Sensory Integration and Alternative Treatment

Our 7 yr. old boy has been diagnosed w/sensory integration dysfunction - he's uncoordinated, falls off chairs, can't assess boundaries or spatially orient himself well, slams into walls, people, is drawn to hypersensory situations, spins and moves his body in a crazy fashion, is super distracted and can't settle down to focus, and what's most frustrating ... genuinely doesn't seem to know when poop is coming out - soils his underwear (from being too much in his mind and not his body?).  He's an incredibly bright, highly verbal child.  He's had Occupational therapy and acupuncture - both seemed to help - but we can't afford to do this during all of his growing yrs.  Plus this seems to only partially address things.  What could get to the core?  Swimming and other cross lateral exercises for total left/right hemisphere functioning?  Cranial manipulation?  Iron?  Could childhood anemia contribute to sensory dysfunction? A mineral or vitamin deficiency?  Should we have his blood analyzed? What about auditory training of some kind?  Message?  I feel there are so many possible paths that I am overwhelmed.
We don't believe in drugging him.  Any tips are appreciated.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Julie,

You may be putting the cart before the horse, so to speak. You are seeking forms of treatment when it may not be entirely clear what the diagnosis is (or what the diagnoses are).

I'd be wary of attributing all your son's difficulties to sensory integration disorder, though in its severe forms it can result in many of the problems your son is displaying.

Sensory integration disorder is treated chiefly by occupational therapists, but the treatment cannot be viewed as something (at least in the case of serious level of severity) that will draw to a quick conclusion. Instead, it's helpful to view the treatment course as a progression of gradually developing skills and abilities. It's important to stay the course, assuming you've got in hand a reasonable assessment and diagnosis.