Parent+Resources

Deb Connerty Salem Sensory Institute 2009 8/17/09
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[|www.sensory-processing-disorder.com] www.sensory-processing-disorder.com is a great website site for parents. I also think that teachers and OTs will find helpful and useful information here. The site includes links for over 20 subject categories related to SPD. Be prepared to set aside some time to explore the whole site! Subjects include Links include subjects such as picky eaters, proprioception, behavior problems, helping a baby sleep and heavy work activities. I picked up one great idea from this link that I have already shared with fellow institute participants. The suggestion is to use a child-sized fanny pack to hold weights. It was simple and affordable strategy and can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. I thought it could be a viable alternative for a child who is reluctant to wear a weighted vest.

The site includes a Sensory Processing Disorders blog, with posts as recent as 8/16 when I browsed the site on 8/17. The blog was interesting for me as an educator as it underscored some of the more common, every-day challenges that families face outside of the classroom. Parents asked for suggestions regarding uncomfortable underwear, flying in airplanes, oral defensiveness, dealing with SPD without having a nervous breakdown, and more.

One section on this site is titled “A Step By Step Guide For SPD Parents: The Seven Steps for Helping Your SPD Child.” It seems like a general overview for parents when they are just starting to wonder about sensory differences they’ve noticed in their child. A Symptoms checklist is provided, which may actually cause unnecessary alarm IF the reader doesn’t heed the provided warning: “Please understand the "Five Caveats" that Carol Stock Kranowitz points out in her book, "The Out-Of-Sync Child￼" (1995), about using a checklist such as this.” (You don’t have to have every symptom to have SPD, Inconsistency is the hallmark of every neurological dysfunction, symptoms may be related to an emotional problem that is not SPD, you can be both hyper and hypo sensitive, and everyone has some sensory integration problems every now and then.)

There are are links titled “Real SPD stories” and “Funny SPD stories” and “How Does It Feel?” I must say, I only found one of the funny SPD stories to be humorous. It was titled, “Sensory What?” The comment a retort by a boy to his mother when he was frustrated about something and she said, “It’s because of your sensory integration...” to which he replied “Why do I have to have sensory aggravation anyway?” For parents, these links may provide a way for folks to have an on-line support group, to share frustrations, celebrate successes, discover new strategies and also find new resources.

There is a link for SPD research and an SPD store. The provided research links are extensive. One that caught my attention was “Sensory Processing Disorders, Fact or Fiction?” by Susan N. Schriber, OTR/L. (Vol. 21 •Issue 22 • Page 11 Sensory Scene) The introduction reads: “Sensory processing disorder: insurance companies often won't reimburse for it, doctors poo-who it, teachers don't understand it, and parents use the words as a "mantra of the day." So how do we, as occupational therapists, communicate just what we are talking about so that our "co-professionals" will not only listen, but understand our words? It is important to decipher fact from fiction.” The ‘facts’ and ‘fiction’ are bulleted and it is a very user-friendly overview which can be used to introduce SPD information during a brief overview workshops with staff. Also, there was an interesting paragraph for OTs about how to help teachers address sensory issues as part of their practice: “Being able to tell a parent or teacher that the child with whom you are working is not processing the information readily—and how you can tell—is valuable information. It allows the teacher to change the approach and to "buy into" the process, not as a "mechanic" but as a participant in the child's learning process.”

Another research article that may appeal to Sensory Institute participants is from Science Daily--“How the Brain Tunes Out Odors”. There are many research articles related to Asperger Syndrome and Autism, preschool and kindergarten-aged students, the relationship of sensory processing to emotional state, sensation vs. perception and more. Parents who really want to learn more about SPD can find interesting information.

The Sensory Store has many ideas for sensory gadgets and dozens of suggested activities. Many items may already be in classrooms and the store provides an “Aha!” for an alternate use. Here are two of my favorite “finds” in the store.

FrogPockets Weighted Vest Each bag  from Sammons Preston “Product Description Product Overview Sammons Preston FrogPockets Weighted Vest Each bag contains 6 frogs and weighs 1 lb.; 1 vest FrogPockets Weighted Vest. This weighted vest provides children three years and older with proprioceptive input while working on mobility skills - all while having fun. Each frog - weighing approximately one pound each - fits into the pockets of the vest (11" W x 18"L). Frogs may also be tossed onto their lilly pads (optional) hidden in places around the room, or used in ways limited only the by the imagination. Vest fits clients weighing 35 - 100 lbs. Back of vest may be tied with string for very young children. Color of vest may vary. Includes 5 bag.”

Arnie and His School Tools: Simple Sensory Solutions to Build Success “Product Description Arnie and His School Tools: Simple Sensory Solutions to Build Success is an illustrated children's book about an exuberant little boy who had difficulty paying attention in class and doing his school work until he was equipped with the tools to accommodate his sensory needs. Written from Arnie's point of view, the book uses simple language to describe some of the sensory tools and strategies he uses at school and home to help him achieve a more optimal level of alertness and performance. Arnie and His School Tools creates an environment that is accepting of students with sensory modulation difficulties, including many on the autism spectrum. Occupational therapists, teachers and parents will find this book an engaging way to introduce elementary students to basic sensory tools used to help children focus in classroom settings, such as fidgets, chewy pencil toppers, and weighted vests. Additional resources are provided at the end of the book, including definitions of sensory processing and sensory modulation disorder, suggested discussion questions, and lists of related books and websites.”

In summary, this website offers many opportunities for parents (and educators) to learn basic information about SPD, begin to or further explore SPD research, to share and receive information and also to be guided to alternate resources. Posted Aug 22, 2009 12:18 pm - #|[delete] || HI Deb I agree this is a great site - I stumbled on it unwittingly when I was looking for an article about proprioceptive dysfunction but didn't realise it came from this site until just now - I am amazed at how much info there is. Alicia Chin-Gibbons Amherst Mass Posted Sep 14, 2009 8:25 pm || I found a site that I think will be very useful to parents who have initial questions about sensory issues. The site is called family education. I typed in sensory integration and it came up with 220 articles written so all parents can understand them. The site is [|www.familyeducation.com] One thing I like about the site is that it places a strong emphasis on the idea that the range of normal development is very broad. It encourages parents to seek the help of professionals to determine if the delay is significant. The site also offers a couple of checklists to help parents focus their concerns when they are initializing contact with the school or pediatrician. Carol Wait
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[] This is another great web site for parents. It has a wide variety of articles on all areas of sensory integration. The site even had specific sensory articles related to preemies and children adopted from institutions. The site offers book reviews, web resource suggestions and links to sites to purchase books and equipment. Carol Wait

[] This website is both useful for parents and professionals. It emphasizes societal overuse of technology with children and encourages using sensory strategies, excercise and movement instead. It also has good material describing sensory processing domains and strategies, as well as links to articles and other websites. Joan Epstein

[|www.spdfoundation.net] I liked this web site especially for the “Treatment Tips” in the Archives. They had a lot of good information to pass along to parents so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Tips on what to do over the summer, how to make holidays easier, etc. It didn’t actually help our project much but it was a fun place to find during the browsing process!! Listed this in useful websites for us as well as here for the parents. Vicky