Sensory processing revisited

Its been awhile since I first posted about Eli and his Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). I found the above video while I was looking for some specific advice, I think it does a pretty good job of explaining the basics.  I wanted to give a mini update on Eli since so many of you have asked about him and how his therapy is going (and so I can document his progress!) He was reevaluated here in Texas which was actually really helpful.  They did 2 separate evaluations on him: 1) Miller Assessment for Preschoolers (MAP) and 2) Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI).   I'll break up his results on both: (if you want to skip this mumbo, jumbo just go down to the **** when I give you Eli's specific recommendations)


MAP: The MAP is designed to identify children who exhibit mild, moderate, and severe pre-academic problems which may affect one or more areas of development.   It first tests 27 'academic' items and then tells us how he performs compared to others his age.   Eli's overall score was "GREEN" meaning he is within 'normal' limits. {I knew he was pretty stinkin' smart, but it's nice to have it affirmed}

It then tests 17 categories within the Foundations and Coordination Index.  This had to do with neurological and neuromotor aspects of basic development, including a child's sense of position and movement which they believe are basic building blocks necessary for successful learning and the development of complex skills.    This is where he is a little off and where they hope to work on improvement so he is able to reach his mental capabilities.  

His specific problems (which a lot of us can relate to) are
*Foundational and Coordinating Movements: he struggled with performing tasks with his eyes closed (touching his nose, stepping in place, walking a straight line, marching his feet quickly while sitting in a chair)
*Complex Tasks: It took him longer than most to get a bead through a flat maze after it was demonstrated to him.  

VMI: This test is a developmental sequence of 21 geometric forms, which are copied with paper and pencil.   The primary purpose of the VMI is to screen for learning and developmental problems in the area of motor skills.   Eli scored a 55% which is slightly above average : )  

The therapist then tested his reflexes which if poor in conjunction with other delays indicates poor sensory integration.   Eli did have some concerns in this area (the bug pose and the superman pose in particular). 

****All in all he was average/above average.   This is GREAT news.   So you may think (like I did) that we were done.  No problems.  I'm just an over reactive mother.    But, no.   His therapist was concerned about how scattered he was across these tests.  On some tasks he was way above his age level, and then on others way below.  That is why we had an average.   She also was concerned by his sensory behaviors he exhibits at home (as am I) such as movement sensitivity, and the way he's under responsive/ seeks sensation (hitting, throwing, yelling, pushing).   His arm flapping is becoming more frequent as he is processing new and more advanced information and while his imagination is taking off.   Since adequate processing skills are prerequisites to the development of important feeding, motor and social skills she thinks therapy is recommended.  She's afraid (as am I) that with his exposure to more areas of heightened sensitivity (i.e. school and sports) that he will be mislabled and misunderstood due to his sensory processing difficulties.   In therapy she will use a combination of neurodevelopmental, sensory integration and cognitive strategies.  

My personal goal is to assess how he does in "school" this year.  If he is behaving normally and not disrupting other students/the teacher, AND not coming home completely unglued after holding it in all day, I will reevaluate his continued need for therapy.   At home we are setting up a "therapy" swing (or one like it that I found at Ikea) that helps to "repave" the roads to his brain.  We also want to get a swing set for the backyard (didn't you see the 'homework' in the video?).   I also hope that his participation on a sport team (starting soccer this fall!) will help with his hand/eye coordination (ok, maybe not hands but feet) and motor processing.  While I still don't understand this disorder fully, I do know that my gut/instinct is telling me to continue with this therapy.   I want him to be as freed up as possible to be Eli without any traffic jams : )   Thank you all for your continued support.