Asbergers/spd

My son has SPD and is sensitive to noise. He can't focus in a noisy environment (like a party) and needs to be able to move around. I had him screened by Action 4 Kids when he was about 3. I called and asked them how the screening works. They got my insurance info (I have Blue Cross of IL) and dealt with calling the insurance co to find out my coverage then worked with me on payments. They are in Naperville and Shorewood: http://www.actionforkids-usa.com/ for the contact info.

Things I have learned:
Read "Raising a Sensory Smart Child", "The out-of-sync child". Use games from "The out of sync child has fun" to help your child get organized when you see her start to lose it. I checked all of these out of the library before I was sure if he actually had SPD.

Teach your child ways to cope. For my son, when we have to go to a place that is chaotic, we warn him ahead of time. We tell him to find a good "centering" spot that he can go to if he starts to feel disorganized (Like the waiting area of a restaurant, the bathroom at Chuck E Cheese, a bedroom at someone's house, under his grandma's dining room table). He carries an MP3 player and plays his own music if he can't find a place to get away physically.

It's all about being sensitive to the child's needs and teaching the child coping mechanisms that are socially acceptable and easy to do.

Also, if you want to go to support group meetings there are a couple of great groups on meetup.com

I think many hospitals have Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric groups that handle these types of evaluations (Asperger's Disorder, Autism, Sensory Processing Disorders, etc.) I don't know how to start the process, or how much they cost, but I have heard very strong recommendations for these specific Pediatric groups:

1) St. Alexis Medical Center, Hoffman Estates
2) Marionjoy Rehab Hospital, Wheaton
3) Lutheran General, Park Ridge

I would go to the hospital's website and search for Pediatric Services and see what you find.

It's great that you are such a concerned mother, but might it not just be possible that your daughter is a bit of an introvert, or someone who processes things at a different level than other children, but is perfectly fine, without a disorder?

I know that I sometimes have no problems with loud noises and things, but other times I want to just hide. We are all like this at times.

Please don't contribute to the over-diagnosis of our children unless you think there is a serious problem. Being dragged to specialists, going through testing, it all has to negatively effect our children emotionally.

Call Easter Seals and they have specialists to help him. They will also do an evaluation.

have you talked to her primary care doctor about your concerns & ask them for a referral.