Malika.....when studying Occupational Therapist (OT) sensory integration is touched on briefly.....Any Occupational Therapist (OT) in todays time and age who doesnt know a bit of sensory stuff, is worrysome......What I am trying to maybe say: This Occupational Therapist (OT) might have knowledge of sensory integration? But to be able to say that you are SI qualified....you needed to have done 4 yrs postgraduate coarse in SI...the theory and practical. I am not SI qualified....BUT I have done the SI theory coarse.....and as part of my treatment to pts I asked them to fill in the Sensory profile questionaire.....I did the scoring and was able to put together a basic sensory diet that the parents could do at home and apply in class......Going through all this with my own kids, both having sensory processing dysorder....I cant really say that their qualified sensory integration Occupational Therapist (OT)'s offered much more than I allready knew....I do think it depends on the Occupational Therapist (OT) ass well....is she young, how much experience does she have re SI...has she
been on coarses, exct. Sorry to say...an Occupational Therapist (OT) can be specializing in SI and give a poor
service.....or she can not be SI specializing and give great treatment.....BUT....what is important to find out: does this Occupational Therapist (OT) have the SI questionaire and knowledge to ask the
right questions? Does she have enough knowledge to be able to put together an sensory
diet? Does she have the equipment to test, for example hammock, swing, balancing board, ramp exct to test for SI stuff?
If she doesnt have all of above and she says she will not be able to test for Sensory Integration Disorder (SID), then I would say....maybe give it a skip? Or if she has little knowledge, she might be able to say
after testingthe basics like fine motor, exct, that she thinks he might have sensory issues
that can be causing the outfall and refer you for further SI testing at sensory Occupational Therapist (OT)?
You did mention possible ADHD.....this kind of behaviour could easily bebecause of
sensory seeking behaviour....so I do think you are right to assume your child has SI
underlying issues.....Remember....being unable to modulate or regulate emosional
repsonse like being overly impulsive, crying, moodswings....all of that can also have
sensory modulation basis.....The other thing that you might need to consider: It
sometimes takes a few sessions for an Occupational Therapist (OT) to build a propper sensory profile of a
child....so once off wont be the perfect situation....For example my little dude seemed to
be sensory avoiding, but now as some of the other sensory sensitivities is improving....he
seems to be sensory seeking regarding movement....
I heard some were talking about being able to fill in a form and get a sensory profile
done by an Occupational Therapist (OT) on the internet.....not sure if this is possible...but costs plenty. In the
meantime, maybe get yourself the book, called The out of sinc child....this book explains
all the aspects of SI in kids and have plenty of questionairs for the parent to find out if
their child has difficulties in sertain areas.....then you also get the book... The out of sinc child can have fun...for some sensory diets( activities to do with the child to try and keep his sensory system in the calm-alert state). There is also a new book about Sensory Intellegence by Anamarie Lombaard, that explains all of it VERY well.
Hope this will help a bit!