Re: dyspraxia and sensory issues

June 24, 2006

My son did both AIT and Tomatis this year. We went to the Center

www.thedaviscenter.com His expressive language increased and he has

become more social. These changes are very subtle, but it has only

been a month since our final session.

I can say it was a positive experience.

Joanne

June 25, 2006

Jeanine,

My 5 yo daughter is currently taking Horseback riding lessons

(currently learning English Style) It is not " hippotherapy " per say..

But it most deffinetly has theraputic properties. It covers

vestibular, proprioceptive, as well as the fine and gross motor

skills (holding the reighns appropriately, bending over to hug the

horse, leaning back to stretch, having to cross midline to reach to

touch the stirrups (or her boots). And to wiggle her feet to get the

horse to " walk " She also has to tell the horse different

commands, " walk, back, stop. Her trainer is very experienced, very

patient, and is familiar about apraxia,(she has a 13 yo rider with

apraxia-whom I would LOVE to meet) and was willing to learn sign

language. Although we don't use sign as frequent as we used to.

My daughter did use the Listening Program in school, which I think is

similar to the Tomatis method. Basically an auditory strengthing

program. We still struggle with sounds such as the automatic vents in

public restrooms. Covers her ears and shakes in her shoes.(Literally)

Her OT ordered the same program for her to start with her. Which is

perfect timing, because school is out now.

Hope that helps..

Dawn in NJ

>

> Hi,

>

> I was wondering if anyone has tried hippotherapy or tomatis? My

son

> was diagnosed with oral-motor dyspraxia. He also has some sensory

> issues. The sensory seeking of vestibular stimulation has pretty

> much stopped, but now mechanical sounds really bother him. The OT

> said that is not uncommon. I don't know what to do for him. He is

> on ProEFA, and he takes one capsule per day. That has made a huge

> difference in his speech although from what I have been reading, it

> is a low dose. Prior to starting the fish oil, he was nearly non-

> verbal.

>

> We were concerned that maybe he had PDD (Pervasive Developmental

> Disorder) which is an autism spectrum disorder. He has " secondary "

> characteristics like lining things up, being rigid, etc., but he

has

> great eye contact. He is very engaged, and he loves other kids.

He

> is having some social issues b/c he doesn't seem to get in when

other

> kids tell him that they don't want to play anymore. He keeps

trying

> to get them to do what he wants. He is only 3, and he is in an

> inclusion program. He is doing well, but they feel he has some

> issues with pragmatics. Social skill goals have now been

> incorportated into his IEP for next year. We have been to a few

> developmental pediatricians, and we basically get a different

answer

> every time.

>

> Any info would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Jeanine =)

>

June 25, 2006

Hello everyone,

I do not ost often but I just had to respond to this.

Dawn your not going to believe this but my son who is going to 8 in

July. Has almost the same exact reaction to the automatic vents in restrooms

too. He literally screams his head off at the noise (he is so scared) and he is

shaking literally also so bad I have to pick him up and carry him out of the

restroom. I try to make sure ther is no one else in the restroom that is using

the vents.

The automatic flush toilets are a major issue with us also. he just

becomes unglued when they flush he covers his ears and shakes at the noise of

them also.

I found a neat solution to this though online. put a piece of toilet paper

over the eye of the toilet to prevent it from flushing automatically. When we

leave I just quickly remove it. I made a game out of it sort of. I tell my son

lets see who can run the fastest out of the restroom and this seems to work for

the moment.

Yes i think sensory issues are difinately related to my sons dyspraxia.

Jeanne in Berlin NH

June 25, 2006

Jeanne,

Thats Abby, who by the way, just turned 5. She's been like this

since.. Oh gosh, 3 i think. Whenever she was toilet trained.

This past week we 2 seperate episodes of the auditory sensory

overload in public restrooms. Thursday at Childrens' Specialized

where we go for OT. Then on Friday, inside our local food store- Shop-

Rite.

There was a long line behind us, and of course all eyes glued on us,

as she became unglued at the door way going into the restroom. We did

make it in, but she was to afraid to sit. Finally she " gave up " and

just said, " pee at home " .

The automatic, or even the regular handle flush scares her too. But

not at home. Im thinking its the sound and the echo effect in the

public restroom. I'll have to remember the toilet paper trick

though.. We're going to Disney in August. Im sure I'll be needing all

the tricks I can get.

