Can you tell me about sensory issues?

[Calliope84]

I was on another thread because DD is a very advanced 4 month old. One of the posters told me her kids sat way early and stuff and they ended up having sensory issues. I was just reading about SPD and I see a number of things on there that I deal with and I know my mom is sensitive, too.

DD is pretty HNs, but we just call her sensitive, because she is. So far she definitely is sensitive to all kinds of noises, screams when the straps hold her into her carseat, doesn't like being dressed and has always been very picky about how she likes to be held.

My mom says I was a great, laid back baby. Once I was past age 3 or so, I never really cried a lot unless I was in severe pain (. I strip and put on my PJs the second I walk in the door because I HATE the feeling of constricting clothing / bras, etc. I was a kid who apparently screamed to have my hands washed and carried soap around with me (but  I thought my mom caused that) and hated tags, etc. I am very sensitive to loud noises or any noise at all. I can not handle picky sheets and my sister and I both quit dancing, which we loved, because we were forced to wear "picky costumes". My sister and I spent a lot of time crying because my mom would blast Michael Bolton and Pavarotti and then sing off-key with them. We can't stand off-key singing. Pretty dramatic lol.

I realized about a week ago that I "close" my senses down when I go somewhere like the grocery store or mall. I don't have a clue how to experience every sight, sound, eye contact with a person, etc. without toning down my level of openness, first. That is pretty weird....

My mom is extremely sensitive to noise (except noise she chooses apparently), smells and is OCD about having a clean house. I ignore a messy home. My mom came to our house while we were still moving in and actually cried for a half hour because she couldn't handle the mess. Odd.

So... what is the big deal about this? Aren't some people just more sensitive than others? Many of these quirks have been linked to a high IQ, so maybe that somehow explains it. I tested as gifted when I was little. Is it even fixable?  Re-reading this makes me think we all sound ill, but I prefer to think of our quirks as being "eccentric." I feel like we are just a little more intense... in a lot of ways.

[FarmerBeth]

As long as a person is functional and can have healthy, happy relationships and a sense of accomplishment at something, I don't see how being sensitive is a disorder.  At only four months, you need to watch more for things like if she has good eye contact, likes to play with you a bit, and can like being cuddled in some kind of position.  I've got three really sensitive kids, but only one actually has sensory issues.  The other two just notice things and know what they like, but they can cope if they are exposed to things they find hard on the senses.  Their sensitivity gives them an edge when it comes to observing things in order to draw them, or understanding their science lesson, etc.  Point being, if you can cope, then it's just quirks. (BTW, I have worked with other people's kids about seven of the last fifteen years, and I've never met a baby that particularly likes getting dressed, so i wouldn't worry about that).