Sensory Processing Disorder
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Thank you for your kind words Lillian and MMchels

Wow you know Lillian it's really interesting you mentioned pica with your son. I have struggled with pica for a long time, and I know it wasn't for any reason most of my doctors mentioned. I just need to constantly keep my hands and mouth busy. It's really embarrassing for me, and when I start OT that's one of things I am hoping to address.

I don't do that stuff really anymore. Well I am continuously moving my hands and normally my feet too. And love to chew on plastic but I don't eat stuff I shouldn't now Got better with age I think and being embarrassed. Don't miss the stomach aches either!

Yeah since I graduated college, the pica has gotten less, mainly because of the reduced stress. However I still end up chewing on and eating pencils and pens. This is really embarrassing at work. But it's getting better.

My son loves pencils too. He will rip off the eraser, chew it up, spit it out and then go to town chewing on the metal ring that held the eraser. When that is all ripped up he chews the wood. His teachers last year asked if I could send gum to school because Sam was so "oral" I knew the gum wouldn't work, hello, gum is soft, pencil is hard. He also chews his shirts. I don't know how many shirts I have had to throw out. I just buy cheap 3 dollar t-shirts now because there is no point on spending money on shirts that are going to get chewed up. I have found something that works well tho. I keep a bandanna in my purse for Sam to chew on, he really does like it.

Ikeepgoing, that's so awesome it's getting better for you! One day may be completely gone!

Missymoo that is crazy! I chewed and still do at times my shirts when I don't notice and I havn't had to replace them much at all. At least I don't think so for when I kid.. hmm...

That is too bad about how much chewing he does. My jaw is messed up now. It inflames so badly sometimes I can't chew at all. No solid foods those days. I'd suggest trying to do something about it. I don't think I chewed metal. But the plastic and sucking my thumb until 10 hurt my jaw badly.

Wow yeah my son has gotten so bad about it the last 6 months. He has a durable chewy tube now but he doesnt like it enough to only chew that, he will eat cloth, fuzz and string ANYTHING. He tares up towels, washclothes, rugs, carpet, my robe, clothes, blankets, couches that have the fabric u can pull off and eat, sheets, pillows, any type of fuzz he can find hes even started hiding it so I cant take it from him... so has anyone been told by a pediatrition to punish the child for each time he does this?? Do you know how long my 2.5 year old would be in time out in a day alone hahahahaha all day, I wouldnt be able to leave the house lmao. Its not funny just when she said that I laughed. And then she told me to take all that type of stuff away ok what would we sleep with or take a shower with? Cause I havent found anything to change up with ...oh and I think he would find something else. He is such a chewer though on just about anything he bites people (not in that mean way but he does it when he needs that impact in his mouth). I let him do it to me but other people freak out and get angry at me. He loves to chew on my cheek I dont know why?! But thats his favorite and its not like I have chunky cheeks or something?! I dont know Im just glad theres other kids out there I just havent found any I know personally. I love you guys more then you know!!

I do EXACTLY the same thing with pencils your son does Missy, and I also chew on my shirts, paper, and anything that's around. My dentist recently informed me I have put my teeth through way more wear and tear then where they should be at that age. It's not a matter of just not doing it, or getting rid of it. I need to chew on stuff, I hate it, and wish I could stop. Labs I think it's cool you allow your son to do this. It's not even something I am really aware of, it just happens.

Sorry guys but I strongly disagree. It is very bad for teeth, and the jaw. And in turn hurts the neck, can go into back pains. Go into leg and arm pains even. Can also long term cause things like arthritis. Same with other sensory seeking things. It is very hard to work out. But, is very possible to work on. And get better, and even need less sensory seeking behaviors to feel better. I used to do all SPD things without noticing. Now, I do probably 20 % of what I used to. I am sure some was from growing up, and my parents telling me not to, and stopping me when they could. From whatever age to now it has been practice mostly. To not do it as much as possible, and to be aware of it when doing it.

