Sensory Processing Dysfunction

Since we have gotten a diagnosis for Austin I have had TONS of questions and not enough answers for my extraordinary son. He has been diagnosed with Sensory Processing Dysfunction or Disorder (SPD). Specifically tactile defensiveness. Here are some of the questions and answers:
What is SPD? SPD describes the difficulty that some people's nervous systems have in making use of and integrating sensory information.
What causes SPD? The brain is not receiving messages, or the messages that are received are inconsistent, or is consistent but does not integrate properly with the other sensory information from the other related sensory systems.
Austin is what they call a "sensory seeker". Sensory seeking is when a person's nervous system requires unusual or intense amounts of stimulation. This is the kind of kid who crashes into things (Austin), or takes a lemon and sucks on it, or who may bite himself, or is constantly touching things to get more input. He "just can't get enough" sensory information.
To help Austin, we do "brush therapy" using a baby brush that you get at the hospital


and using direct pressure go up his arms, down his back, up and down the other arm, them both of his legs. Then we do "Joint compression therapy" to help put input into his body.
BRUSHING/JOINT COMPRESSION TECHNIQUE:

Purpose: to provide deep tactile input to help organize sensory system, increase focus and level of alertness. It is best to provide technique daily every two hours and prior to activities that may facilitate fear, anxiety, or resistance.

Item needed: surgical brush (may substitute by using bath brush (at Dollar Tree) that looks just like the surgical brush or use opened flat palm side of your hand)

Procedure:

1. Using surgical brush, apply firm continuous deep pressure as you brush from the finger tips toward shoulder. Repeat this ten times, ( as tolerated). Always start at the fingers and end at the shoulder. (Avoid brushing face and stomach).

2. After brushing, apply deep joint compression to shoulder, elbow, & wrist. Make sure child remains still, joints are in alignment. Hold joint and apply pressure for the count of ten.

3. Lastly, apply joint compression to both shoulders at the same time, on top of the head, and lastly, firm pressure above lip using finger tip.

4. This technique can also be applied to legs and feet. Apply pressure to hips, knees, ankles & feet.

Since we have done this, Austin's screaming has all but stopped, he is open to eating new things, and attempting self-initiated speech. His need for "sensory seeking" always got in the way of his speech, he now has the capability to start speaking like he should!