It’s always interesting to hear from people who have sensory issues. Dr. Temple Grandin is such a well-known figure for Autism, I thought you’d like to hear her words.
Share your thoughts with us!
Read books by Temple Grandin:
Temple Talks about Autism and the Older Child
Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and AbstractionsDifferent Kinds of Minds: A Guide to Your BrainThe Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds SucceedAutism and Education: The Way I See It: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know
So right. My son has auditory, visual, skin and oral sensory issues and I don’t understand, I want to though. He is now 5 and also seems to have some auditory processing issues and struggles with communicating how he feels or what bothers him, which makes it very difficult at times to help him. I read everything I can and speak to his OT about how I can help him. However, he is now at school and not everyone understands or wants to.
I understand working with the school system. We have been fairly lucky but even the people who want to understand don’t necessarily get it, no matter what you say. I’ve been working hard on helping my son communicate what he needs or helping him figure it out (because sometimes he knows he’s having a hard time but doesn’t know what he’s having a hard time about). It’s a dance where the moves keep changing. But you’ll get there!
It is always interesting to hear from someone who has first hand experience.
I have a 6 year old who has mild sensory issues, mainly auditory and conduct. He is so normal that he can be missed and some teachers have argued about his issues. They can take him to a noisy event without ear plugs and deal with it. Sensory overload waiting to happen. Sit still sure whatever. You want him to sit, fidget cube/chew toy works wonders. Me I’d rather respect his needs and either stay out of the noise or get him ear plugs to help him cope and enjoy himself. He is a wiggly one too with minor conduct issues. Pretty much give him a chew necklace and he can manage himself rather well. His main teacher gets him and lets him be himself and lets him chew to his hearts content. His music teacher is not getting him. His teacher and a few other people may need to crack down on her or let him out of the class. All she would have to do is let him chew and he would likely quit playing with her carpet squares. The other issue is we consulted with an OT who pretty much said nothing could be done for the auditory sensory issues and wanted to do therapy for the conduct. of which I find giving him a chew necklace works for him what further else do we need. Would not explain himself at all. Even the doctor said she would redo the evaluation elsewhere. However we would likely have to go out of town or go to a place that has not been in business long for help. Not to mention insurance doesn’t pay.