Is this SID or something else??

[briansmama]

Hi,

I haven't posted here yet but have been reading lots of threads and am finding tons of helpful info here. I could use some specific help though.

Ds is 6 and has been on a GF/CF diet to help with his food sensitivities. His behavior has greatly improved over the years (since we started the diet), but we still have difficulties nearly every day.

When he was 3 he had allergy shiners that cleared up after 12 weeks of acupuncture treatment and chinese herbal meds. I'm wondering if we should go back and do that again or try a different course of treatment to get at the underlying cause? I have very little faith in western meds to help with our issues, as I'm certain the vaxs ds was given his first year (before I knew better) caused our problems.

Ds yells and screams every day after putting on socks. He can not get them smooth enough so he becomes extremely uncomfortable, irritable, and explosive. This lasts at least an hour. Every day. We homeschool so he is not headed to school or someplace else he may not want to go. He is headed to play with friends at our gym (working out is how I keep my sanity). He loves going at generally tries to control his behavior there and plays with friends and his little brother.

He will not wear the majority of his clothes. Tags ruin his day. He complains of headaches in the car. This has been happening more and more. He is coming off the flu, so maybe that explains the headaches, I don't know. If it's cold in the morning and I lay out pants for him to wear and the sun comes out mid-day he acts like he's being tortured.

He's always complaining about something. He's become so picky about food. Much more so than he ever did as a toddler. He used to love food. Now it's a major issue.

However, he's very coordinated, has a long attention span and does very well with his academics. He's way advanced in his work, reading at a 2nd grade level and multiplying on his own. He loves other kids and generally gets along well with them, especially if they play sports.

Am I worrying over nothing? Should I just be grateful he isn't suffering worse? Please help, I'm not sure if I should look into NAET therapy, a chiro, or go back to the chinese herbalist. Or try chelation.

Thanks for any advice/experience/help.

[Kailey's mom]

What about occupational therapy? Will your health insurance cover it?

[cdahlgrd]

Sounds like some SID to me.

I would definitely look into OT. It is about getting his body used to stimulation and learning to deal with it, not meds. You can go through the school district to get him tested and get him therapy. But if you don't agree with what they suggest, you don't have to do it. Your insurance may also pay for some testing and OT. Or if you have local children's hospital or teaching hospital, they may put you on scholarship.

I wouldn't do chelation unless there was bloodtesting showing heavy metals.

There are other complimentary therapies that could be helpful too. BUt OT can make a HUGE difference for kids.

[LynnS6]

Definitely sounds like sensory processing disorder (the 'newer' name for SID) to me, or at least something in that direction.

My favorite reading on the subject:
Sensational Kids
the Out of Sync Child

http://www.spdfoundation.net/
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/

I'd at least have him evaluated by an occupational therapist and see what their opinion is. The great thing about OT for SPD is that it's 'all natural'. There are no drugs. It's training the body and the brain to work better together. (Be very wary of chelation - it can be dangerous.)

Finally, for the socks: Turn them inside out so the seams are on the outside. Then look for seamless socks. (Nordstrom's sells them - but even those we had to turn inside out.) My husband's got SPD and he just naturally did that when ds' socks bothered him.

[mamarhu]

My boy doesn't wear socks. When he was younger, he wore Ugg boots in the winter, crocs or sandals in the summer. Now, as a teen, he wears whatever cool sneakers are in style. Even in winter, no socks. I don't go to war over this one.

[briansmama]

Thank you all for responding. It really helps to read that you guys think he could have sensory issues. My gut has been telling me something isn't right, but we'll go weeks where his diet is on and he feels better and we seems to do ok.

But then a down cycle comes and it's a month at least of challenges.

I will look into OT. Thanks for the reminder to go through our school district, and for the tip about the socks! I haven't tried turning them inside out and did not know where to buy seamless socks. We've been buying the very thin, tight kind per his request, but he still has major issues with them.

I love good book recs, so I'm going to check the library and see if they carry Sensational Kids or order from Amazon. I've already read Out of Sync Child and it didn't seem to apply to him as much as the list from websites on sensory integration disorder. He doesn't fully fit into any of the categories, but I agree that there are some sensory issues going on.

Again, thanks for all the help.