When to "drop" OT

[kme]

My son (dx ADHD, SPD, and possible ASD) has been in OT for close to a year now. While I do think he is calmer on the days he has OT, I don't see any REAL changes in him overall. (He is mostly a sensory seeker). We do follow a sensory diet at home including jumping, wheelbarrow walking, sit-ups, swinging, brushing, therapeutic listening, etc. He is relatively easy to engage and will do things with me or his older siblings at our request - but left alone he does a lot of stimming, which in his case is mostly jumping and even some activities, like dribbling a basketball, which *look* productive, but really aren't. He has gotten really good at doing things that make him look busy but is really getting his sensory input with A LOT of jumping, crashing, etc.
He has very little pretend play and does mostly "purposeless" things when left alone.

The OT assured us he would begin to be able to entertain himself and play more puposefully as well as improve his social skills after OT treatment. However, that has not happened as of yet. I'm not sure it is going to and my husband is pretty much telling me we need to pull the plug on OT soon. I can't really argue with him b/c I am not seeing indication that it is helping much.

If we stop OT, his only therapy will be ST 1x/week and to be honest, I'm not sure that's helping either.

I am so unsure of what therapy is really appropriate - if any. Do any of you just "do nothing" as far as therapy?? He does have an IEP at school and is doing fairly well, although doesn't really have many friends.

We did RDI briefly and still follow some of its principles. We did social skills classes for one session - they were Ok but focused a lot on anger management, and how to control feelings and actions, which is not much of an issue with him (he does not have a lot of meltdowns). I also do social stories with him a few times a week at bedtime.

Any thoughts on going "therapy-less" or are there any other types of therapy we should be looking into?

[Purple Cat]

I have twins with sensory issues, though they are NOT on the ASD spectrum. My son looked like a poster child for ADD, but was too young to diagnose. It took longer than one year of OT, but my son no longer even remotely acts like he has ADD. People think I'm crazy when I say that was a huge concern for almost 2 years. But with lots of OT and therapy, he doesn't know. My son, similarly, did not engage in purposeful play -- he was too distracted. But no he does. My daughter had gravitational issues. She literally spent two years in OT working on being able to tolerate the slightest sensation. Something clicked: No one can believe she couldn't tolerate the slightest swinging sensation as now she flies through the air on swings. It would be a shame to stop before his miracles started.

At the same time I totally appreciate how laborious going to OT every week can be. I would recommend getting him into aquatherapy, or even taking him to the Y for family swim 3 or 4 times a week. The water and swimming is wonderful for sensory kids.

My DD is a sensory-seeker, at the same time she is able to function well at school, etc. I just make sure I have lots of built-in gross motor time for her -- We go to Pump it Up or Jump Zone, which is so great for sensory kids. It gives lots of propioceptive input, etc. Horseback riding or hippotherapy is also great.

I also would recommend telling the therapist you need a break, if you do, adn coming back in 3 months or so.