Week 6, Summary 2

This article tells the story of Karen. She had surgery right after birth to repair birth defects and then was went home immediately with the message that she would be like any other little girl. However, as Karen’s neurological disorders and sensory integration problems began to surface, the mother, Liz, was sent into emotional turmoil. Unlike her twin, Karen was a screamer and lacked the ability to regulate herself and her moods. Nothing would comfort the poor child. Liz did some online research and discovered The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder. As she read the book, Karen’s behaviors began to make sense and she realized that a key component of treatment involved an occupational therapist. Liz quickly found an OT to provide Karen with sensory integration therapy to increase her regulation of sensation. However, there was only so much the OT could do. The rest of the family quickly began to fall apart and Liz sought therapy and was prescribed with antidepressants. The family worked hard to establish a routine, divide child care responsibilities, and spend time together as a family. Liz and her family decided it best to remodel their house to accommodate their children’s needs for larger play area. In the meanwhile, the occupational therapist continued to treat Karen in hopes of improving her condition, and, as a result, strengthening the family unit. Today, Karen is a fun-loving girl who still responds differently to environmental stimuli but the family now sees it as her way of adjusting to her body and the environment around it.  

Reference:

Wittman, P., Velde, B., Lamm, S., Mohler, M., & Thomas, L. (2007). Lessons learned about mothering a child with a sensory modulation disorder. Exceptional Parent, 37 (3), 52-53. Retrieved from CINAHL with Full Text database.