What Works for Us: Learn how other parents handle day-to-day ups and downs.

Imagine how you feel when you hear nails on a blackboard. That’s what it’s like for children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) whenever they’re exposed to loud noises, scratchy clothing, strong smells or highly-textured foods.  The brain has difficulty processing this type of sensory stimulation, and easily gets overloaded, causing kids to recoil and then melt down. Sensory sensitivity is also very common in children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

Before her son J.J. (now nine and in 4th grade) was diagnosed with SPD at age three, Marla Roth-Fisch couldn’t understand why he constantly cried at preschool pick- ups and drop-offs, and rebelled at mealtimes and getting dressed. “J.J. would have numerous melt-downs a day—screaming and crying, crawling under the table, or curling up and wanting to be by himself in the dark,” remembers the Highlands Ranch, CO mom of two. “I couldn’t figure out what was triggering it, but I knew something wasn’t right.” During a school conference, the preschool director mentioned that J.J. had trouble touching his right hand to his left knee—something known as difficulty crossing the mid-line—a classic symptom of SPD. Marla was referred to an occupational therapist, who confirmed the diagnosis and started working with J.J. to help make the world more tolerable.

While children may never overcome it completely, SPD can be managed with occupational therapy and parenting strategies. “I’ve learned I can’t remove the triggers, but I can teach J.J. how to cope with them,” says Marla, who is also author of a children’s book about SPD called Sensitive Sam. “My son used to feel uncomfortable in his own body. He was sad and frustrated the majority of the time. Now that has all changed.”