Leigh
04-03-2007, 08:58 PM
It was supposed to be a formal assessment and look for sensory issues.
The day started with my son turning into the whirling and shrieking Tasmanian devil when I tried to put his pants on. Having had a streak of success in the dressing department I was taken aback by having to restrain him to get him dressed. It is almost impossible to dress a kiddo who is locking his joints and flailing so much. This did not bode well for the day.
We arrived at the centre and I went to grab an XLG caffe latte and a donut as I need the caffeine, trust me. lol As I got my donut, Iain grabbed it out of the bag and refused to give it back to me. I let him have it and was surprised as he has never had interest in donuts before.
The OT took us into the room and Iain was clearly "off" already. It was a big difference from his combined OT and SLP assessment two weeks ago. We let him be and he clung to me with donut in hand. Then he sniffed the donut and put his tongue on it like he was scouting it out. He took a lick. Then a small bite. I praised him and it was clear chocolate dipped donuts are on the menu.:smt041 He ate most of the top of the donut in this manner and dumped it in the garbage.
He would not engage with her today at all. He was completely unco-operative and it was again great to know she understood and to have her tell me I was not unique as many PDD NOS kids are not able to be assessed formally. We will now move to yet another program (don't ask. I have no clue) and they will assess him via observation and trial and error.
He did however eat up a storm and drink a Yop when there. Once the cars came out he was not having anything to do with the puzzles blocks, etc.
What I did learn today:
He has sensory issues. I pretty much knew this but I think it is in our nature sometimes to wonder if WE are doing something wrong as I worry if I am being too induldgent of some of his eccentricities. She said no, I am not and should continue doing what we are doing.
He has no concept of where his body is. It is odd to hear that and to understand what she means. He slams into walls, chairs, trips over toys, is cautious on curbs, stairs, etc. and brains himself on a regular basis. I thought he was seeking sensory input when he does this, but she shocked me by saying when she finishes her report (taking into account today and the questionnaire I did) she is positive he will rate as "sensory defensive". **drags out the Out of Sync Child to read again...** It has been awhile since I have read it and can now apply what I do know about Iain to the book. He is a walking hazzard.
She noted his issues with dressing and had me focus in on what he DOES tolerate well. Simply put, jeans. I am to make note of what clothes he does not fight over or is less resistant to. She told me his pants today were driving him insane and she was right. He pulled at them 100 times in some way or another and did so many adjustments of his top it was worthy of a Star Trek Next Generation episode (they are always adjusting their tunics in that series :smt036 ) She pointed out things to watch such as length of top, type of pant, whether or not there were creases or pilling (the pants he had on were lightly lined and had some pilling in them), soft, jean like material, fits snug to body, fits loosely, etc. I will take a very good look now to see what sets him off. He is so resistant to change in his boots and refuses to wear his splash boots and drags out his winter boots instead. He has to have clothes in a certain way or he loses it. She said this can be so irritating to a sensory child it can be painful.
Iain has always ripped off his mattress besheet for as long as I can remember. No matter what I put on he rips it off and sleeps better right on the plastic. When I do not care for a fight I leave it bare and he is much happier. He is only going to rip it off anyway. She says it is likely the creases driving him nuts in the besheet and also why he prefers to have something on him instead of under him.
A weighted blanket might help him. **starts sewing anvils into perimeter of twin comforter** Just kidding.
Keep the bed rails up. Don't worry he is in a toddler bed. Leave him be.
His eating was very interesting. I have complained before but have been blown off so I waited to see if she would see what I see. She did, and more.
He eats like a squirrel. He typically holds the food in both hands and shoves in large amounts of food. He totally missed the putting everything in your mouth as a baby and young toddler stage so we kind of skipped the choking hazzards stage. Yet we get it with feeds. eek. He pockets his food and now uses his finger to push the food from one side to the other. This is new and might explain why chewing and spitting is a bit more limited presently. He has found new sensations and ways to feel his mouth. He is orally defensive and will not allow us to use utensils, he will not use utensils, and he will not allow this brushing of the oral area, cheeks, and tongue. For now, we have pressure points which are going very well. Iain seems to forget he has food in his mouth and will start to chew or spit it out after several minutes. He swished Yop in his mouth for the first time today and it is all signs he is trying to figure out what his mouth and muscles can do. She said something about his tongue and muscles being weak and thus he uses his finger to direct food. he is experimenting with oral sensations right now and his licking of the mirror and of my fingers is a good sign, apparently. ick. He likely needs to pocket so much food in order to feel he has food in his mouth and to be able to direct it. It made more sense when she told me about it. Sorry, I am tired and this is not well written.
I think she may be right as when he does "nibble" at food we see more chewing and spitting. He has shovelled food in and spit it all right out again, but it makes more sense to me why he is pretty much overdoing it with quantities.
She has been the first one to address his eating issues in a long while (most OTs and programs here discharge you after a swallow has been determined) and it was great to hear her do so. With any luck, we will get referred over to whatever program now and will see his new therapists within the next couple of months.
