- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Special Needs
ToastieSimons
member
When do you disregard the opinion of a therapist? (long)
ToastieSimons
member
DS2 has EI for PT 2x/week, OT, DI and ST. He's been seeing them since he was 4 months old.
For a year we have done private PT 1x/week. In January he started head banging. We have ruled out all medical reasons and I truly believe now it's behavioural. He is bored. He is craving social interaction and more advanced toys. But cognitvely and physically he's not ready for more advanced toys, but he's bored with what he has now. He doesn't head bang ever if we're out of the house or somewhere new, it's only at home and during therapy.
We did a private OT eval at the same therapy center that the PT works at. The OT said she couldn't help him. She didn't think it was a sensory issue and unless we want to see her for fine motor skills (which his are delayed but we do get EI for) she really doesn't see any super big sensory issues.
The PT is all pissed off that OT1 said she couldn't really help. She wants us to start seeing OT2. All because OT2 walks up during therapy session, bangs on the therapy ball DS2 was sitting on and he laughed. Well yeah, because she was distracting him and smiling at him. PT is 100% sold that he has serious sensory issues and needs a sensory diet. She is all sorts of mad that our EI OT and DI haven't created a sensory diet for him. She wants him to have a sensory diet of a 15 minute protocol every 2 hours (we didn't discuss what types of things). I did try this at one time for a week straight and it did nothing for the headbanging.
I'm just all sorts of confused now. Our EI OT works in a local school district as an OT and has lots of kids on the spectrum. She worked at a children's hospital doing OT for 15 years and has lots of experience beyond EI. Our ST has a son with Down Syndrome and ASD and she hasn't noticed anything.
Of course he craves some sensory input because he isn't walking or doing the typical toddler movements, but it's not overpowering. The only thing he does is bang his head in frustration or tantrums (like typical toddlers) or when absolutely bored. All you have to do is walk up to him and he stops, looks up at you and smiles and then moves on to something else. He loves to play with toys, interact, observe, go outside, go on the swing. I can dress him in anything. He eats anything. He touches anything. He loves bathtime and swimming. He rarely tantrums except when being told to do something he doesn't want to or being told no. Like gosh forbid I try to get him to NOT eat the cat food, he tantrums. They last 1-2 minutes if you're making him work through it (like in PT sessions when he doesn't want to stand or do something,etc) or stop immediately if you redirect him or stop asking him to do that task. He puts himself to sleep in his crib and takes a 2-3 hour nap almost daily. And sleeps about 12 hours at night without any real waking.
Am I missing something? I know I'm his mom and I don't see things the same way but I just don't see this sensory seeking behavior they're talking about. He doesn't bite me, he doesn't hit me, he likes to roughhouse like any other toddler boy, but isn't just throwing himself at me all the time. He will sit and play quietly with toys, he'll laugh and giggle when being interacted with.
To my boys: I will love you for you Not for what you have done or what you will become I will love you for you I will give you the love The love that you never knew
This discussion has been closed.
Re: When do you disregard the opinion of a therapist? (long)