I discovered the term sensory processing disorder many years ago when my oldest was exhibiting sensory processing issues. At the time, I began to learn as much as I possibly could about sensory integration and brain development. 

Let me begin by saying that I am a parent and a Montessori trained teacher. I write to share ideas and resources with you in hope of adding value to your parenting journey. I am not an expert but a curated of expert opinion. I want to be accessible to you as you meander down parenting's winding path.

My Montessori training put the icing on the cake during an eye-opening unit called “learning differences”.  I appreciated the label applied to the topic because the instructor easily could have presented it in a more negative way such as learning disabilities.

The Montessori theory emphasizes a multi-sensory approach to learning generally speaking within the Montessori theory but more specifically during such Montessori lessons such as sandpaper letters where a child tracing the sandpaper letter while saying the sound. The child may not be quite ready to write the letter “r”, for example, but her brain is already making the connections needed when she discovers handwriting. Beautiful, right?

“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.” 
― Maria Montessori

So, let’s get right into it.  But, wait, before we begin please keep in mind that I have learned about sensory processing disorder in my studies but I am not a licensed medical professional. I gathered the information I found relevant and am sharing those sensory processing disorders with you.

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

“Sensory processing refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into responses. For those with Sensory Processing Disorder, sensory information goes into the brain but does not get organized into appropriate responses. Those with SPD perceive and/or respond to sensory information differently than most other people. Unlike people who have impaired sight or hearing, those with Sensory Processing Disorder do detect the sensory information; however, the sensory information gets “mixed up” in their brain and therefore the responses are inappropriate in the context in which they find themselves.” {Source: STAR Institute}

So, as you can imagine, most children fall into this sensory processing bucket at some point on the spectrum

What are Sensory Systems?

Most of us know about the five sensory systems:

1. Auditory
2. Gustatory
3. Tactile
4. Olfactory 
5. Visual 

Did you know that there are three additional sensory systems?

1. Proprioceptive
2. Vestibular – the sense of movement, centered in the inner ear
3. Interoception – receptors inside your organs that send information about the inside of your body to your brain to let you know when you're hungry, thirsty, cold, etc.

That totals to eight sensory systems. 

Maria Montessori focused a great deal on creating materials and lessons that utilized these sensory systems, often simultaneously. 

Types of Sensory Processing Disorder

There are three main “patterns” of sensory processing disorder as illustrated by the STAR Institute in this graph:

1. Modulation – including over-responsive, under-responsive, and craving
2. Motor – including postural and dyspraxia
3. Discrimination within any or several of the 8 sensory systems

Sensory Processing Disorder Symptoms

There is a wide spectrum of sensory processing symptoms. 

Personally, my oldest son couldn't keep his hands off anything, was always moving his body, and had extensive food aversions. My middle son is an explosive child and required a bit more to help with his sensory processing overload (which manifested into heightened anxiety).

Signs for hypersensitivity may include:

• doesn't like noises like the vacuum or a toilet flushing
• an extreme sense of smell
• hears background noise that others would dismiss
• falls a lot
• doesn't like crowds

Signs for hyposensitivity may include:

• a need to touch everything 
• chews on his shirt
• unable to sit still
• takes physical risks

What is a Sensory Diet?

Just like we need a diet of food, we need a diet of sensory tools, especially if there is a sensory processing disorder diagnosis.  A sensory diet is a plan based on an individual's particular sensory needs according to sensory integration theory. A sensory diet assists with regulation, attention, focus, and adaptive responses in a classroom and at home. 

A word of caution, as tempting as it is to create your own sensory diet, please, please visit with an occupational therapist who can evaluate your child and create a sensory diet specific to your child needs.   

Hypersensitive

For my oldest son, we worked with an occupational therapist to create a multi-faceted plan to satisfy my son's sensory needs. In his case, he needs more input in order to stay focused and regulate his body. We used fidgets, chewy tubes, and a chair band. We also spoke with his school about getting him a yoga ball chair in which he could move his body to get the sensory input he needed. He also loves to jump on a trampoline, use a balance board, swing, and spin. 

Hyposensitive

For my middle son, he has sensory overload. As a result, he needs calming tools. For example, being next to a window for more natural sunlight, listening to music with headphones, and a fidget like model magic to help with his anxiety (too much stimulus). At home, we have a weighted blanket and pillows around his body when he sleeps.

