Went for the SID eval today--OMG--we loved this lady--she UNDERSTOOD everything we were talking about--brought me close to tears

We will get the full report in 2 weeks but she went ahead and sent the classroom sensory diet home with us to send to school with Angel--and to add them to her IEP--gotta call another meeting but I dont mind

Its a huge list--just wanted to warn you
Sensory Diet--calming strategies
1)Offer a safe hideout place in the classroom--could be a beanbag,pillows in a corner or a box to crawl into)
2)Try a bean bag chair or soft chair that will give support through a large portion of the body's surface.
3)Fidget basket(have 2 or 3 items in a basket and change weekly)
4)Weighted lap pad
5)Weighted vest(already has one--but they are not following the guidelines of adding and taking away weights) can also wear a backpack with weights or books in it when moving from class to class or around the classroom.
6)Sticky back loop velcro stuck to bottom of desk to fidget quietly with
7)Theraband on legs of chair
8)Erasing and washing the chalkboard
9)Wrapping up in a blanket for a few minutes
10)Slow swinging in a blanket or slow rocking in a rocking chair
11)tug of war games
12)go to the playground and let child move around as needed--preferably climbing
13)Make additional opportunities to move around the room--i.e. taking a note to someone on the other side of the classroom)
14)push me pull me games--sit facing child and alternately push and pull child's hands having child keep her arms straight)
15)Transporting heavy books from one area of the room to another
16)chewy foods on hand--fruit roll ups,raisins
17)crunchy foods on hand--chips,dry cereal
18)laying on a mat and roll a large ball up and down on the child pushing downward for pressure as you roll the ball.
19)wall push ups,desk push ups or floor push ups
20)Stand in door frame and push out the sides
21)moving chairs or other classroom furniture as tolerated
22)push the teacher or other adult around in a wheeled chair
23)have child pass out papers/objects to class members
24)fall into a beanbag chair
25)quite squeeze toys that can be squeezed under the desk without disturbing the class
26)working at shoulder height while wearing wrist weights


Suggestions for calming and organizing
Calming corner with classical music or relaxing nature sound tapes
Rocking chair
scents can be incorporated such as lavender or vanilla
scented neck pillows may work best
bean bag chair and soft comforters
headphones to block noise for auditory defensiveness
minimal light
lots of cushions/pillows
weighted blanket/vest
deep pressure massage--performed by her PT at school when the teacher thinks she needs it
bear hugs
sucking--milkshakes through a straw or other thick hard to suck liquids or popsicles

Tiffany said it is very hard to tell the difference between ADHD and SID. We need a neurologist on the team to help determine this. She has SID but we need to see a neurologist to see if she has ADHD as well.
Learning and paying attention is dependent upon the ability to integrate and organize information from our senses. Everyone knows the five basic senses; seeing, hearing, taste, smell and touch. But there are other senses that are not as familiar including the sense of movement (vestibular), and sense of muscle awareness (proprioception). Unorganized sensory input creates a traffic jam in our brain making it difficult to pay attention and learn. To be successful learners, our senses must work together in an organized manner. This is known as sensory integration.
A person diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, due to their difficulty paying attention, may in fact have an immature nervous system causing sensory integration dysfunction. This makes it difficult for him/her to filter out nonessential information, background noises or visual distraction and focus on what is essential.
I am very happy with my decision not to medicate and will be more than overjoyed to see a neurologist since ADHD is in HIS field.
The zoning out while rubbing cold ice cream around her lips and on her hands is Angel self stimming, she's getting what she needs at that moment in time.
Good appointment.
Made it special that we were seen by an ex preemie with SID who wanted to work in the field she does to help others going thru it. She said SID never goes away, but with therapy you learn to deal with it. She still can't stand tags in her clothes and she's a very fast talker and will talk your ear off like Angel

The teacher wrote me a note in Angel's notebook today--she gave a copy of everything I sent to her to everyone involved in Angel's care at school---and they already have most of the things in place She was pleased to get the information and said she is excited to see if they work.