Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion sensory integration...

Is sensory integration a common "partner" of gifted children? I looked up "seamless socks" online today & was directed to many sensory integration websites. I know that my DS6 is super sensative to sights, sounds, smells, touch & taste.

(I finally decided to look for seamless socks after the sock issues got to be too much.)

I am new at this & still trying to figure things out with my DS6.

If sensory integration is common among gifted children, I would love a book recommendation...
Thanks!!!!

Doesn't answer your question, but this is where I used to buy seamless socks. http://www.kidstockmontana.com/tictactoesocks.html Now we've given up on socks altogether.

Thank you. Is does help! Your child won't wear socks at all, anymore??

I'm no expert, but I'll take a stab at answering your question...

I think there's a theory that some GT kids are GT in part because they take in so much info so quickly. That makes them more aware--more sensitive--to everything around them. Including their socks. Processing all that information can be overwhelming to them, and it can cause problems. They aren't good at selecting what info is important and what info is just a distraction.

Personally, I have certainly seen more GT kids with sensory integration issues than I have non-GT kids. By a lot. That's totally unscientific though!

Not at all, and we're in the Mid-Atlantic area. We finally just gave up. Lined boots work for him in the winter and for sledding, but no socks (and no sweaters or sweatshirts) does prevent him from trying skiing. He even ice skates w/o socks (as do pro hockey players). I think he'd love to live in FL, AZ or NV. Acutally, he likes NV the best. That way he could always wear sandals, short-sleeved t-shirts and bball shorts. The transition to long sleeves/pants is never easy in the fall.

Oh, didn't see the book recommendation request. The first one I read was The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine Aron. Very good layman's view explanation of all sorts of things (e.g., clothing and food taste/textures sensitivities, avoiding birthday parties, staying out of the fray on the playground, etc.). Others are The Out of Sync Child and The Out of Sync Child Has Fun (for activities to do togethter). Dont' have them in front of me so can't give you the author's name.

They're in the link I gave, questions. A little teamwork action, there!

Thanks all! Now that you mention bball shorts...as soon as DS6 gets home from school, he immediately changes into bball shorts or some type of pj pants. He would live in pj's if he could!

We also have issues with pants. They are too tight, too loose, come down too low in the back when he sits, etc.

His room must be in proper order before he can go to sleep. We thought for awhile that he may have OCD. But, I guess sensory integration resembles OCD a bit.

He is a HUGE germ-o-phobe. And, (if I can be graphic) he must plug his nose in the restroom. Whether he is going #1 or #2. Also, he must plug it in every public restroom.

I will absolutely read the books suggested above. Thanks so much!

I am convinced that SPD and Gt are linked. I have met several parents of kids with SPD issues and invariably, their kids end up testing GT (not necessarily HG or PG but definitely G and MG). That said, our issues revolve around clothing tags (a common one), short sleeves to long sleeves transitions (hates to wear short sleeves with a jacket - abhors the feel or a jacket on DS' bare skin) so we often wear long sleeves all year round except summer. DS is extremely sensitive to temperature - gets cold when the rest of us are okay or even hot. And, lots of issues surrounding getting hands dirty (play-doh was ok as was sand but not finger paints, or anything that could "stick").
Book recommendation: The Out-of-Synch Child by Kranovitz.
BTW - it can always be worse - I know a DS that needs to have his undies ironed before wearing. I don't know how they arrived at that solution but that is what works for them.Good luck!!!

I agree that sensory issues and giftedness are somehow linked. Both DS and I have those sensory issues to some degree as well. Another book that is frequently mentioned on this board might also be useful.

Misdiagnosis And Dual Diagnoses Of Gifted Children And Adults: ADHD, Bipolar, OCD, Asperger's, Depression, And Other Disorders (Paperback) by James T. Webb

I gave my copy back to the library, or rather the library's copy back to the library, but it has an interesting chapter on sensory issues and gifted kids.

Oops! Sorry. Didn't have time to read your link that I posted before I read your post - not that I would have checked the link anyway....

