Sensory Processing Disorder - Seeking Mom's Group in Twin Cities

I am happy to answer questions for you and let you share your trials and tribulations with this rocky and still misunderstood (especially by peds) disorder. My son was diagnosed when he was 3.5 thanks to a lucky set of circumstances. I happened to be in a moms group at the time and one of the other kids had SPD. And then my son's preschool teacher mentioned that we might want to have him evaluated because of how he was struggling in the classroom with body control, noise avoidance, and other reaction well outside the norm. I read "The Out-of-Sync Child" which gave me greater understanding. I also had resistance from his ped for a referral but I had enough information backing up my request including a recommendation from the Early Childhood evaluator that he relented.

OT is wonderful. I observed every session and let the therapist know that I was interested in learning as much as I could. Starting school would have been miserable if I had not had a good understanding of how DS responds in group settings and could give his teachers a heads up. Second grade is more of a challenge because while the teacher gives lip service to his needs I am not sure she really understands that he experiences the classroom differently. She sees that he handles a given situation fine one day and then the next he is reacting differently and she thinks he is just trying to get out of his work.

Feel free to PM me. :)

k

Hi K.,

I'm not sure this will be of much help, because I don't see a formal parents group listed in your area, but I've found a lot of useful information on spdfoundation.net. Our SPD kiddo is almost 3.5 and was diagnosed last year. He's made huge strides with his OT, and we still have a long way to go. I met a mom of a similar-age SPD+ kiddo in the waiting area when we arrived early for our OT appt. It's so great to talk to another parent who "gets it"!

Also - I recommend the book "Raising a Sensory-Smart Child" by Lindsey Biel (an OT) and Nancy Peske (mom of an SPD kiddo, age 9 at the time the book was written). It has an entire chapter on advocating for your child at school, plus a host of hands-on information for you and your spouse.

Please don't let guilt eat at you. You're doing what you need to do now. Keep looking forward. It will get better. It'll be OK.

I would love to hear if you've found anything. My 7 year old daughter also struggles with this, although, we've never gotten her officially diagnosed. How do you do that? We went the counseling route which we started last week. Is there actual treatment in the Twin Cities? Where do you go for it?

Thank you for making the post. My son is only 3.5 and is just starting the early/initial diagnosis for SPD. I have also had some push back from his preschool teacher that he seems fine there (he is only there 2 days a week for less than 3 hours) and that he might just "grow out of it'. But he has been assessed by OT and they did recommend services, which I am not seeking through our district. I would put him in the mild/moderate level for SPD right now but also want to get any services now rather than wait until he has issues in school.

My son is not as old as yours but I would be interested in also connecting with a similar group in the TC. I will watch your thread, looks like others have some good links, and if you do want to connect off the site, feel free to do so.

Good luck.

D.