To "Stim" or Not To "Stim"

     Dysfunction of Sensory Integration can turn a seemingly normal child into a self-stimulating ball of emotions. Dysfunction of Sensory Integration (DSI) is a neurological disability in which the brain is unable to accurately process the information coming in from the senses. This term is also synonymous with Sensory Integration Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder. Self-stimulation, “stimming” or “stim”, can be used to describe any apparently non-functional behavior involving repetitive or rhythmic action in an unconscious or purposeful response to anxiety, stress or boredom.
     A child who lives without Dysfunction of Sensory Integration experiences life at home, as it is meant to be lived. Every new day brings exploration and infinite fun. Articles of clothing are just that, clothing; things that are to be worn to cover, enhance a certain look, or to make a child stand out. Common noises blend into ambient sounds of a child’s soundtrack for the day. An opportunity to have family or friends over is a joyous occasion for a child living without interference from Dysfunction of Sensory Integration. Toys of every kind litter a child’s room, awaiting their creative side to take over and take them to another world born from the child’s mind.
     A child who is affected by Dysfunction of Sensory Integration may suffer from frequent bouts of self-stimulation by everyday activities at home. Clothing can be a huge daily obstacle for a child with DSI. Because Dysfunction of Sensory Integration is a neurological disability, every nerve in a child’s body can become over-sensitive. Clothing can feel scratchy, rough, and even physically painful, or a certain color can be visually distracting or stressful to a child with DSI. A child may become attached to a certain article of clothing or color, because the fabric or color does not trigger their senses, causing them to become over-stimulated. Noises can be extremely stressful to a child with DSI, especially spontaneous or loud noises.  Toys can be difficult to choose because of the many colors, noises, blinking lights, and types. All of these sensory overloads can cause self-stimulation. “Stimming” is a way to cope with the sensory overload they are experiencing. Common forms of self-stimulation are hand flapping, feet tapping, spinning in circles, and rocking.
     A child without Dysfunction of Sensory Integration can function fairly normally in a school setting. Crowded classrooms and loud bells do not cause stress or over-stimulation, and the child is able to process the busy activity. Transition from classroom to lunchroom to playground is an easy job for a child without DSI. Unexpected events, such as assemblies and fire drills, are dealt with as minor disruptions in the child’s daily routine.
     A child with Dysfunction of Sensory Integration can suffer an emotional melt-down daily at school. Over-crowding in classrooms is a cause for major distraction for a child with DSI. The more people around, the more stressful the situation is, which in turn could lead to “stimming” for a child affected by DSI. Loud bells and announcements will almost always cause a reaction that could range from the child covering his or her ears, to self-stimulation, such as rocking or hand flapping until the announcement or bell is over. Transition and unexpected events can be major issues, confusing the child who has finally begun to process their current surroundings, only to be forced to move into a different area or situation, where they have not learned what to expect yet. Fire drills are a triple-whammy for a child with DSI, because they are loud, unexpected, and cause a transition from one area to another. Self-stimulation can be expected during most if not all of these examples.
     Public life for a child without Dysfunction of Sensory Integration is a sometimes an unexpected, but usually welcome trip for exploration, whether it is to a park or the grocery store. Strangers of all kinds are observed and sometimes well-met, and with the security of a parent or guardian nearby, rarely are they seen as a threat. Every trip could be an adventure to a child without DSI, the opportunity to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell new things are at every turn.
     A child who suffers from Dysfunction of Sensory Integration can find an unexpected trip, and even planned excursions, over-stimulating. Strangers can pose a threat to a child’s senses. Their voices, characters, the way they look at a child, and even the color of their skin can be stressful, creating a perfect opportunity for self-stimulation. A grocery store can be an especially overwhelming place for a child with DSI. The multitude of strange smells and sounds, artificial lights, and strangers in every aisle can be extremely stressful, causing multiple “stimming” fits.
     Dysfunction of Sensory Integration can be a major speed bump for a child and his or her family. Even if the smallest thing triggers self-stimulation, life is still meant to be enjoyed, and a new route around the speed bump that is DSI can be found, in order to provide a child affected by Dysfunction of Sensory Integration as much normalcy as possible.