Oh, no apology necessary at all!

I just thought it was nice that we worked so well together, and I didn't want you to waste time looking up the author when it was there already.

Got it! Thanks. I thought I was supposed to read the link, which I really should, you know... Do you know why it didn't highlight in your post?

Hello all. I simply have to comment on this question - being mom to a GT kiddo with high sensitivities AND an SI certified OT - couldn't resist to add my opinion and experiences.

SI disorder is NOT correlated with GTness. Overexciteabilities are. There is a very gray area between what is considered an overexciteability and what is considered an SI disorder of modulation (eg: tactile defensiveness). Not all children who display high sensitivities to socks, clothing, sounds, etc. have an SI disorder. But many, many GT kids have the hypersensitivity. The gray area is where the degree of "dysfunction" exists and whether or not one wants to call it a disorder or gift of heightened processing.

It's important to understand that tactile defensiveness and sensory sensitivity is but one aspect of an SI disorder. There are disorders of movement and disorders of modulation. Tactile defensiveness is considered a modulation disorder. But there must be evidence of some underlying sensory system (vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile) functioning incorrectly in order to be considered an SI disorder.

I'll comment more later - but have a patient waiting for me now.

Thanks. I just was referred to an ocupational therapist?? by my primary pediatrician. This office was surprised that my ds6 was not homebound & did not need a therapist to come to the house to see him.

I said I could bring him to an office & they are going to check with the therapist & get back to me...

Any comments???

I will check that book out from the library.

I did not see your post before my last comment. Do you recommend seing an occupational therapist at all? My DS6 is sensetive to things related to smell, touch, sight, sounds & taste. But has shown no vestibular or proprioceptive.

He actually is highly coordinated & walked at 8 months. So, no balance issues & no speech issues. He spoke young as well.

I don't want to waste my time or the therapists time if he is just highly sensetive due to the giftedness issue. His issues certainly do not stop us from doing things, but can slow things down.

I can't tell you whether your child should see an OT or not without having met him in person. Here is a nice checklist to use when wondering if sensory processing disorder is the problem: http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processing-disorder-checklist.html

Scroll down the page to find the checklist. If only one or two items in a section fit your child I'd say no, he doesn't need an OT. Generally, many yes responses in any one or more categories would indicate a need for an eval by an OT.

If you pursue an eval with an OT I would ask the therapist what her experience is with both SI eval and treatment AND giftedness. You want a therapist who has experience with both. And understands both.

The other important thing to consider is whether you are managing fine or not. My philosophy is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Just because the pediatrician thinks there's a problem doesn't mean you need an eval and treatment IF you don't feel his issues interfere with life. When the sensory issues interfere you should seek help so your child can be successful in daily activities.

A good resource on general sensory processing is "Living Sensationally" by Winnie Dunn. It explains sensory processing exists on a continuum and not all extremes of sensory processing are necessarily "disordered." Another great book on sensory integration disorder is SI and The Child by A. Jean Ayres, PhD. She is the original theorist of SI theory. Go to the source, I say.

There are also many sensory tools that can be used to help highly sensitive children. A good resource on sensory diets is "How Does Your Engine Run?: The Alert Program for Self Modulation. There are lots of good resources on their website. www.alertprogram.com

A good book on alternative approaches to sensory sensitivity is "Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to do if you are sensory defensive in an overstimulating world" by Sharon Heller, PhD.

Hope that info helps.

Thanks Doodlebug. The checklist really put things into perspective. I think we will just be aware that he is super sensative physically & emotionally & we will attribute it to the giftedness.

No need to seek the advice of the OT at this time! THANKS!!!!

Thanks, DB! I learned something from you today, and I always like to learn!

Has anybody got a child that has heightened sensitivity only sometimes? I have noticed a pattern in my ds that I have not encountered before. Sleeps much less, hyperalert, very very active, eats much less or more, smells and sounds bother him. I have even had to remove clocks from his room. Then a few days later he has raced on in development.

