Here's why I suspect DS has SPD:
- Has hated cuddles since birth. Even from me.
- Still won't really be cuddled (arches back) but comes over for some physical contact on his terms periodically.
- Was such a fussy baby. Constant battle between boredom and over-stimulation. Also CMPA, reflux, etc. VERY hard to get to sleep and very hard to comfort because cuddles made it worse.
- Cried if ever lay on back or tummy.
- As a baby went into very distressing meltdowns (worst ever was 3 hours, more commonly around an hour) when anyone else except me or DH held him.
- Busy places = bad times. This is still the case now when he goes to particularly busy baby groups. Just clings and moans.
- Over-sensitive to noise (e.g. hoover, washing machine, crowds) and if sudden will freak out.
- If woken up from afternoon nap prematurely often has full meltdowns (can't be comforted, looses control of himself).
- Very occassionally has over-stimulation meltdowns.
- Sometimes lashes out violently if touched lightly or space invaded. Recently kicked a friend's 7 mo baby in the face (she was on her tummy) because her arm touched his foot.
- LOVES to get dizzy, be held-upside down, have things thrown at him and be thrown around (that sounds awful - we don't throw things at him or throw him around!).
- LOVES to be tickled, especially on his feet.
- Has had a meltdown everytime we've tried to get a photoshoot and the flash has gone off (tried 3 times, last time at 14 mo).
- Gets very upset by bright sun.
- In (big) nursery, regressed and often played quietly on his own so I moved him to CM where he has thrived.
- Gets freaked out by certain textures. Refuses to touch them, gets upset.
- Has many, many small tantrums all day.
- Some slightly odd motor skills. e.g. wierd crawl, toe-walking at first, runs now on toes. Now seems very clumsy for his age but his muscle tone and core strength are very good.
- He met milestones fine but it always seemed like he delayed himself. e.g. Cruised at 9 mo but didn't walk until 13 mo. I'm absolutely certain he could have walked from 10 mo but he just refused to. Speaking was similar. The CM has said much the same from her observations of him.
- Weaning, both tastes and textures, was (and still is) awful.
I'm sorry this is such a long list. The thing is that he's met his milestones well and many things have improved as he's got older, so maybe he doesn't need a DX. On the other hand I'm very concerned that the school environment will be tough for him (considering HE for KS1).
Incidently everything in this list, even down to details like the photoshoots, is identical to me as a baby. Maybe even not as bad as I was (depending on whether DM exaggerates). I still have a hard time in a lot of circumstances and I have a lot of phobias, but I also have pretty good coping mechanisms. Saying that I wish I'd had some help as a child, I remember it being bloody horrible.