Autism - Take 1

     So, obviously new to blogging, but thought it might be a good idea to start putting some thoughts out there for others who may be suffering as our family does.  Obviously, from the title of this blog, we are a family affected by Autism, among other things... 
     I guess I should start from the beginning.  I never wanted children.  I had been a babysitter and nanny since the age of 15, and though I loved other people's children, I didn't want any of my own.  However, once I met my husband, that all seemed to change.  We got married, and 1 1/2 months after our wedding, we were conceiving.  Though I never wanted children, I could never imagine my life without our special little guy, Teagan.
     Teagan was born two weeks early because of complications during pregnancy.  Four months after, he was diagnosed with Infant Torticollis.  Infant Torticollis is defined as, "...prolonged tightening (contraction) of the neck muscles that causes the head to turn to one side."  http://www.ptworkingforyou.com/tort.html  After six months of physical therapy, all was well.  However... when at nearly two years of age, he still was not crawling, we knew something else was wrong.  He was also not speaking.  Eventually the crawling turned into running in a short period of time, but it took six months of speech therapy to go from saying three words, "mama", "dada" and "peas" for please, to speaking like a normally developed three year old. 
     During all this time, we were noticing something else going on with Teagan.  He absolutely loved The Wiggles.  But everytime he would watch one of their videos, something strange would happen, and it appeared he was listening to someone speak in his ear, while his eyes would roll up into his head.  Obviously, we had MRI's and other scans done, but nothing came of them.  To this day, we are still trying to get these diagnosed, but from the research I have done, I have come to the conclusion that these are a type of epileptic seizure induced by music.  There is such a thing called musicogenic epilepsy, but we have not been able to get them diagnosed.  Either way, when he has these episodes, they are always induced by music, which is worrisome, because when he is older and driving a car, it could pose life-threatening.
     Teagan was diagnosed with severe Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at the age of 3.  And believe me when I say severe... the doctor said it was the most severe case she had ever seen in a 3 year old.  Cue the energizer bunny.  On to age 4, when he was diagnosed with high-functioning Autism.  At this point in our lives, our only exposure to Autism was from the movie Rainman.  Obviously, my son is nothing like that man portrayed in the movie, but at the time, we were totally freaking out, wondering how we would be able to deal with this new diagnosis.  I have to say that we are very, very, VERY fortunate that Teagan is high-functioning.  I have met other families who were not so fortunate, and I cannot imagine not being able to hear those precious words, "I love you", spill from his sweet lips. 
     At the age of 5, Teagan was diagnosed with Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Central Auditory Processing Disorder.  For those who do not know what these are, I will briefly explain each.  Oppositional-Defiant Disorder (ODD) is "... an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that seriously interferes with the youngster’s day to day functioning". http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Children+with+Oppositional+Defiant+Disorder&section=Facts+for+Families  Sensory Processing Disorder has many names; Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Sensory Integration Disorder, etc..., and it is defined as "...the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses". http://www.sinetwork.org/about-sensory-processing-disorder.html   By the way, this website has an awesome book available in libraries that really goes into detail about the day-to-day rituals children go through in order to avoid overstimulation from sensory issues.  Teagan is affected by sound, sight, and textures of clothing, food, etc.  Central Auditory Processing Disorder is "...an umbrella term for a variety of disorders that affect the way the brain processes auditory information. It is not a sensory (inner ear) hearing impairment; individuals with APD usually have normal peripheral hearing ability. However, they cannot process the information they hear in the same way as others do, which leads to difficulties in recognizing and interpreting sounds, especially the sounds composing speech". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_processing_disorder
     Later on, he was also diagnosed with Separation Anxiety, which presents itself whenever we leave him at school.  He clings to us and gets visibly and physically upset, fearing we will not return for him, but we always have and always will.  He's had this since pre-k at the age of 3, and now at age 8, still has not outgrown it. 
     So, now that I've gotten all the history and diagnoses out of the way, I thought I'd explain why I started this blog.  It is one part raising awareness for Autism and the other diagnoses Teagan suffers from, one part sharing the daily struggles (or weekly, depending on when I have time to write) that we deal with, and one part the hilarity that is living with Autism.  Yes, you read that right.  There is great humor and entertainment when living with a child with Autism.  Teagan is just about the funniest child ever, and I hope you all enjoy the exploits I write about, as much as I enjoy living them... well, most of the time.  Don't forget that Autism is an ongoing battle and there are many, many struggles both inside and outside the home that we must face on a daily basis.  But, for the most part, it is enjoyable having a child like Teagan, and I wouldn't trade him for the world.