Today is a day I wasn’t sure would come. My son was diagnosed at age 4 with Sensory Defensive Disorder. ALL 8 senses were affected. He received 20 OT visits as per insurance, then my husband’s position was eliminated 
Thankfully a family member stepped in and helped us pay for private OT as our school district was not helpful. We have gone through 2 more years of therapy and the Boy turned 7 this past summer, and is in 1st grade. There have been days I wasn’t sure we were even in the right tunnel, I had not even thought about finding the end of it!
Today I got to look at The Boy’s annual re-evaluation scores. This year he moved up to a harder test due to his age. Last year he still used the Early Childhood test, and still scored 2-3 1/2 years behind his chronological age in motor skills (both fine and gross). This year he did 4 tests. Two for gross motor; two for fine motor. On one of the gross motor tests he scored AT HIS AGE!!! And the other one only 6 months behind. On the fine motor tests he scored 6 months behind on one and 1 year behind on the other. His OT and I were not too concerned about that as when you look at the scores from each test-he is in the “average range”. Did you read that? HE IS AVERAGE! 
INSERT HAPPY DANCE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fists pumping, happy tears, twirling…and all of that!
Okay I am back. And his OT said that we are about to be done with OT. Not tomorrow, but soon. I am thinking less than a year soon….I am hoping like in 6 months soon. Not because I hate OT-much to the contrary, I will bawl like a little kid who has lost her ice cream to a dirty sidewalk on his last day. No, I am happy because it will make a world of difference to not write a $200 check twice a month, but also because, IT WORKED! My guy is a fully functioning member of his general ed classroom. His writing is as good as most of the boys in his class, better even. Not bragging my kid is better-just that for something he has struggled with for so long he is there. He has made it!
I see it in his work this year. I see it in his confidence this year. This is an awesome feeling!
Now, he still has SPD. He WILL ALWAYS have SPD. It’s likely that around adolescence we will need to visit an OT again. This is a neurological disorder and when the brain goes through major shifts it throws things back off “balance”. He’s gonna be my picky eater, and he may never color perfectly in the lines or be a star baseball player, (though neither would his mommy or daddy). Interoception still continues to be a struggle we face. However, he fits right in the middle with the rest of the kids And THAT makes me happiest of all 
Comments
Kathy D.
WAHOO!!! Doing the happy dance with you! Congratulations, what an exciting time for you!!
Kathy D.
Jennifer
Where’s the like button??
Crafty Mom
This is so awesome to read this! I’m so glad your son has had such a huge improvement. OT is amazing. Also, thanks for the info that when the brain goes through a “shift” it can put SPD back off balance. I never knew that. My girl is 6 and is clearly a sensory seeker. She has some defensiveness, too, but mostly she’s a seeker. When we’ve made small breakthroughs with her defensiveness, it’s felt like a miracle, so I can imagine how incredible you feel that your son has come so far!
Heather Finnegan
And this was a child who spoke to us using memorized lines from TV shows at ages 2-4. All “conversational exchanges” were cyclical, not linear. I really thought he had Autism…but I was assured he didn’t have it. I can’t believe how far we have come. We did the brushing protocol for 6 MONTHS! So to others just starting down this road. Take it one step at a time and keep walking. Sometimes you will end up backwards, but it’s really all forward progress!
Susan S.
Rousing round of applause!!! Cheering right along with you. That is fantastic news!!
EHCMom
I’m laughing and crying at the same time. Hurray!! I’m so happy for you and your family. What great news.
Andrea
I am truly bawling my eyes right now! I am so happy for you and am truly proud of your son. My son is 3.5 and we have a long ways to go. Autism or SPD is what his therapists and preschool cannot figure out. It is a constant roller coaster of emotions for myself. I wonder if my son feels lost in his world. I long to hear him talk to me about what is he thinking. He has been in speech therapy since he was two and if he weren’t for that, I would have known he needed more help. I just thought he had some quirky behaviors. It has been such a hard road and I know I must be strong for him. When he has a temper tantrum and I cannot reach him in any way, it breaks my heart. So…through all my randomness, I am grateful to read this about someone who’s son is older and where they are at now with SPD.
Heather Finnegan
Andrea-and you are the reason I wrote this post.
I want other moms to know that things can get better. No, there are no guarantees in life, especially not with a special needs child. I wanted to give someone else hope. My son was verbal-though at the oldest end of normal with milestones …however, he mostly quoted tv shows and movies, and spoke more to the tv than to us. All conversations were cyclical…as in you start talking about what he wants to wear-I might get an answer, but then we always went back to talking about trains…..ALWAYS!!!! And he is still obsessed with trains….but he is better able to channel it to when it’s appropriate. Blessings on your journey. Remember to take things one day at a time! Write down even small progress….they all add up!
Andrea
I will do that Heather. I always try to remind myself how hard he tries and he has progressed with his speech a lot. He used always lay down to play or in circle time but he has improved with that too. He still does it, but like you said rememer the progress. My son is also obsessed with trains!
Jenny from the Block
Oh Heather, this is so wonderful!!!! I am so happy for you and him, thje whole family!!! Yea! I really needed to read this good news today. woo hoo!!!
Heather Finnegan
HUGS Jenny! Sometimes things get worse before they get better. Some days seem really dark, when a bright one is just around the next corner. You caught things very early my friend….keep fighting the good fight and it will come together over time. God has a plan for Buddy! I know that to be certain!