Lauren Saccone and her husband Jason struggled for three years, wondering what was wrong with their firstborn baby girl. Finally, Sadie was diagnosed as having ‘Sensory Processing Disorder’.
Too many childhood disorders are dismissed as “behavioral problems” with parents blamed for raising children who are labeled “spoilt” or “difficult” or “lacking discipline”.
This was exactly the case for Lauren and Jason who faced more than their fair share of shaming. “We were having a lot of trouble getting teachers and our school district to recognise Sadie’s needs. It was hard believing that her issues weren’t our fault because we were being judged so harshly while she had multiple meltdowns a day. I was tired of my daughter being misunderstood and my husband and I blamed for her behaviour,” said Lauren.
What is SPD?
According to WebMD, “Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a condition in which the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses. […] Common sounds may be painful or overwhelming. The light touch of a shirt may chafe the skin.”
Lauren, mother of now seven-year old Sadie, describes the condition as “a traffic jam of information”.
“My daughter is a combination: She can be over-responsive to sound and touch but under-responsive to bodily stimuli like motion, and equilibrium,” said Lauren.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms, and according to WebMD, these include being uncoordinated, bumping regularly into things or being hard to engage with in conversation or play.
In Sadie’s case, “as a toddler, her reactions manifested itself in extreme behaviours like meltdowns, screaming or fleeing a noisy environment. When she becomes over-stimulated, she may get hyper, crash into things, talk excessively and have trouble with personal space boundaries. She also has the tendency to put objects in her mouth when she is seeking sensory input”.
This story is from the November 2016 edition of Motherhood Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2016 edition of Motherhood Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
7 Tasks Your Tot Should Master Before Age 3
Here’s what your child should be doing without your help by the time he turns three!
Know Your Breastfeeding Basics
Breastfeeding might not be as easy as it looks, but with enough preparation and practice, you and your baby will be on your way to a successful breastfeeding journey in no time.
Signs Of Ovulation
Planning on having a baby? Learning about the signs of ovulation can make a huge difference when you want to conceive.
Hello Baby, Goodbye Hair?
Post-pregnancy hair loss can be a distressing experience. Follow these steps to treat the root of your problem.
Good Night, Sleep Right
A good night’s sleep is important to growing children. However, a recent study showed an increasing trend of young children suffering from sleeping problems. MH finds out more.
Gift Of The Jab
MH speaks to the experts on the importance of immunisations.
Bounce Bounce Baby
Kids love trampolines. In fact, most adults love trampolines too! There is something freeing about bouncing on a trampoline that everyone, regardless of age, can relate to. Better yet, there are also a ton of benefits to bouncing on a trampoline!
Zest For Life
From her first to her fifth child, VLV CEO Dolores Au never stopped working. She gives MH a glimpse into how she manages to stay on top of it all.
what happens to your body post-baby?
now that you’re almost at your due date, have you stopped to wonder what’s going to happen to your body once the baby’s out?
learning through play
get a jumpstart on your preschooler’s learning with these fun activities.