I am trying to learn belly breathing, and have been for a couple months. It is SO hard. But, I know in a year or two, it will become more normal. It has taken me months, usually years to help behaviors. But it's worth it.

You're right, it is not just a matter of getting rid of it, there will always be things around. It is a matter of self control. And doing other things that are okay for your body to do to help ease the compulsion. Still hard, but makes it easier.

I rub my legs, play drums on my legs, jump around, make funny noises like animals ones or cant explain ones. I am sure many more things I can't think of at the moment. Creativity is the key.

It's kind of like people are compelled to even just do what they prefer to, but you just can't. You need self control and patience. And a lot of perseverance. SPD is very different than other impulses, but you can help it out. And change it into another impulse after practice. Even into no impulse.

Hope it didn't sound like I was saying to punish your kid labs. I mean there are other ways to teach kids. Maybe a reward system. Or teaching them a lesson somehow of why not to. And give another distraction. Chewing on things is hard to replace with anything. But if you get a vibrating toothbrush and use that, it supposedly helps. And having crunchy foods etc

But I will add, I was "punished" for a lot of my sensory seeking things. And it hurt to be misunderstood. They thought I was being mischievous or something. And didn't like to explain too often why not to do things. The whole, "because I said so" never worked on me really. But the discipline did help me out. But, you know your kid has something different. And that goes a LONG way. My number one complaint of how I was raised, is how I was misunderstood. Not the being grounded so often. You can actually tell your kid what is wrong as he grows, and show your support and understanding. That is AMAZING!

Post edited by: zaylia, at: 07/03/2012 02:56 PM

I was "broken" very young from chewing anything not food or my elbow...My sister sucked her thumb until her death at 56 years old...She was alot stronger willed than I, unafraid of any kind of punishment, if she was told NO to something you could bet that she would!

Not me, I still am afraid to break rules or speak up.

I was a little taken aback with this topic, I see where chewing on some things can be harmful not just to teeth but to the digestive tract too...now days there seems there should be chew safe products of some type available...I am a terrible tooth grinder. I have fractured every tooth to the point of them just falling out! I think the stress relief from chewing something safe, or the feeling of something on the tongue would reduce the grinding, but I can't bring myself to do it...I've tried night guards, gum, even sleeping pills in an effort to unclench my jaws, but nothing seems to orkfor me. My gag reflex is totally in control!

This isn't a response to jstsIm, I was going to add this anyways.

I have spoken with both dentists and doctors about this. Because I love chewing. They have said even if you chewed food, like some obese people, chew all day, you are most likely going to have jaw and neck problems. My dentist told me specifics I don't quite remember it all, but he pointed out how dogs jaws are built to chew. Humans are not. And that the jaw is actually a fairly weak spot on the body.

I miss doing it every day for hours. And I miss sucking my thumb. I even miss hitting my head on things, and so many others. I miss these things more than substances I have quit.. But, it for me especially was very harmful. Mostly from having had such horrible posture. If you have good posture and do these things, it is not nearly as harmful. Plus, bones and joints etc in general, if stronger, won't do as much damage. So many things depend on circumstances. Especially with SPD involved.

Some of my punishments were horrible. Some just fine, sucked at the time, but taught me things. The horrible ones I am still hurt by. If my parents had understood I was different neurologically and told me so it would have made such a big difference. If I had had discipline, and understanding, that would have been awesome. I know the word punishment sounds harsh. But like, what happens when kids want to go across the street when there are cars. You can't just let them go. I felt compelled to do pretty much anything I shouldn't when younger. Some was just being difficult. And that mostly came from being misunderstood.

I knew someone who sucked their thumb even at 20. They did other SPD things, and don't like leaving the house because it is weird and not understood. Can't hold a job, and doesn't even want to. I am similar because of SPD. Well and other things. But because of stress from other things it is nice to be in my lighting, my properly arranged things etc. I am terrified of the thought of where I would be if I still did everything SPD related.

Post edited by: zaylia, at: 07/04/2012 12:42 PM