So sad.

Dawn in NJ

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> I do not ost often but I just had to respond to this.

>

> Dawn your not going to believe this but my son who is going

to 8 in July. Has almost the same exact reaction to the automatic

vents in restrooms too. He literally screams his head off at the

noise (he is so scared) and he is shaking literally also so bad I

have to pick him up and carry him out of the restroom. I try to make

sure ther is no one else in the restroom that is using the vents.

>

> The automatic flush toilets are a major issue with us also.

he just becomes unglued when they flush he covers his ears and shakes

at the noise of them also.

> I found a neat solution to this though online. put a piece of

toilet paper over the eye of the toilet to prevent it from flushing

automatically. When we leave I just quickly remove it. I made a game

out of it sort of. I tell my son lets see who can run the fastest out

of the restroom and this seems to work for the moment.

>

> Yes i think sensory issues are difinately related to my sons

dyspraxia.

>

> Jeanne in Berlin NH

>

June 27, 2006

,

We've been doing " hippotherapy " since about February. I have that in

quotes, because technically the trainer is not providing hippotherapy

per say, but rather English Style riding lessons. Where these lessons

have major benificial theraputic factors. I was wondering if your son

is doing this as well.

My daughters OT at CSH has seen some positive results since we first

started going to her in December, although we can't tell if its the

riding, or the OT. Or a combination of all the different therapies.

One thing my OT has recently explained to me in regards to the riding

lessons, when a child is Posting for them NOT to lock their elbows

while holding on to the saddle. Of course this is what Abby does. She

is putting pressure on the joint(s)instead of the arm muscles. The

arms should be slightly bent, inorder to receive the full benifit to

help with the hypotonia.

Maybe this is where a " hypotherapist " comes into play. Knowing what a

child should do, vs. should not do.

Dawn in NJ

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > I was wondering if anyone has tried hippotherapy or tomatis? My

> son

> > was diagnosed with oral-motor dyspraxia. He also has some

sensory

> > issues. The sensory seeking of vestibular stimulation has pretty

> > much stopped, but now mechanical sounds really bother him. The

OT

> > said that is not uncommon. I don't know what to do for him. He

> is

> > on ProEFA, and he takes one capsule per day. That has made a

huge

> > difference in his speech although from what I have been reading,

> it

> > is a low dose. Prior to starting the fish oil, he was nearly non-

> > verbal.

> >

> > We were concerned that maybe he had PDD (Pervasive Developmental

> > Disorder) which is an autism spectrum disorder. He

> has " secondary "

> > characteristics like lining things up, being rigid, etc., but he

> has

> > great eye contact. He is very engaged, and he loves other kids.

> He

> > is having some social issues b/c he doesn't seem to get in when

> other

> > kids tell him that they don't want to play anymore. He keeps

> trying

> > to get them to do what he wants. He is only 3, and he is in an

> > inclusion program. He is doing well, but they feel he has some

> > issues with pragmatics. Social skill goals have now been

> > incorportated into his IEP for next year. We have been to a few

> > developmental pediatricians, and we basically get a different

> answer

> > every time.

> >

> > Any info would be greatly appreciated.

> >

> > Jeanine =)

> >

>

June 28, 2006

Tracey,

We are in Ocean County..

Your son doesnt hold onto anything? What kind of saddle is he in? If

it has a " horn " in the center, its a Western saddle. No horn is

English. When Abby first started, she was in the Western for her to

hold the horn. Now she is in the English saddle, and she is able to

hold her reigns the correct way.

She has been posting for alittle over a month now. Posting is when

the child stands up (feet in the stirrups, butt outa saddle.) They

hold onto either the horn, or the " bump " on the english saddle. It's

great for the hypotonia in both upper and lower extremeties.

She has been trotting for about 2 weeks now. But only if her trainer

has an assistant with her. Due to Abby's mild hypotonia, we really

need that extra person on the other side.

If you don't mind me asking, what does your sons hippotherapy " look

like " I'm very happy with the lessons she has been receiving. But I

wonder if she has missed something important in the building block

process (theraputically).

Oh by the way, she is on a lead line. However at times her trainer

will place the line over the horse (who is 42 years old- so he

doesn't go very fast even when he trots, LOL) AND, (I'm so excited!)

She is going to be in the Ocean County Fair in the Lead Line Class.