There are a variety of ways to create a sensory diet that works for you and your family. I highly recommend working with an occupational therapist to devise a plan. 

Click here for a robust overview of various sensory diets

Related Read: The Ultimate Resource for Parents & Teachers Raising Sensory Kids

Tools for Sensory Processing Disorder

Our instructor introduced many tools to combat the various learning differences within a classroom or homeschool or home setting. Here are a few ideas:

• chewy tubes
• model magic
• chair band
• yoga ball chair
• stress balls
• marble fidget
• weighted blanket
• Chillow
• a balance board

Sensory Processing Disorder Resources

• Sample Sensory Diet
• Find an Occupational Therapist
• Discover the Best Sensory Checklists to Help Your Child
• Sensory Integration Tools for the Inflexible Child 
• Brain Balance Achievement Centers
• Sensory Diet Activities
• SENG – Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted
• Lives in the Balance
• Sensory Processing 101 – an amazing and comprehensive resource for parents & professionals

Other Posts I've Written on SPD and Anxiety in Kids

• How I Am Helping My Angry Child
• The Best Way to Help Your Child with Anxiety
• 3 Children's Books to Help Your Kids Deal with Anxiety & Anger
• How to Parent an Intense Child in Today's World
• The 6 Stages of Parenting a Child with Challenging Behavior
• 4 Ah-Ha Moments in Parenting a Child with Extreme Behaviors
• These 9 Words Changed My Entire Parenting Approach
• Ideas to Teach & to Learn Emotional Regulation
• How to Help Your Beautiful Child's Not So Beautiful Behaviors
• The Beginners Guide to Handling Your Child's Epic Meltdowns
• I Think My Child Has ADHD – When to Know Your Child Needs Help
• Teaching Mindfulness to Kids
• Tools for Sensory Processing Disorder

This post describes four of my biggest a-ha moments of parenting a child with extreme behaviors including anxiety and anger.

I know that many, many parents are struggling, dealing with, or trying to manage a child with these extreme behaviors.

I've been in this sensory processing journey for about six years now, and I have learned so much.

I've tried this approach.

I've tried that approach.

I've been there.

I've done that.

I have so much to offer you. For those of you who have been following my journey, I have written extensively about it on my blog. Here are a few posts that might interest you:

• These 9 Words Changed My Entire Parenting Approach
• The Easiest Way to Improve Your Child’s Negative Behavior
• Positive Things to Say to Your Child During Negative Moments
• The 6 Stages of Parenting a Child with Challenging Behavior

4 Takeaways from Parenting a Child with Extreme Behavior

#1 – Be an advocate for your child.

If you feel something in your gut, if you feel like your child should be doing x instead of y, if you feel like XYZ is having an impact on the behavior, but your pediatrician doesn't see it and is kind of rolling her eyes at you, go with your gut.

Be an advocate for your child.

The first time I felt the absolute need & sense of urgency to be an advocate for my was when he was nearly 3 years old. We were at the pediatric urologist's office, a visit that resulted from a referral I demanded from our pediatrician (and she thought I was nuts). My son was regressing with his toileting and his behavior was becoming more and more extreme. I felt the two behaviors were connected.

This doctor did not want to waste time with us. I had to understand that this urologist is dealing with 8, 9, 10-year olds who are having accidents and have some serious physical & emotional issues as a result. Bottom line: I went to this urologist because I didn't want my son to have those same issues.

I said, “Listen. I feel like he's not … I feel like he's regressed in his toileting and it's negatively impacting his behavior.”

She, kind of, okay, she literally laughed at me.

Then I talked to her for a minute longer, and she realized, “Okay, this girl knows what she's talking about.” I advocated, “I would like an abdominal X-ray. I need to know what's going on inside my baby's body.”

She might as well have rolled her eyes, “It's really not necessary.”

I begged, “Please. Please, do this for him.”

She's pushed back, “Well, you're probably going to be waiting all day to get the x-ray.”

I responded, “I don't care. I don't care.” So, hours passed, the x-ray eventually happened, and I got the bittersweet phone call.

I was right.

My son had a football-sized mass of poo in his little 3-year-old body. 

#2 – It's a family affair. 

It's not only about your child.

It's not only about you.

It's not only about you and your child.

It's not only about your child and his siblings.

