The Sensory-Sensitive Child

2 psychologists and mothers elucidate a problem that may affect as many as 10 to 20% of children.Children with sensory regulation problems overreact or under react to sensory experiences most of us take in stride. The resulting behaviour--battles over dressing, bathing, and toothbrushing; inability to function in a busy classroom; intolerance of holidays, sleepovers, sports, and other social situations--causes chaos and heartbreak. This problem is not well understood by many professionals treating children today: many childhood psychiatric disorders may have an unidentified sensory component. Drs. Smith and Gouze, practicing psychologists and parents of children with sensory processing difficulties, explain how to recognize and treat this problem, and how to help these children succeed at home, at school, and with peers. Practical, compassionate, and field-tested by the authors as parents and professionals, this book is likely to be life-changing for many families. For parents of kids with ADD/ADHD, Asperger's, and other difficulties and also psychologists/psychiatrists, educators, occupational therapists.According to the chairman of the American Academy of Paediatrics' committee on children with disabilities, as many as 10-12% of children may have some type of sensory processing problem. Among kids with developmental disabilities such as autism and cerebral palsy, incidence may be as high as 30%. Sensory problems are sometimes confused with ADD and can occur in kids with ADD/ADHD, learning differences, Asperger's, and more. Treatment won't be effective unless sensory component is diagnosed/addressed. Psychologists/psychiatrists are only beginning to learn about sensory problems, originally identified by occupational therapists.