Morning everyone -new member here. My son, who's 5.5 has SPD. His stimming has been off the charts lately. He needs more sensory input but my concern is... is it possible to give him too much? Is it possible that if we give him what he needs, that he'll become dependent on it and need more? His OT said that if it were possible to mainline sensory input, my son would do it - he's an OT junkie

Thanks for the help.

I think, if the current theories are correct about the possible causes of SPD, that it would not be possible to be addicted in the traditional sense. Unless the OT helps him improve his SPD, he will need stims possibly for the rest of his life. It's not like a "disease" that can improve with some antibiotics and he never has it again; it's a part of how he is. But, as far as I can tell from the research I've done, there's not really a way to "overdose" on it.

Having said that, his need for stimming will fluctuate, as you have probably seen. I know, for me, that those needs can change with things as simple as temperature changes to things as complex as stressful emotional situations or excitement. So I wouldn't be concerned if he needs more (or even a lot more!) unexpectedly. And thank goodness he enjoys it so much, since it helps him.

I think it's cool that you're worried about that. That's a pretty awesome thing, having a parent who keeps such a close eye on it. Kudos to you for being an awesome parent.

~blush~ Thanks. I do worry about his neurological status with such a big increase in need.

You are right though, he absolutely loves OT which is great and makes things a lot easier. I'm currently looking into hippotherapy for him. He has a weak core, needs more stim and loves animals so it feels like a natural fit. Have any of you tried this for yourselves or your child(ren)?

I am really wanting to try hippotherapy for my 4 1/2 year old, she has core strength issues and loves animals as well, we haven't done it yet though. If you do I'd love to hear about it!

Is the OT giving him both stimulating and calming things to do? Just in our experience, my DD does stimming type things (arm flapping and banging into things repeatedly) when she is really overstimulated and it is a sign she needs more down time or help calming down. I do think kids with SPD need help to find ways to get downtime, my daughter will become very exhausted and often get sick if we don't help her find ways to relax. Kids with low core strength sometimes doing stimming things because they are utterly exhausted and it's their strategy to keep themselves going.

As long as he has calm periods and is not becoming stressed or exhausted I think a lot of input is great though.

She does both depending on his needs. If he's begging for stim, she'll do that, have him crab walk back to class and the he rolls himself up in the classroom carpet. They have ordered him a weighted blanket so that he can use that instead of the carpet. She also has me sending in pudding as a snack with a straw to help with his oral needs. He loves it, thinks it a blast to eat with a straw and gets the calcium he needs

We are going to check out one of the hippotherapy places this weekend. This particular place usually starts kids much younger (2-3) and want to make sure he's not too big to lift onto the horse.

I live in Louisville ky and there is no one that really knows or deal w/ spd that I can find have had to intense rounds of ot since diagnosed neither ot seemed very versed in what spd was I seemed to know more then them they treated her as though she as autistic ? I am frustrated and feel alone her primary dr does beleave in spd but has no idea where to send us for help I find that my daughter is happy and even keeled in water so I take swimming daily for hrs hard to get her out we have art time and music time and trampoline time Help I need a break someone that knows more then me to help ????????????????????

My grandson is 4 1/2 and has spd. He used to run into walls and people, but his parents taught to run into the couch or a chair if he needed it. The idea of eating pudding with a straw is a great idea. He has eating therapy, ot, social therapy, and pt, because he has low muscle tone too. Now that preschool has started up again he is getting overwhelmed so they are stopping the pt and going to continue at home. Have either of you tried GAK. They made it in ot and properly coaxed him to touching it. He loves it now. It is nice to find others to exchange ideas with.

WOW this is a very interesting thread! What is Hippotherapy? I am from Australia so maybe we call it something different here?! Is it performed by a PT?

I'm from Aust and haven't heard of it either. I'm going to google it

Hippotherapy is horseback riding therapy.