SENSORY INTERGRATION

[NANCE227]

HI
Just alittle background about my daughter. She will be 5 in Dec 07. In Feb of this year I had her evelauated by our school distric because of sudden fears and just something not right.t.She is now in a special ed preschool. She has social delays, Articuation delays(Speech)  and fine motor delays, No Sensory Issues were found. She has had fears that have interuppted her daily life. I.E. using a certain bathroom at school,closing the toliet seat so that the cat doesn't drown, etc.At first I was thinking it was OCD but now I'm wondering if it is all Sensory issues.  Her. IQ is 100.I have been told by the school to be careful what I say because she is very smart.
I did take her to a developmental Pediatrician about 5 months ago and she found some sensory issues so her O.T. does give her some time in the sensory gym with theraputic listening. No diagnosis has been made to my knowledge. Now a problem has shown itself again. One i had forgotten about. On many occasions. my daughter has eaten food with her fingers and FORGETS that her finger is in or near her mouth a bites her own finger.I think this is so bizarre.Do you have any thoughts on my situation?
Nance227

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

When the school district evaluated your daughter, did they conduct an Occupational Therapy Evaluation. Is that how they concluded that there were no sensory issues? It sounds like the major issue she faces is an anxiety disorder, though you should have this evaluated before jumping to conclusions. At her age there is a limited amount that can be done by way of treatment, because she really is too young to profit from the sort of therapy (cognitive-behavioral therapy) that would be recommended in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Severe anxiety disorders demand both pharmacological treatment and therapy. One thing you can do is refrain from deferring to her preferences. It is not reasonable for her to expect that only you will pick her up from school. But the only way to overcome that obstacle is for her father to pick her up, regardless of the scene she makes. Over time she will adapt.

[Ebean]

I am reluctant to comment, because the most helpful way of treatment is medication together with all the other therapies, I found this from my son who is six now and Aspergers and we have gone every route and with trying diff meds and changing and finding now the right one - which may temporary, there is no knowing with a small child since they are still young. We thought ours was OCD but it a control idea b/c he felt his life was out of control so he still does it but is more able to be more flexible. This is after 2 years of experimenting.
Hope this is helpful.

[NANCE227]

One thing i forgot to mention in my earlier post is that my child suffers from anxiety.
She bites her fingernails, picks her lips, picks her nose, repeats things in a whisper when something is said to her. There was a time when she would dictate who would get her out of the carseat. Her father wasn't allowed to pick her up from schoolIf he came with me to pick her up she would have a melt down..She associated me with school. What can be done for a 4 yr old with anxiety possible OCD? No medication preferred. Thanks.
Nance227