Taciturn Tuesday: Remembering

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Post AIT - one month

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It has been one month since SensiGirl finished her AIT therapy. We have seen some changes, not huge ones but sly, shadowy ones that keep me hoping and happy. I went away for a long weekend a few weeks after her ear training and she had Grandma and Grandpa staying with her during the day. I was told she spent her time while I was away telling Grandma, "Uh-Uh" and "I don't know" and apparently popping off sentences here and there
 School started the day after Labor Day and her daddy asked, "What was your favorite part of school today?" My SensiGirl answered, "Lunch!" Classic first grader answer! I loved it.

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In the weeks before school started I noticed that she was singing lyrics clearer, it was like she was hearing the words more clearly. She also was more adaptable when I corrected her misheard lyrics. She is plugging her ears in response to certain sounds or environments. Her teacher noticed it too; the plan is to just let that one be. I think she is hearing things differently, so she is testing out the sounds.

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Her teacher reports that she attends to group directions a lot more readily, but isn't sure if it is a maturity and familiarity issue or due to the AIT. There is less need to go to her individually, get in her space to get Sensi's attention to give a direction. This is a great improvement over last year. She does better at home with this too. I don't have to pull the answer from her with either or questions. I can give her choices, more than 2 and she will answer me. It may be a one word answer, but it is not the prompt and talk script anymore. She follows directions better at home too.

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Her therapists at OT and Speech have also noticed some differences. She breezed into Theraplay the other day and looked right at her therapist and she said "Hiya!" There was no prompting, her therapist didn't need to initiate the greeting, she just did it on her own.

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Last week we were still trying to get into the routine of waking up early for school and I told her, "You have to get up" she looked directly at me and said in a resigned voice, "I know." So, the whole 4 or more word sentences I am not seeing much of, but the direct appropriate replies, they are there now for the most part. The key is to give her time to respond, to process the language she is hearing. I'll keep on posting updates on her AIT progress periodically throughout the year.

Tranquil Thursday: i-Qi Timer

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/i-qi-singing-bowl-timer-free

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Taciturn Tuesday: Elephant bath

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Sensory Issues: A Grown Up Perspective

I just got a chance to take a little time by myself this last month and noticed some things. I started to think about my own sensory issues.

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We stopped to visit a second hand shop. You know the kind you find in the country on the side of the highway...antiques... a building crammed with dusty stuff. I was starting to get that fluttery feeling being in there, and it wasn't just the dust, it was ALL THAT STUFF. It was serious sensory overload.  Everywhere I looked there was a vista crammed with stuff. It was like a hidden object game, but even busier. I couldn't handle it. It might have helped if I had something I was looking for to distract me from my distress; my sister finds some really cool stuff. In my house with its limited amount of extra space, collecting knick-knacks or salt and pepper shakers is not for me.

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After shopping at several different venues I also realized why my SensiGirl really, really hates going to the Big Box store. The carpeted part of the store is okay, but the rest of the interior with its hard echoing floor and open high ceiling is a problem, especially with all the carts going by.

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There is too much stuff in most stores. It is hard to sort out what you are looking for from what else is there.
Fleet Farm is probably the worst, since you could literally live your whole life from everything they have in that store. It's not just clothes, houses wares and hunting gear. They have food, veterinary supplies, automotive items, landscaping and gardening supplies as well as toys, crafting supplies and hardware. I am sure I missed a category or two in there. Again it did help that I had an item or two that I was specifically looking for.

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I think from now on I will involve my SensiGirl more in following our shopping lists and asking her to find things for me. It helps to know your progress of your shopping trip and it is reassuring to see the items ticked or crossed off the list to know there isn't much time left until you can check out and go.

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So I am sensory sleuthing again and trying to find ways for it to be easier for my SensiGirl to make her way in the world. I will say it again, if you are out and about and your child has some whacked-out behavior, it may be a sensory issue not a "behavioral" issue. Look around, listen, and use your sense of touch. How does the air feel on your skin, what does it smell like? Are the lights bright, do they hum? How about the refrigeration section of the store, is it loud? Is it too cold? Are there vibrations? It may be that their bodies have had enough sensory input and they are going into overload.  Keep sleuthing!