JULY 2010 - 1 in 20 children suffer symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
CF Special Report
A child’s sensory system is at work from the moment they are born. Immediately, they recognize their mothers’ smell and the sound of her voice. As they grow other senses continue to develop, such as taste, touch, movement and vision. However, some children are unable to properly process certain senses which results in problem behavior.
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), formerly known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID), is a condition that exists when sensory signals don’t get organized into appropriate responses. It’s often said SPD is like a neurological traffic jam that prevents parts of the brain from processing sensory information appropriately.
CT based clinical psychologist, Dr. Robert Reynolds commonly treats children with SPD, and is considered a leader in the field of treatment.
“It’s not uncommon for a child with SPD to be easily distracted by extraneous noises. Or often times, children with this disorder are very sensitive to wearing certain fabrics or materials,” said Dr. Robert Reynolds. “It’s a condition that can be very disruptive in a child’s day to day life.”
The cause of SPD is not known. However, it appears some children may be at greater risk of developing the condition. Increased risk factors include:
• Diagnosed condition on autism spectrum
• Tube fed for extended periods of time
• Drug addicted during fetal development
• Relatives or siblings with SPD
• Food allergies
• Gifted.
Symptoms of SPD include:
• Negative response to unexpected or loud noises
• Holds hands over ears
• Prefers to be in the dark
• Avoids eye contact
• Does not seem to smell strong odors
• Continually seeks various movement activities
• Constantly hangs on other people, furniture, objects
• Walks on toes
• Avoids climbing or jumping
• Takes excessive risks while playing, a no safety awareness
• Avoids getting messy with glue, sand finger paint
• Is sensitive to certain fabrics (clothing & bedding)
• Has decreased awareness of pain or temperature
• Has difficulty paying attention
• Is overly affectionate with others
• Is accident prone
• Seem anxious
Some of the symptoms of SPD are similar to ADHD. Therefore, this disorder is commonly misdiagnosed.
“It is critical that SPD is correctly identified in order to provide the child with the most suitable course of treatment,” said Dr. Reynolds.
Dr. Reynolds supports a therapeutic approach to treatment that does not rely on pharmaceutical intervention. He has found great success in treating behavioral disorders using neurofeedback training. This approach is designed to improve mental functioning in children by re-training the brain through brain mapping.
Brain mapping is a non-invasive technique that takes a picture of an individual’s brain wave activity, thus identifying the proper place on the cortex, or surface of the brain, to target the neurofeedback training. Neurofeedback therapy is a powerful method for regulating brainwave activity through the use of game-like displays on a computer monitor.
Dr. Robert Reynolds has been on the leading edge of neurofeedback training since 1978 and was the first practice to offer the treatment in Connecticut. As a result, his clinic has become a sought after resource in helping students, families, schools and individuals cope with attention, learning and behavior challenges across the lifespan.
Connecticut Educational Services utilizes the most advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques and provides all evaluations and treatments through highly trained licensed professionals. A number of specialists exists locally; ask your physician about their training and experience in this field.
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