Aidin had a new developmental therapist come last night since she hated the last one, but I am not sure about this new therapist. She is young and she mostly deals with older kids with Autism and related problems. Aidin of course did not like her nor would let her get near her. So we just mostly talked about the things I was concerned with, and her milestones.

Bottom line came out that she thinks that she has some Hypertensive Sensory Problems for these reasons:

Likes to be held and constantly walked around (This is her main soother when she is upset), if you stop walking or sit down she gets upset again.

She does not like to be restrained (Car seat, hugging, holding her tightly)

She does not like her face or head touched

They way she eats (takes about an ounce but gets distracted easily and will stop eating) and the snacking throughout the day

They way she wakes alot at night (Habit waking to eat)

Her separation anxiety when we leave the room and her constant need for us to be around and paying attention to her

She likes to held upside down

She does not like strangers looking at her, but she wants to stare at them

Hard to dress and undress

Now her father seems to think these are all just baby things and her personality, which I do agree (mostly). She said that some of these sensory problems can get worse and that maybe down the road if they do not get better that seeing a OT might be in order. She recommended reading the *Out of Sync Child* and doing some research on sensory problems and see if Aidin fits the mold for some of the *checklists* of sensory issues.

Now, like I said, the therapist was young (i.e. maybe not alot of experience), she does deal mostly with older kids and mostly with Autism kids. So what Aidin's father and I were thinking is maybe she is just *associating* a few of her quirky personality traits with the only thing she really knows or works with (kids with autism and sensory issues).

My question is, are we putting blinders on or maybe we are both right (the therapist and us) that maybe it is a little of sensory issues and a little of her personality?

She is right in between her adjusted and actual on most of her milestones. At 9 months she even started pulling herself up and now at 10 months is cruising the furniture. (that's actual)

I just did not want to over think or over worry about all of this and start a *Chicken Little* kind of complex (the sky is falling) with this *maybe a sensory problem* eval. You know.

I know that preemies tend to be a little Hypersensitive, especially right after birth, in which Aidin certainly was (it was even mentioned in the NICU) but things she does now to me and her father, we just chalked up to her being a bit of a *high maintaince* kind of baby.

Thank you so much for responding!!

I agree with you. It's probably a combo. of personality, being a baby, and sensory. It's when there are multiple things like that that it's likely to be sensory related. You are really lucky to have a young therpist with so much knowledge. The more experienced ones don't usually have the sensory training. Have you checked out the checklist (link) I posted as a sticky in this forum? It will give you more insite.

No, what is the title?

I don't recall, but I think it said something about a checklist. It should be in one of the stickies at the top of the sensory forum page.

i FOUND IT AND PRINTED IT OUT. tHANK YOU!!

I agree too, that it is probably a combo of all...

So if she does have some sensory problems should I be looking into a OT on top of the devleopmental therapist?

I would if I were you...But that is a decision on you:)

Does the dev. therapist have to recommend one first?

I am not sure??

PS..I love the new sig pic!

I'm glad you were able to find the checklist. I came back to give you the link, and my system shorted out. I've been having trouble with e-mail and internet off and on ever since. Hopefully it's fixed now. I would look for an OT who has experience with sensory issues, as not all do. Some, for example, deal more with the behaviour side of things.

Monica,

You described Catherine perfectly in your original post.

Cady has a lot of those same things that she does. However, she has calmed down a LOT as she has gotten older. For instance, she goes around the house and plays by herself now and I don't have to be with her every second of the day. Also, she is now comfortable with strangers looking at her, however, she will scream histarically if they touch her. She has quick temper tantrums and does hate to have her face touched, almost like it pains her. When I started brushing her teeth, which she hated at first, but loves now, some of her face sensitivity decreased. Overall, I believe that the majority of this is just Cady's extreme personality, quick to explode. She is somewhat sensitive, but not anything that needs any sort of intervention. Now, if your daughter has severe problems, then it might be helpful to go for additional help. But, it definitely sounds like a mix of personality and sensitivity.