His first day at school today and major meltdown in the playground. The reason? Name tags in his "scratchy" school uniform

Sounds like my ds6. Only, he has heightened sensetivity 90% of the time. Like Kriston had mentioned above, it more than likely goes along with the GT. My son has issues with tags, socks, belts, pants. He likes to eat very plain foods, same ones again & again, super sensetive to smells & tastes.

As for appetite, with him it is all or nothing. Either we are in a stage of not eating or continuous eating! Food is just not important to him. He only eats to survive & even then, it is hard to get him to actually sit in his seat.

He never sits still unless focused on writing a story & making pictures. That is his creative outlet. Otherwise, he has to be doing something...building something, role-playing or creating a new game for him & his brother to play.

My ds4 will actually give me a break & sit still for 30 minutes once or twice a day for a cartoon. But, my GT ds6 won't. He wants cartoons on in the background, but will continue with what he is doing.

As for sleeping, your son needs quiet, but mine needs white noise AND classical music. Nonstop stimulation.

Sometimes the fluctuation in sensitivity is related to stress. Tags, socks and clothes bothered my son much more in the last couple of weeks with the transition back to school. Jeans that he tried on at the store and LIKED while there are sitting unworn in the drawer - he continues to wear his old wornout jeans from last school year because the new ones "don't feel right." I'm just waiting patiently until the day he decides to try them because sooner or later he will be able to handle the "new" feeling. We had to cut tags out of shirts that he's worn for months now *with* the tags but all of a sudden they bother him.

We try to just ride the tide and let take it all in a matter-of-fact sort of way. I'm encouraging MrWiggly to take more control over his own sensitivities by being more independent to "fix" the problem. So I just say that I'm sorry he's bothered by the socks and suggest that he either change to another pair, take them off and try again with the same pair or go without out. He actually seems to do much better when I support him problem solving these issues on his own. I think the sense of control over the hypersensitivity should be comforting to someone who feels like he's the victim of noxious stimuli.

You can try also to address the stress issues that might be underlying the new onset of hypersensitivity. BTW, I find this to be true whether there is a diagnosed SID or overexciteabilities - they look the same in some cases.

Wearing socks inside out worked for ds6 all last school year. This year, not as much. Just another option...

DS8 wears his "as soft as cloud" socks inside out too! He complains abt the other socks being too "hard" but I didn't do anything abt them. I used to have to cut his clothes tag too. When he stopped complaining (I think when he was 5-6yo), I stopped cutting. At home, he is still wearing his 6yo tees because he says they are comfortable! Thks for the checklist! I didn't know there are so many categories!
The other thing I notice abt ds is his extreme taste for sour stuff and food which most kids will pass (even for some adults). He eats passion fruits (more than 4 at one go), grapefruits, lemon... ginger, garlic (raw and cooked), cilantro,basil etc. He is also game to try any food. Also, he gags easily....so no turtlenecks for him!

Ya know, Floridamom,
My whole family had 'the itchies' growing up: tags felt scratchy, resturant seats always had a vent directly over the most sensitive person, socks a hassle, so when my son was born, I just expected those kinds of things to be difficult.

If I had known that OE's were correlated to Giftedness, I would certianly have gone on compensating. But I didn't, and in 2nd grade, in the search for 'what's wrong with him' we came across the idea of Sensory Integration, and got him some time with a private OT and the school OT. Of course who knows if it helped, or if he would have had a growth spurt in that area, but boy-oh-boy he sure did 'mature' those 6 months.

Bottom line - if suff is bothering him 90% of the time, you have a referal from an MD, if insurance is picking up the bill, and you don't have to stress over the 'one more thing' in your schedule - I say: "Give it a try!"

Your son may actually be compensating for much larger difficulties than anyone realizes, because he has the brainpower. Anyway, that's my advice based on my own experience.

We are still cutting the tags off of shirts at age 12, but shoes and socks are much much less of a big deal than they were back then.

BTW - some Very Highly Gifted People don't have any OverExcitabilities. Some have them but are so used to them that they seem like the normal way to be.

Love and More Love,
Grinity