There May Be More Than Social Awkwardness

For all of the parents out there that have special needs children, we all understand how important it is to get the correct diagnosis for our children in order to provide the tools that they need to be as successful as they can possibly be in their own futures. Some children have issues on a social front and are thought of as the "quiet" kid or the "loner" when in reality, there may be a genuine underlying issue as to why this child may behave in this manner. There are many different warning signs that ought to alert parents, but most of the time, these signs are just as readily dismissed because they seem to be part of normal development to doctors or other well-wishers. Parents know their children best and when you have that gut feeling, it is not something to be ignored.

What I am talking about specifically is Sensory Processing Disorder also known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction. There are so many sub categories within this particular sensory issue that many children get misdiagnosed because the symptoms seem to overlap with other more well-known diagnoses. Two of the most common misdiagnoses are ADHD or that the child falls somewhere on the Autism spectrum. While it is possible that the child could have autistic or ADHD tendencies, this is something to consider if you as a parent just aren't quite satisfied with how your child has been diagnosed. 

Sensory processing disorder or SPD is slowly becoming more recognized as a genuine issue among pediatricians as well as child therapists. Occupational therapists especially understand how much of an issue this can be within the life of a child. Imagine for a second the child that loves to be squished between cushions (deep pressure movements) or the child that can't seem to sit still and always wants to fidget with something. Consider as well the child that can't handle loud noises or much noise at all or perhaps the child that can't handle changes in routine where these changes end up in a meltdown. Some of these reactions can be symptoms of SPD but are often dismissed or misdiagnosed, along with others, as belonging to a different category of issues.

The truth is that the reason for a child that enjoys deep pressure is that it is possible that this particular child needs the pressure to be more self aware of his or her personal body space. Their "normal" sensory receptors are a little off compared to their peers. The same thing applies to the child who appears to hit or push while not intending to be malicious, but just wanting to play or get someone's attention. A child without SPD will simply tap another child's shoulder to get his or her attention, but a child with SPD is more likely to hit or push someone thinking that they are tapping. Truthfully, that child is unable to tell the force behind the touch because the sensory receptors are not aligned "normally" and so these children sometimes get labeled as being "bad" or "troublemakers" when in fact they really just can't tell.

Earlier, I mentioned a child becoming what is known as a "loner" which can also be characteristic of children with SPD. Consider for example, the child that seems very social on a 1x1 basis or perhaps in a small group of 3-4 children. That same child might either become completely reclusive when engaged in a larger group setting like a traditional classroom or might end up acting out because of all of the external stimulation around him or her. This can actually be due to sensory issues because the child is unable to incorporate himself or herself into the group like other children can. This causes the child to be seen as socially awkward and entirely inept. Realizing that there can be genuine issues that cause this social inability is important to the success of the child. Caught early, the child can be taught mechanisms or strategies to be able to adapt to these situations in a more suitable manner. If caught later, these children can be angry and resentful of their parents, their peers, or even of themselves. That does not mean that children will not benefit if they were older, but it just means that there are different obstacles. There are some wonderful books out there on sensational kids and personally, I would recommend that every parent with a concern that just doesn't seem to be answered should check out the literature that is available. It is always better safe than sorry.