Posted by Minnie-Haha on April 19, 2004, at 13:46:31
In reply to Sensory Integration Disorder - relief???, posted by katia on April 18, 2004, at 0:42:49
> Minnie-Haha, has your son been dxed w/ anything? Is there any cure for SID?
I don't know of a cure, but there is help.
My son has been identified as gifted. He also has auditory-processing problems and sensory-processing problems (though not a DSI/SID diagnosis). He received a DX of ADHD Primarily Inattentive, which my husband and I absolutely disagree with. (I’ve done a LOT of reading on these things in the past couple of years and there are many disorders that have overlapping/sensory components, so depending on what kind of specialist you see, you can get different diagnosis: ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, DSI, CAPD, BP, OCD… you name it.)
You've read up about DSI (a common acronym, as SID can get confused with SIDS – sudden infant death syndrome, which is unrelated). Anyway, you've read up about DSI. Good! Try to find a group for adults with it. (I found one at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adultsid/, but I don’t belong to it so I can’t give you any feedback.) When you find a group, ask about other conditions that have sensory symptoms and which disorders tend to be found comorbidly with DSI. In other words, do not run to embrace DSI first and only. Have you also read about the “overexcitabilities” of the gifted? Start with http://www.stephanietolan.com/dabrowskis.htm Some books to consider: The Out-of-Sync Child (does a good job of explaining what DSI is); Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight (haven’t read it yet, but want to); and The Highly Sensitive Person (haven’t read this either). All are at Amazon.com.
As for getting a DSI DX, I know OTs (occupational therapists) can give them, but not all are trained in sensory-integration testing, so you’d need to ask around. Treatment (for children anyway, and I assume it would be similar for adults) usually involves a sensory diet. This isn’t about food, though. It’s more like conditioning your body to be more properly tuned to process sensory input. You might benefit from a listening therapy.
As for psychological help, some might use behavioral or cognitive therapy to work on this stuff, but if the foundation is neurological, is that the best approach? It certainly shouldn't be the ONLY one, and I would want to know that my psychologist was, if not supportive, at least not dismissive of the diagnosis and treatment of sensory-integration disorders. One thing a psychologist could do for you is administer an IQ test. Although there is no cure for being gifted, at least it helps to put one's “abnormal” behaviors into a more positive light!
poster:Minnie-Haha
thread:330066
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040417/msgs/337749.html