Is it worth taking my 3 year old to be diagnosed
I have 4 beautiful children and they all have little quirky things that make them who they are - love their personalities however my 3 year old boy is showing signs of having some sort of sensory processing issue. I also have a 2 year old boy who doesn’t show any of these signs so the difference is quite noticeable which is what’s making me wonder.
It could certainly be nothing at all but I’m wondering if anyone else’s child has shown these signs, what could it be and what we do from here.
Things that make me think there’s something there:
1.He absolutely hates having his haircut - cry’s and begs for it to stop (claims he has a sore belly)
2. On some occasion (not always) he covers his ears in the shopping centre and says it’s to noisy.
3. If he hears a mower in the distance - like a neighbour mowing he covers his ears and says too noisy.
4. Very fussy with food and says he has a sore belly when dinner time is near.
5. Won’t wear long sleeved shirts - says it makes the mozzies get him and makes him itchy.
6. Won’t not wear a shirt - says he’s getting itchy (same with pants)
7. When he eats he rubs his food all over his face - when I asked him why he does it he said it makes him feel better
8. Wouldn’t walk on certain grounds until a few weeks ago - sand, grass & gravel driveway. Have him walking on them now with little trouble but still complains (sand feels spiky)
9. Won’t use a blanket at night time, says it’s making him have a sore belly - we wait for him to fall asleep and put his blanket on now
10. If he can see the sun he complains the sun is getting him.
That’s all I can think of now but are these signs of something more than typical 3 year old quirks or something we should have diagnosed - I’m so lost. Even if we did go and get a diagnosis - what happens from there.
4 Replies
I'm almost convinced I have some undiagnosed sensory issues.
As a child, I really struggled with certain textures and sensations. Even now a some noises make me seriously stressed, I can't wear clothing that's too restrictive or made of certain fabrics, I can't stand having anything sticky on my hands (for example, if I get jam on my fingers when making my kids a sandwich my anxiety hits a peak until I can wash it off) and I still can't eat foods that are of a soggy or firm slimy nature (bread dipped in soup and bananas for example).
Anyhow, my childhood would have been a hell of a lot easier if sensory issues were something that were recognised and addressed back then. Instead, I usually got punished for my food aversions or for not wanting to wear the stiff denim jeans my mum insisted I wore or for running away when my mum turned on the vacuum or for making a fuss when my mum scrubbed my face with a wash cloth.
A diagnosis opens up opportunities for occupational therapies etc that will help make these sensations more bearable.
If your instinct is telling you to check it out, do it. Your child will only be worse off if you don't & he does need sensory support. He might need it, he might not. But, a parent's instinct is often correct as you know them best. Before you get a referral to a pead ring them & find out wait times.
I never armchair diagnose, but my DS has a few of those issues (not all), which are common in his own diagnosis.
If he does have one, remember it's not a label but a means to help him, and you.
I’m like that too. He sounds a fair bit like me as a kid. Diagnosed in adulthood with ASD and ADD (adhd but inattentive not hyperactive physically). Back when I was small, it was just called being a weird, eccentric kid. It’s not, though.
Sounds like SPD, get in early and link up with services for early intervention 🤗 without a formal diagnosis he can access early intervention services through the NDIS and start occupational therapy to help