Huge "Changes Ahead" for Wyatt Too! (Part 1)

there has been lots of "change ahead" for wyatt as well!   my head is virtually spinning from all the changes that have taken place in the past few weeks!   practically since wyatt's IFSP...the one that left me feeling so down (you can read about that here), he has made leaps and bounds in progress!   yay, wyatt!   it's funny that his family service provider, while trying to comfort and encourage me, told me how often she sees kids really blossom in their development after their 2 year IFSP (i didn't really believe her)... but WOW has that been true for wyatt!  

back in april, during our last visit to hope haven, the Ds clinic in jacksonville, the therapists recommended that we might should explore some sensory therapies for wyatt.   they did not believe that he has sensory processing disorder, but perhaps some sensory integration issues that could be addressed with specialized therapy. we really struggled with our decision to pursue this type of therapy because that would unfortunately mean switching from a therapist who we dearly love to a stranger.  after MUCH prayer, tears, and stress, as well as exploring every option we could, we made the decision to switch.   and although we miss that therapist very much, i know that we made the right decision for wyatt, who is our primary responsibility!

so what is sensory processing?  a very elementary explanation, certainly not comprehensive, is, as
the sensory processing disorder foundation describes it: Sensory processing (sometimes called "sensory integration" or SI) is a term that refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses.  this can be exhibited through any or all of the "senses;" including auditory, tactile, visual, vestibular, and oral.  and it can present either as "sensory sensitivity," "sensory avoiding" or "sensation seeking."  not necessarily the same in each area! 

wyatt's sensory evaluation indicates a "definite difference" in his auditory processing as well as a "probably difference" in his vestibular and oral sensory processing.    this is not surprising to us, as wyatt has always been very "sound sensitive," reacting to loud, unexpected sounds.   he also seems to really seek out movement; he likes bouncing, spinning, jumping, etc.  he also "mouths" stuff a lot!  

so what does all of this mean as far as the changes we have seen in wyatt?    i'll tell you next post!