Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ page contains opinions
only (based on the facts as we know them today). We do not
prescribe, diagnose, or claim to in any way provide medical
information for your child. Always seek medical advice through
licensed care providers qualified to diagnose developmental
or health issues.
My child was just diagnosed
with Sensory Integration Dysfunction? I want to learn all I
can about this. Where should I start?
Carol Kranowitz has written
books and produced audio and video materials providing a thorough
discussion of Sensory Integration issues. Please go to her
link from our site. Also, a newly written book called Raising
a Sensory Smart Child will be helpful (we provide a link to
this site, as well). The earlier a child is diagnosed the better!
With therapy provided by a SI trained therapists, children
improve dramatically. We also recommend reading our books S'cool
Moves for Learning and Kids Learn
From the Inside Out. Developmental Delay Resources is a
wonderful newsletter for parents.
My child's teacher is overwhelmed
with all she has to do and can't make time to meet my child's
sensory and developmental needs. What should I do?
This is an interesting question
and one that I love to answer. We know that techniques that
work great for children with sensory and developmental needs,
work great for ALL children. Really! In every classroom, there
are children who have needs and are not diagnosed so receive
no help at all. Your coming forward and offering suggestions
will help these other children, too. There is no need for a
teacher to feel she has to do something totally different with
one child who is wiggly, lacks focus, etc. that she cannot
do with all the children. Most children need integration breaks,
especially with today's fast paced curriculum. I recommend
that teachers and staff get trained in S'cool Moves techniques
and use them with all children. Focus
Moves was developed especially for this situation. No child
is singled out and most children enjoy the movement breaks.
My pediatrician seems to think
that my child will outgrow his developmental lags? What do
you think?
Pediatricians, though we love
them so, have very little training in the area of sensory integration,
ADHD, and other behaviors seen in young children. Any child
who is not meeting developmental milestones, having language
delays, or is experiencing behavior challenges should be seen
by a certified sensory integration therapist. The earlier the
better. If nothing is wrong, than you can relax and enjoy life
with your young one. If some sensory, vestibular, developmental
issues are discovered, yippee! That child will experience success
through therapy and you will experience less frustration. There
is nothing worse than that gut level feeling that "something
is wrong." Don't deny the feeling. Follow your instincts
and get help right away.
My child has ADHD but the
medication doesn't seem to be helping. What should I do?
Almost all children who are
diagnosed with one disorder usually has other challenges along
with it. I recommend all parents start with a thorough sensory
integration evaluation because the sensory system underlies
all the other systems in the body. If the vestibular system
is fully functioning, many other challenges remediate themselves.
Rarely does a child have just one issue. Choose to begin with
one treatment and move on from there. Don't overload the child
with too many therapies at once.
My child struggles in school
but does not qualify for any services. What should I do?
Qualifying for special education
services can be tricky. You can always request a 504 plan to
modify your child's curriculum. I know this isn't easy to hear,
but we as parents are ultimately in charge of getting help
for our children. Talk with other parents, visit websites,
read materials and improve your understanding of the IEP process.
Make sure your child doesn't have underlying issues (sensory
integration, vision, allergies, etc.) contributing to his/her
struggles. See our links for more information.
My child is very small, has
language delays, and other developmental issues. Where can
I get more information on small stature syndromes?
The MAGIC Foundation (Maturation
and Growth in Children) is an informative site and a leader
in this area. This site is how I discovered my daughter's syndrome
and had her diagnosed by a neurologist who specializes in rare
syndromes (Dr. Asaikar in Sacramento, CA, 916.733.8149). Today,
children with small stature syndromes can receive growth hormone
therapy and make great strides in closing the growth gap. My
daughter has grown 5 inches in one and half years since starting
growth hormone therapy. Her cognitive skills have improved
dramatically, as well as her eating (a big worry for many parents!)
What is a good nutritional
supplement to help with brain development?
The word is out on fish oil,
cod liver oil, and Omega oils to improve brain function. See
a nutritionist and determine if this is a good option for your
child. For children with language delays and autism, Inositol
has been shown to be helpful. Inositol is a form of vitamin
B. Again, we don't diagnose or treat, but recommend you see
a nutritionist about options. |