I know I must be missing a bunch here, but I am fading fast. I will add tomorrow if I see something I have missed. ;)
The day started with my son turning into the whirling and shrieking Tasmanian devil when I tried to put his pants on. Having had a streak of success in the dressing department I was taken aback by having to restrain him to get him dressed. It is almost impossible to dress a kiddo who is locking his joints and flailing so much. This did not bode well for the day.
We arrived at the centre and I went to grab an XLG caffe latte and a donut as I need the caffeine, trust me. lol As I got my donut, Iain grabbed it out of the bag and refused to give it back to me. I let him have it and was surprised as he has never had interest in donuts before.
The OT took us into the room and Iain was clearly "off" already. It was a big difference from his combined OT and SLP assessment two weeks ago. We let him be and he clung to me with donut in hand. Then he sniffed the donut and put his tongue on it like he was scouting it out. He took a lick. Then a small bite. I praised him and it was clear chocolate dipped donuts are on the menu.:smt041 He ate most of the top of the donut in this manner and dumped it in the garbage.
He would not engage with her today at all. He was completely unco-operative and it was again great to know she understood and to have her tell me I was not unique as many PDD NOS kids are not able to be assessed formally. We will now move to yet another program (don't ask. I have no clue) and they will assess him via observation and trial and error.
He did however eat up a storm and drink a Yop when there. Once the cars came out he was not having anything to do with the puzzles blocks, etc.
What I did learn today:
He has sensory issues. I pretty much knew this but I think it is in our nature sometimes to wonder if WE are doing something wrong as I worry if I am being too induldgent of some of his eccentricities. She said no, I am not and should continue doing what we are doing.
He has no concept of where his body is. It is odd to hear that and to understand what she means. He slams into walls, chairs, trips over toys, is cautious on curbs, stairs, etc. and brains himself on a regular basis. I thought he was seeking sensory input when he does this, but she shocked me by saying when she finishes her report (taking into account today and the questionnaire I did) she is positive he will rate as "sensory defensive". **drags out the Out of Sync Child to read again...** It has been awhile since I have read it and can now apply what I do know about Iain to the book. He is a walking hazzard.
She noted his issues with dressing and had me focus in on what he DOES tolerate well. Simply put, jeans. I am to make note of what clothes he does not fight over or is less resistant to. She told me his pants today were driving him insane and she was right. He pulled at them 100 times in some way or another and did so many adjustments of his top it was worthy of a Star Trek Next Generation episode (they are always adjusting their tunics in that series :smt036 ) She pointed out things to watch such as length of top, type of pant, whether or not there were creases or pilling (the pants he had on were lightly lined and had some pilling in them), soft, jean like material, fits snug to body, fits loosely, etc. I will take a very good look now to see what sets him off. He is so resistant to change in his boots and refuses to wear his splash boots and drags out his winter boots instead. He has to have clothes in a certain way or he loses it. She said this can be so irritating to a sensory child it can be painful.
Iain has always ripped off his mattress besheet for as long as I can remember. No matter what I put on he rips it off and sleeps better right on the plastic. When I do not care for a fight I leave it bare and he is much happier. He is only going to rip it off anyway. She says it is likely the creases driving him nuts in the besheet and also why he prefers to have something on him instead of under him.
A weighted blanket might help him. **starts sewing anvils into perimeter of twin comforter** Just kidding.
Keep the bed rails up. Don't worry he is in a toddler bed. Leave him be.
His eating was very interesting. I have complained before but have been blown off so I waited to see if she would see what I see. She did, and more.
He eats like a squirrel. He typically holds the food in both hands and shoves in large amounts of food. He totally missed the putting everything in your mouth as a baby and young toddler stage so we kind of skipped the choking hazzards stage. Yet we get it with feeds. eek. He pockets his food and now uses his finger to push the food from one side to the other. This is new and might explain why chewing and spitting is a bit more limited presently. He has found new sensations and ways to feel his mouth. He is orally defensive and will not allow us to use utensils, he will not use utensils, and he will not allow this brushing of the oral area, cheeks, and tongue. For now, we have pressure points which are going very well. Iain seems to forget he has food in his mouth and will start to chew or spit it out after several minutes. He swished Yop in his mouth for the first time today and it is all signs he is trying to figure out what his mouth and muscles can do. She said something about his tongue and muscles being weak and thus he uses his finger to direct food. he is experimenting with oral sensations right now and his licking of the mirror and of my fingers is a good sign, apparently. ick. He likely needs to pocket so much food in order to feel he has food in his mouth and to be able to direct it. It made more sense when she told me about it. Sorry, I am tired and this is not well written.
I think she may be right as when he does "nibble" at food we see more chewing and spitting. He has shovelled food in and spit it all right out again, but it makes more sense to me why he is pretty much overdoing it with quantities.
She has been the first one to address his eating issues in a long while (most OTs and programs here discharge you after a swallow has been determined) and it was great to hear her do so. With any luck, we will get referred over to whatever program now and will see his new therapists within the next couple of months.
I know I must be missing a bunch here, but I am fading fast. I will add tomorrow if I see something I have missed. ;)