The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz

The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz 4 minutes ago

The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Integration Dysfunction

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How Sensory Processing Disorder (Sensory Integration Dysfunction) Affects Learning

I wish there was a book like this when I was growing up. I saw myself on every single page.

I already knew I had sensory processing problems, because some things are just obvious. They didn’t call me the Human Nerve Ending in high school for nothing. I’m incredibly hypersensitive to some things. However, I didn’t realize how undersensitive I am to some things, or how many of my difficulties were tied up with sensory processing. For example, florescent lighting drives my hypersensitive eyes and ears mad, and a half-hour trip to even a quiet, sedate store with those lights can wear me out for the rest of the day. But due to my low body awareness, I have a very high tolerance to (most) pain, and was hardly uncomfortable at all giving birth to my kids. And I knew that the reason I got motion sick so easily (as a kid, just by swinging) was because of my vestibular processing problems, but I didn’t realize that’s also why I have no sense of direction. Etc.

I also didn’t realize how many of my difficulties came from not being able to use my senses together well. I have great visual skills, and yet my depth perception is pathetic, even non-existent. That’s because my vestibular and proprioreceptive senses are not processed well. In order to have depth-perception, to know how far away things are, you need a good sense of body awareness and where you are in relation to gravity first of all- and I don’t have a good sense of that.

And I knew I had dyspraxia, but I didn’t realize how pervasive it really was. A lot of things I just wrote off as inattention on my part (or “brain spazzing”) could be explained by dyspraxia. (Everything from spoonerisms- “runny babbit”- to pulling ketchup out of the refrigerator, when you wanted milk for your cereal.)

My kids’ sensory problems are worse than mine, and by learning from their therapists I have seen improvement in both them and me. In fact, since I started teaching the kids myself, we have been doing an enormous amount of sensory work, and the results have been phenomenal. I see another post shaping up on that alone…

Whether you call it Sensory Integrative Disorder, Sensory Integrative Dysfunction, Sensory Processing Disorder, or just plain “indigestion of the brain”, The Out-Of-Sync Child is not only a good introduction to the problem, but is considered the unofficial bible on the subject. If any of the examples sound familiar to you, I recommend you check it out. There is treatment, and it is simple and effective. You may never be “cured”, but there is definite improvement. After living my entire life being frustrated, confused, depressed, and feeling clumsy, erratic, ineffectual, hopeless, and pathetic, I can tell you that the worst complications of SPD are its negative effects on your self-esteem and self-identity.

Knowing what the hell is going on in your head is a huge relief, and being able to do something about it is uplifting and empowering, whether it’s for you or your child.