I've posted about Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID) before. See my posts in that category -----> for some first-hand experiences with sensory seeking behavior. Little J has been evaluated and found to have this grouping of symptoms all related to a neurological system struggling to integrate.

But I don't know that I've ever posted a good definition of this, along with treatment and outcome information. So here's an addition to my alphabet soup glossary.

Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID) is also known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Here's a definition from the Sensory Processing Disorder Network:

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a complex disorder of the brain that affects developing children and adults. People with SPD misinterpret everyday sensory information, such as touch, sound, and movement. They may feel bombarded by information, they may seek out intense sensory experiences, or they may have other symptoms.

"Sensory processing" refers to our ability to take in information through our senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing), organize and interpret that information, and make a meaningful response. For most people, this process is automatic. When we hear someone talking to us or a bird chirping, our brains interpret that as speech or an animal sound, and we respond to that information appropriately.

Children who have a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), however, don’t experience this process in the same way. SPD affects the way their brains interpret the information they take in and also how they act on that information with emotional, attentional, motor, and other responses.

There are three main types of behavior associated with SID/SPD:

1. Sensory-avoiding behavior
2. Sensory-seeking behavior
3. Motor skills problems

Little J is a definite sensory-seeker.

SID/SPD is treated by providing the child with a sensory rich diet and ofter through sessions with an Occupational Therapist. In the OT session children are guided through a number of sensory stimulating activities. All of this is designed to stimulate the nervous system.

Now, we can't afford OT therapy for Little J right now (you should check with your insurance to see if it's covered or not) but once we sell our other house we will reevaluate. He's dropped a lot of his initial sensory-seeking behaviors - the chewing and crashing and screaming - so I suspect that his everyday life as well as some of the special things we do: gymnastics, swimming, bike-riding, and providing good proprioceptive input, has been helping his nervous system along.