Sensory Processing Disorder is a spectrum, meaning one could range from being very mild to very severe. No two cases of SPD is the same, which is what makes diagnosing it so complicated. Some are wrongly diagnosed as having autism or attention deficit disorder, because the behavior patterns are quite similar.
As such, I can only share my experience with my son R. He was born a month premature and spent some time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He had also been back a few times due to jaundice and after that, developed normally as he could.
The first red flag we had was at around 11 months when he started babbling, and then at 13 months he suddenly stopped. All the way up to 2 years old, there will be times he would start babbling again and we would get our hopes up that he'll start talking, then just as suddenly the babbling will stop.
Our second red flag was around 15 months when he really became mobile. Suddenly he wanted to walk and walk and walk and walk and walk! He wanted it so much to the point that when my husband and I went out for a meal, one had to walk with him while the other ate. We could not sit at the table together and eat because R will want to get out his chair and just walk.
Our third red flag was his aversion to certain textures. His first beach experience was disastrous because he absolutely hated how the sand felt. He screamed and wailed long after we took him away from the beach and into our hotel room, even rubbing his feet though I had already washed the sand from his body. He despised playdough and would not touch rice grains. He abhorred haircuts and would scream bloody murder when we took him to the barber. But he loved carpets and rugs and would lay down on them.
Finally at nearly 3 years old, and still not a word nor any signs of improvement, we took him to see a development pediatrician, who diagnosed him with sensory processing issues, a mild form of SPD. His was a subtype of SPD called Sensory Modulation Disorder. You can find out more about the subtypes here.
How can I find out if my child or I have SPD?
Besides getting a diagnosis from a developmental pediatrican, the SPD Foundation has a symptoms checklist available online. Lindsey Biel, one of the authors of Raising a Sensory Smart Child, has an online sensory checklist. It is recommended by occupational therapists (OTs) that you complete more than one checklist as it'll help give a clearer picture.
Okay, so we have suspicions, what do we do? How much would it cost?
Firstly, book an appointment with a developmental pediatrician. Since they are so few and far between, you might end up being in a waiting list of 6 months to a year. Don't fret about it, just set an appointment. An appointment costs between PHP 2,500.00 to PHP 3,500.
While you're waiting for the appointment with the developmental pediatrician, arrange for an assessment appointment with a registered OT. An assessment session lasts about 2 hours and, depending on the therapy center, costs around PHP 2,500.00. In R's case, we also had him assessed by a speech language pathologist (SLP). That session also lasts around 2 hours and with the same cost.
If the OT deems that your child needs therapy sessions, and you haven't seen the developmental pediatrician yet, you can start therapy while waiting for the appointment. You will need a letter from your child's regular pediatrician stating that they are aware that your child will be seeing an OT and that they think it's beneficial for your child.
I have a list of therapy centers along with their contact info at the right side of this blog. I don't claim it to be a complete list, but it's a starting point for you. Personally I recommend them as R has been seen by the centers provided at the right, except for Child Find as we have not been there yet (though they come highly recommended).
If you're on your mobile device, here's the info on three therapy centers located in Metro Manila.
Therapeutic Intervention for Kids - THINKids
5 Tomas Morato Avenue
Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax: (02) 927-8434
Email Address: thinkthoughts@yahoo.com
Alternative Learning Resource School - Philippines
No. 26-B Agno St. cor. Cordillera St.
Barangay Dona Josefa Quezon City, Philippines 1113
Telefax: (02) 712-1189 and (02) 411-8736
Mobile: +63 908 493 06 23 and +63 920 906 87 60
Email Address: alres.admin@gmail.com
Website: http://www.alres-phils.com/
Child Find Learning and Play Center
Units 210 to 212
The Tower at Emerald Square
J P Rizal and P. Tuazon Streets
Project 4, Quezon City
Assessment Department Tel. No.: (02) 439-2338
Assessment Department Mobile No.: +63 907 249-6917
Assessment Department Email Address: childfindassessment@yahoo.com
Therapy Department Tel. No.: (02) 911-2015
Therapy Department Mobile No.: +63 926 656-3890
Therapy Department Email Address: childfind_therapy@yahoo.com
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