Hopefully she will be participating in the official retirement of the

horse that she takes lessons with. He currently is still listed as a

4-H horse.

Dawn in NJ

> > > >

> > > > Hi,

> > > >

> > > > I was wondering if anyone has tried hippotherapy or tomatis?

> My

> > > son

> > > > was diagnosed with oral-motor dyspraxia. He also has some

> > sensory

> > > > issues. The sensory seeking of vestibular stimulation has

> pretty

> > > > much stopped, but now mechanical sounds really bother him.

> The

> > OT

> > > > said that is not uncommon. I don't know what to do for him.

> He

> > > is

> > > > on ProEFA, and he takes one capsule per day. That has made a

> > huge

> > > > difference in his speech although from what I have been

> reading,

> > > it

> > > > is a low dose. Prior to starting the fish oil, he was nearly

> non-

> > > > verbal.

> > > >

> > > > We were concerned that maybe he had PDD (Pervasive

> Developmental

> > > > Disorder) which is an autism spectrum disorder. He

> > > has " secondary "

> > > > characteristics like lining things up, being rigid, etc., but

> he

> > > has

> > > > great eye contact. He is very engaged, and he loves other

> kids.

> > > He

> > > > is having some social issues b/c he doesn't seem to get in

> when

> > > other

> > > > kids tell him that they don't want to play anymore. He keeps

> > > trying

> > > > to get them to do what he wants. He is only 3, and he is in

> an

> > > > inclusion program. He is doing well, but they feel he has

> some

> > > > issues with pragmatics. Social skill goals have now been

> > > > incorportated into his IEP for next year. We have been to a

> few

> > > > developmental pediatricians, and we basically get a different

> > > answer

> > > > every time.

> > > >

> > > > Any info would be greatly appreciated.

> > > >

> > > > Jeanine =)

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

August 16, 2006

I thought it best to post a Disney update above Dawn's message about

sensory overload below to give you an idea just how shocked Dawn and

her husband Steve were to see their daughter 5 yo Abby yesterday at

Disney! Yesterday, Dakota, Tanner and I planned to meet Dawn and

her family at Animal Kingdom -but they had some transportation

issues and unfortunately they missed the fun rides and exhibits

while we were there. (I'm sure they'll get to them however!)

We finally met up with Dawn and her wonderful family at Epcot Center

and were able to have a great time together!

About sensory -as some of you know the rides at the parks are

multisensory...at times to the extreme. Not only did Abby do well

on Soarin', Mission Space, and Test Track...but she was laughing and

having the best time...especially it seemed for Test Track -the

loudest ride at Epcot! (Abby is typically freaked out by

sounds)

The funniest was on Soarin' because Abby was sitting between me and

Dawn and when I saw Dawn mouth the words " scared " I assumed she

meant Abby and so I was trying to get Abby to laugh by telling her to

lift her feet up so we didn't hit the trees, or to try to kick the

water...Abby didn't seem scared to me but I kept talking to her just

in case, and she was laughing and having a good ol' time..and then I

saw Dawn had her eyes closed!

Then came Test Track. Prior to getting on Test Track you hear the

sound of the cars racing around and it does sound very loud, fast -

and a bit scary. Dawn looked at Abby and asked " do you want to go

on this ride? You don't have to " and I answered " Of course she is

this ride isn't scary it's fun, right Abby?! " Abby and her older

10yo sister Alyssa and my 12 yo son Dakota went in one car...and

Tanner, Dawn, Steve, and their 15 yo son went in the car

right in back of us. I kind of wish Dawn was sitting next to Abby so

that she could have seen her hysterical laughing (also...I

made sure to tell Abby when to scream which is how I taught Tanner)

but...at least Dawn and Steve got to see Abby's laughing face when

she got off -and got to hear her ask to go again!

Only thing is that Dawn forgot to bring the fish oils and she said

that they have already noticed some regression...so I'm hoping I can

meet them up there before they go home so they can see the surges

that the rides bring too. I never met Abby before -but I understood

everything she said and she's is absolutely adorable!

Also I know they won't have trouble getting on to the rides they

want because I helped them get a " fast pass " for all the rides until

they leave.

I'm sure Dawn will give us a much better update when she comes home

next week -but just wanted to share that no matter how sensory

sensitive a child may be...your child still may be able to do ride

therapy! (and love every second of it!)

=====

August 16, 2006