clothes don't feel right

Our 9y/o son has a real problem with how his clothes feels,
especially his socks.  It takes forever to get him dressed
for school, usually going through 5-6 pairs of socks till he
finds one that fits.  After he gets to school he is fine.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Rufus,

If your son's only symptom is the one you describe, I wouldn't worry too much about it. He may display tactile defensiveness or sensitivity, but unless it's a major impediment it doesn't require specialized help. Children with this characteristic display a condition called sensory integration disorder, which means that their brain experiences some difficulty in managing the various input that comes from the senses (touch, vision, hearing, taste, smell). If the symptoms become an impediment to accomplishing normal dmands of daily life, treatment by an occupational therpaist might be in order.