It's Too Loud!

Today BB told me that the baby monitor was too loud, the wind hurt his ears, and the sound the Wegman's cart was making on the tile floor was bothering him. He also cried at school because he was afraid he was going to have to go swimming and put his face under the water. He had difficulty settling down and sitting in one spot while we were reading bedtime books.

BB has some sensory differences. Sensory issues are often misunderstood. Many people don't believe they exist, or think that they are just "naughty behaviors." Other people think they are a result of bad parenting (Hey...can't you make that kid behave?!?).

In Raising a Sensory Smart Child, authors Linda Biel and Nancy Peske, describe sensory processing as "how people use the information provided by all the sensations coming from within the body and from external environments" (p. 12).  In people with sensory differences, everyday sounds, touches, smells, and movement can seem overwhelming at times. For BB, he tends to have more difficulty with these things when he is very tired or not feeling well.

One book I found talked about how children who were adopted may have higher rates of sensory processing difficulties. They have experienced many changes in caregivers. A primary caregiver is the one that (unknowingly) teachers a child how to calm/regulated themselves. The other thing that happens is that every time a child switches caregivers, they go through a period of grieving and regression. It takes a lot of energy to get through those transitions, so some areas of development may lag behind.

We are very lucky to have a pediatrician who recognizes the value in getting help with sensory differences. She referred us to an Occupational Therapist with experience in working with internationally adopted children. BB (and his parents!) are getting OT services through the Preschool Committee on Special Education.

We are learning a lot about ways to help him relax and feel calmer throughout the day. Luckily, maturity is a wonderful thing and many people "grow out of" or learn ways to cope with sensory differences. BB has not been sleeping well and has a cold, so today was a tough day for my baby boy. Tonight we made sure to give him some extra "bear hugs," squeezes, and "I love you's" before he went to bed.