It's about your relationship with your other children.

It's about your relationship with your partner.

No person is an island. Right?

The process of helping your child has to be something that your entire family owns. It doesn't have to be something that your child feels badly about and carries on his shoulders alone.

My husband and I have never kept our son in the dark. We never kept our struggles private.

Our son was always part of the solution.

My husband and I were always part of the solution.

My child's siblings have always been part of the solution. 

Recently, my middle child skipped the second grade. He has a fourth-grade brother. So his grade acceleration was going to impact his brother in a pretty big way. His brother was not happy about it. His brother didn't want to answer questions from people. He didn't want his brother to be that much closer to his space. I got all that, but we needed to be really proactive about it and to address it upfront so that we would be able to handle the issues that would come up down the line.

So we all own it.

I own it.

My husband owns it.

His siblings own it.

My child owns it and my child's siblings own it.

We're all in this together. It's a family affair. 

#3 – Extreme behaviors are opportunities.

The extreme behaviors are what make your child amazing, unique, and what gives your child superhero powers.

These are the kids that are going to change the world.

These are the kids that are going to go against the grain.

They're going to create things.

They're going to do good in the world.

We have always viewed my son's behavior in that way, no matter how bad, how ugly it has gotten. I've always viewed his extreme behavior so as not to squash those qualities that will make him a successful, amazing adult. 

This point is all about the behavior swap, a way to think about the behavior differently. Here are a few examples:

Your child is super bossy = Your child is a leader.

Your child has a one-track mind = Your child has conviction and knows how to make decisions and advocate for himself or his peers.

Your child is overly sensitive = Your child has a high emotional intellect & feels the world around him in profound ways.

I view my job as the parent to find ways to help a child manage those extreme qualities, help a child massage those qualities so that they're used in ways that bring success, joy, happiness, meaning, purpose, calm. and confidence in life today and life as an adult.

Flip the lid on how you describe those behaviors, not as challenges, but as opportunities. View the behavior not as obstacles but as gifts. 

#4 – The solution is holistic in nature.

This challenge is not black and white. The solution is not a one and done application. There's not going to be one parenting approach that is going to be the magic pill for you and your child. Literally, there is not going to be one medication that's going to solve it all. There's not gonna be a single course that solves all your family's problems. Finding a way of life and learning that works for your family doesn't happen overnight.

I view it as an à la carte. Read as much as you can. See what works for your family and what doesn't work for your family, and take a step forward. Rinse & repeat.

Find a support network. Don't view it just as cognitive behavior and coping skills. The challenging behavior is likely driven by a myriad of factors. Physiologically, eating, sleeping, so on.

Maybe your child isn't sleeping well?

Maybe you need to get your child to be monitored while he or she is sleeping? Maybe he's never in deep sleep, that could seriously impact his behavior at school, and his ability to learn, and so on.

Diet, for example, could potentially be a huge driver. We had our middle son's gut tested. It was a huge move and the results were eye-opening. We discovered that our son's body wasn't absorbing iron and zinc. So, no matter how much iron he had to eat, his body was not absorbing iron, which is directly related to mood regulation. In addition, his body wasn't absorbing zinc. The copper to zinc ratio is directly related to mood regulation, depression, anxiety, etc. The bacteria in your gut speak directly to the neurotransmitters in your brain.

This was another example of having to be an advocate for my son. When I demanded various tests from my pediatrician, she's responded, “Oh, I've been practicing for 20 years, and I've never had a child with low zinc…” Not to mention that her assistant had to look up some of the tests.

The results came back and our pediatric nutritionist was spot on. So, we went on a 14-week protocol, eight weeks to clean up his belly, and the last six weeks were to supplement his body with the minerals that he had not been getting, the iron and the zinc. We saw immediate changes in his behavior.

So my point is, the “solution” is holistic. It's a system. It's a process that involves many factors: cognitive behavior therapy, coping skills, parent coaching, diet, sleep, emotional & social intellect, cognitive intellect, family, community, and so on.

Most of us who are parenting children that are particularly difficult often feel lonely and isolated. I can't emphasize the importance of finding a community and support system to share information and to learn as much as you possibly can to help your child.

To conclude, 1) be an advocate for your child, 2) it's a family affair, 3) view the challenging behaviors as opportunities, and 4) the solution is holistic in style.