Seeking Advice on Anxieties

Hi A.. My son, now 9, has sensory processing disorder and underwent years of ot. He also had a major problem with the dentist. First suggestion there would be to take him to a pediatric dentist. Ours had some knowledge/training in how to deal with autistic spectrum disorders, including sensory processing issues. She was very patient with him, and over the years it's improved so much that my son now has no issues with going to the dentist. He still does have some relating to food textures, so we're still working on that one. Our ot had limited training in that area, but that wasn't one of his biggest issues. He still can't eat some foods based solely on how they look...it can literally make him throw up. If it's not a visual issue, and is more of a texture one, I just make him take a few bites each time it's offered at dinner. He doesn't have to eat it all..just two or three bites. Many things that have caused problems don't anymore...but it's taken several years to get to that point.

Give your ot a chance, and make sure you're doing all the homework exercises you're given. Educate yourself as much as possible too. Check out www.kidfoundation.org. It's the website for the foundation led by Dr. Lucy Miller, one of the leading researchers today in sensory processing. Also check out www.sensoryresources.com...they have great products and have seminars across the country.

Good luck!

Our daughter (30 weeker preemie now 2 years old) has been in PT for most of her life. Though it might seem like they're not 'accomplishing' much, try to stick with it. Our daughter's PT sessions look like 'play' but they are really focusing on certain movements, muscle groups and other activities. She wouldn't be walking as well as she does without her PT. There are 'brushes' and other fairly inexpensive tools that can be used at home that can help your daughter get over her oral issues in addition to her OP sessions.
Our daughter will willingly open her mouth, but if anything is put in her mouth that she didn't 'invite' she gags, vomits and is super sensitive for days. Medicine is a nightmare and virtually impossible. Feel free to send me a message if you have any other questions.
Good luck!
E. (in Hilliard)

Keep going to the OT. My son is the same way with Sensory Integration issues. My friend's son also had that as well. My friend's son would throw up. My son didn't, but gags on some foods. Kids can have texture aversions. Certain food textures they are just very sensitive to and can't handle well. My son went to OT. There they tried different food textures over time and also with touching different textures as well during play time. It may seem slow to get going and you want results right away, but it takes time for kids to learn to trust and be comfortable around the therapist. Also ask the therapist about Social stories. We had those for things that are new to help explain what was going to happen, like at the dentist, or a new school. Carol Gray, I believe, is the name of the person who started social stories. We found information on them at our local library. My son wouldn't eat any kind of meat before, now he loves chicken, roast beef, and turkey. There are many other foods he didn't like before that he does now. Still some we are working on, but don't push them. They will eat more when they are ready.

A., My daughter had sensory problems when she was very little. She had Occupational Therapy and improved greatly. If you don't want to do that, get the book "The out of sync child" Good luck! J. (Mom of 3)

First thing I would do is make sure she doesn't have any swallowing problems or other medical problems. If this have been ruled out then I think you should give the occupational therapy more of a try. Ask the occupational therapist to explain to you in detail what she is doing and why. It will help you understand more. I came across a website that I thought would be helpful for you. The website is http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/index.html
This website also address picky eating problems too.

Hi A.! I work very closely with some OTs and they do fabulous work! I would suggest trying a few more sessions. I have seen them turn children just like yours around in no time. Also ask the OT if he/she has any suggestions for you to do as a carryover after he/she is gone. Good luck!
A.

Hello A.!

I am sorry I can't help with your problem but I do want to let you know how critical it is to fix this problem now as I clearly remember having this problem about the same timeframe when I was about your daughter's age and it was ignored. The dentist was like a torture chair to me and my dentist would hold my nose to get me to open my mouth because he was so frustrated. I begged my parents not to take me back but was taken there for probably 10 years. To this day - I cannot breathe when I am in a dentist chair. No one could understand that I felt very ill and very much gagged when I was sitting in the chair with "things" in my mouth. I do think if anyone would have listened I would not have the issues I have today in my 40's. I applaud you for trying to help your daughter, although I too don't know that an occupational therapist would have been a help - having a dentist that understood I was feeling ill might have so I might advise really interviewing dentist until you find a supportive one that can work through the challenges and is flexible to changing some of their methods - for example my son does not get fluride treatments which made me iller than anything and at 13 he has never had a cavity....I do have a GREAT dentist now but am still scared to death when I am in her chair - but she is very understanding and I have heard her work with children, and only wished someone would have taken me to a more understanding person when I was your daughter's age that would have understood I was not being a brat but was getting sick. You are a GREAT mom! -A.

A.,

If you have been sent to an OT by your pediatrican you can bet that you belong there. Read about sensory intergration disorder, and ask your pedicatrician WHAT ELSE they may see that caused them to send your daughter to this specialist. You may be missing a great many things that are related to what ever disorder your pediatricain suspects. Don't ever take a "wait and see" stand on developmental issues, if you wait, you loose time that your child cannot afford to waste.

Take a long, hard look at every area of her development, speech, social, behavioral, sensory, etc. Since you have one identified area the is atypical, you should pay very close attention to every other red flag you see, even small ones that other people say will go away, you already have reason to check out everything you question becaue something is amiss.

If you are not able to identify developmental issues yourself, seek professional help to do so. Developmental Pediatricains are excellent sources to start with.

The treatment for these kinds of issues is not flashy or instant, you will not see a miricle cure, it is slow and methodical, and you must do all the home work that the therapist gives you, no matter how unrelated it seems to you. On that note, use extreem caution when you hear about "cures" in the form of diets, vitamines, or quack treatments, because if they promise you a flashy "do it yourself" cure, they are just lining thier pockets with cash for themselves; standard treament is all that is effective, and it is slow hard work and is not very rewarding untill you look at it over years of treatment.

M.

If there is no physical problem with your daughter's teeth, mouth, tongue, throat etc. which would cause her anxiety, then perhaps you might teach her that it is important for her oral health etc. that she allow health-care providers to examine her.
In other words you must EXPECT her to cooperate and insist on it.
I personally would not be above offering her a small reward the next time she goes to the doctor/dentist and I would prepare her well beforehand.
Play "doctor" and "dentist" at home with both children, while explaining what you are looking at and for in the mouth.
Let her look at her mouth/teeth in the mirror.
Let her be the doctor/dentist and look at your mouth.
Also, if you teach her to chew her food at least 15-20 times before swallowing, it might help.
Don't give up.

I would talk to the OT you have and ask for things to do at home with your child. You mentioned she has trouble with some textures of food, I would ask your OT about maybe getting an ST for an eval. I say this as a mother of two who had/has two boys with different needs that required therapy. My youngest had a rare brain disorder and he required PT, OT, ST. My oldest who is almost 12 now, requires OT, but has been seen by and worked with a Speech therapist. He does not have the same condition his little brother had. Some foods are still a little touchy, but through time, it's been much easier. He has Severe Anxiety and OCD and going to the dentist is never a problem now. I know therapy sometimes seems as though it isn't doing anything, but over time you should see a difference.
H.