Sensory seeking behaviors & people's (inappropriate) responses to them

[moonfirefaery]

Today we spent 3 1/2 hours at the clinic because I have an infection, Corbin has a cold (which could be strep, still waiting on the lab results), and we need a referral for an ADD evaluation. (We've suspected for a long time that he's ADD, and after a preliminary eval from the school, we're ready to seek an official diagnosis.)

Corbin has had sensory-seeking issues since he was a toddler. He has always liked to throw himself down on the ground, lay there for a moment, and then get back up, calmer and happier. The teachers at school understand and are even incorporating safe, sensory-satisfying behaviors into his IEP.

After 2 1/2 hours in the clinic, Corbin was understandably getting antsy. As we were about to leave, we let him go into the empty waiting room while she gave some paperwork. He began throwing his overshirt into the air and catching it to entertain himself. When we came in, he caught it, fell down onto the hard floor, and laid there quietly. Before I could even say a word, the doctor is exclaiming "Stop that! GET UP!" etc. and dropping to her hands and knees. She puts one hand on each side of his waist and begins trying to hoist him up, the whole time ordering him to GET UP! She pulls on the back of his shirt with one hand, while trying to lift him with the other. It was less than a minute before Corbin got up, brushed off, and went cheerfully about his day.

The whole time, I'm just staring like... *blink* *blink* wtf...?

Here is what I wanted to come out: B**** you better get your hands off my child!

Here is what came out: No--don't--he's--he's sensory seeking--he does this at school, too--he--he likes to throw himself on the ground..."

The response is a muffled "yeah" *grunt (still grabbing at him)* "but this isn't carpet" *continues*

"Yes, I know, but he's just...trying to..."

And then they're both up, and it's over...and we go on out to the receptionist for a note for school.

But seriously...WTF! Has she never seen a kid with sensory issues? Could she not give me a chance to react? Did she have to immediately start shouting, ordering him about, and grabbing at him? He had no idea what she was doing, because everyone else he knows is just used to him doing this. And more importantly... what would YOU have said/done?  I really wanted to say more, but I didn't want to make a big deal out of a minute-long "ordeal." Am I right for thinking this was out of line? And how the heck can I teach this child to wait until we're on carpet to get his sensory seeking thing done or to do it safely on hard floor?

[Roar]

My guess is that the doctor was probably operating out of fear of the kid getting hurt (and the liability that might come with that). Not that it makes the response appropriate, but I'm guessing that's where it was coming from.

While your son may be a sensory seeker, the reality is that many typically developing 5 year olds would have a very difficult time with waiting 2.5 hours in the doctor's office. It never hurts to have some tricks (special toys, games you can play while you wait) and some sensory strategies (gum, pushing on the wall, jumping up and down in place). Really though there are limits to how long that is going to work and yeah, sometimes kids are going to have more physical energy than the space calls for. Having sensory needs isn't just a product of dysfunction, but a part of being alive.

[moonfirefaery]

Exactly. I'm not surprised at all that he started to get antsy, or even that he suddenly needed that... floor-to-face impact that he so obviously craves.

We'd agreed he'd bring his Nintendo DS with him, but he accidentally left it behind :/ He played with my phone while we waited, watched TV, and played with the toys there. If he got squirmy, I'd let him jump up and down (while playing with his shirt) or run about 10ft one way, then back, as long as he didn't get in anyone's space/way. He was well-behaved and patient the whole time. When we left the exam room and went into her office, to sit at her desk for 5 mins, his constant chatter and movement annoyed her. I thought it was understandable after being there so long. Then as we left, he suddenly and without warning threw himself to the floor.   I wish I could predict when he is going to do that. You should see the looks on people's faces sometimes when he does.

Naturally, after the face plant, he was still and quiet again the whole half hour we had to spend in the pharmacy waiting on my meds. :)

I know safety is an issue and am not surprised that she was concerned. I just think she kind of... overreacted. I mean, once he was on the floor, he was no longer in any danger. The face plant had already happened