Real Mum, with Kaleb diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder

About Kaleb (isn't he cute!) - he's 2 years and 9 months old. In March last year he was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder which means his brain can't work out appropriate responses to sensory input. His brain also keeps the various senses seperate rather than integrating them when performing a task. ie cooking dinner he can feel the different things, smell the different things, taste the different ingredients but the brain doesn't understand that he is cooking or eating 1 meal so the senses all get jumbled. He was (and still is to a degree) hyposensitive to touch so he needs much more pressure for him to recognise that he can feel something. This led to him unintentionally hurting other children during play. Another example is that he has to constantly move in big and fast ways to be able to feel that he is moving. Children with SPD also need a routine more than other children. Not necessarily a strict timed routine but they need to know that when 'x' happens then 'y' is next.

The reward chart - has been fantastic in that it's simple and uses pictures rather than just ticks or stickers etc so it reinforces the behaviour through a visual prompt. He has learnt how to be gentle since using the chart and to play nicely and toilet training has taken off because the toilet magnet has that visual prompt for him. I have tried toilet training for 18 months! We use it at the moment to reward any good behaviour and he now knows that 4 stickers = a lollipop. He even takes me to the chart at times and tells me why he got the magnets and he's so excited when daddy comes home and he can show him too! Soon we will start to focus on particular behaviours.

The visual schedule - we only started using this yesterday but its been amazing also. I have had huge problems with him having a bath and bedtime. The neighbours have rung several times to make sure everything was ok because of the screaming! I think part of this is nights are so rushed, he gets confused and forgets the routine. Yesterday we put the evening magnets on together (we stuck to 3 - dinner, bath, bed for the first time) and after dinner he took me to his chart and told me it was time for his bath. He enjoyed a bath with no issues! After his bath, he took me back to his chart and told me "Bed time soon!" as he pointed to the Bed Time magnet. Each night we usually discuss what we are doing the next day so we planned the day on the chart while we talked. Perfect!

The Occupational Therapist - I initially showed her the reward chart and explained how I was using it. At first she thought he may not be ready for it but was happy for me to try it. "Just don't expect huge results as it may be too big a concept for him to understand yet". It was fantastic to go back and be able to say that it was a huge success! I explained that there was a visual schedule which was very similar and she agreed that a tool like that would be really worth trying. I showed her on my phone and she was really impressed with the visual prompts and simplicity of the chart. I can't wait to speak to her again soon to let her know just how successful it has been!

- real mum, Jacinta.

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