everyday life. Excerpts from the SPDFoundation.net

For more information on specific examples of what those everyday sensory processing dysfunction's are, visit this article .

There is a growing concern from parents of children who are forced to take on a diagnosis of some other kind of disorder like Autism in order to receive services through state or agency funding. However, the services are often not targeted to sensory needs and don't address the real needs of the child. You can learn more about this issue by visiting Autistic - Like: Graham's Story

Many parents, caregivers and medical and therapeutic professionals believe we need to get the diagnostic formats changed so that SPD can become something that is recognized within the medical community and so that families can begin getting the right help.

Currently SPD is not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). The DSM is the standard diagnostic tool used by mental health professionals worldwide to promote reliable research, accurate diagnosis, and appropriate treatment. You can sign the petition to support continued research to determine if Sensory Processing Disorder should be included in the DSM-V Sensory Processing Disorder by clicking here. You'll be taken to the SPD Foundation's website.

Dr. Stanly Greenspan is one of the foremost experts on SPD. His book and courses on Floortime therapy (DIR) are some of the most recognized when it comes to sensory processing issues. You can watch a quick video introduction from Dr. Greenspan for his recent seminar.