My DS5 has been working with an OT for the past 1.5 years. He loves meeting with her because their sessions are fun for him. Her initial assessment was based in play for him (I gave the info and answered questions). Your little one sounds like he has similar struggles as my DS. It has taken us a while, but we are finally getting a handle on his triggers and, through trial and error, are helping him find self-soothing methods that work. The biggest success has been incorporating therapeutic brushing. It sounded so kooky to DH and I that we actually laughed out loud when the OT suggested it. DS was very resistant to deep pressure and did not like joint compressions, but he begs for his 'brushes'. We usually brush him two to three times a day when life is good for him... sometimes up to six times a day when he is struggling.
A good part of DS's ability to cope with his sensory issues is related to his anxiety. When he is upset about a situation or worried about something, he just can' cope. He dissolves into tantrums and crying. When everything is going well in his world, the noises and the touches don't phase him nearly enough. Some mornings he jumps onto the bus and others he is screaming for his ear defenders. It is difficult to parent a child like this because we never know which version of DS we will encounter in any given situation. Preparing his new school for him was stressful for us. I joke about making him a 'Handle with care' shirt with a disclaimer in small print.
