Sensory Awareness Month 2015

The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation offers hope and help by providing resources, education, global awareness and research on the topic of SPD. Profits from this campaign will go to fund more research on Sensory Processing Disorder. The below is a story about a child who experienced sensory challenges and also received life changing early intervention.

Despite getting a constant brush-off from pediatricians as a high-maintenance new mom, my mom knew something was wrong with me. I started crying - loudly from birth! So loud I was literally kicked out of the nursery at the hospital and made to stay with my mom (who had a horrible delivery and needed rest). I didn't stop screaming until I was about 5 years old.

I remember being afraid of tall people, I was scared to look at people in the eyes, car rides made me nervous, and wearing clothes was horrible and I frequently stripped in public places! Two other big issues I struggled with were dealing with transitions and impulse control. My answer to everything was to scream and have a tantrum. If someone looked at me, I screamed. If I had to put on shoes, I screamed. If I had to stop playing to eat, I screamed. Even as a preschooler, I knew something was wrong with me. At the age of 4, I told my mom I felt like I had bubbles in my brain.

Prior to age 4, I had been misdiagnosed with Autism, speech delay and also labeled as a child with extreme behavior issues. At 2 years old I was seeing a child psychiatrist. Conducting her own investigation and research on Google and visits to every possible parent support group, my mom finally got the help I needed. I was diagnosed with Sensory Integration Dysfunction, now called Sensory Processing Disorder or SPD.

Early intervention changed my life and helped me conquer SPD. For many years my family had no idea how to deal with me, but the good thing is they tried. I'm confident that if I hadn't received help early on I wouldn't be the person I am today.