Help with sensory issues

Totally agree with some of the comments posted. Noise cancelling headphones is a good one and maybe research weighted lap or shoulder pads as they may be beneficial too for the anxiety or a sensory weighted blanket. Lots of companies do these like Gravity blankets, Snugcosy weighted blankets etc. There is a good article here https://www.snugcosy.co.uk/blogs/articles/anxiety which is well worth a read...

Hello Louise,

That’s brilliant you are speaking with the school. Try and make a list of all things you / she think can help your daughter and ask them to implement them ASAP.  It’s a long day in school and needs to be as stress free as possible. For us the SENco has been an excellent support: 

i think some local authorities may have different procedures etc.  There is a section on the NAS website about diagnosis process.

I think the most direct way would be if you go directly to your GP and ask for your daughter to be out on the ASD pathway. 

For us I had always known my daughter was different and had started reading more into the traits she has. The GP arranged counselling for the transition to secondary school.  CAHMS did a detailed analysis on her traits and said she didn’t  need to be under CAHMs, my daughter was then referred to the paediatrician as she needed to be prescribed Circadin (Melatonin) as she has sleep issues / sleep anxieties that worsened at secondary. At the paediatrician appointment I firstly went alone and I spoke about my daughter’s anxieties  and her thought pattern and traits.  I didn’t take her with me as I didn’t want her to hear all the negative things about herself.   We had a second meeting when my daughter had an informal chat with the paediatrician who put her on the ASD pathway.  

We waited then for 9 months and then had the Speech and Language Assessment recently. The S and L clinician said she thinks my daughter is definitely ASD, Aspergers but they don’t use that title anymore.  The S and L therapist will be writing a report which will then trigger the Occupational Therapist appointment.  

I try and take things one step at a time,  there may be an Educational Psychologist report as well and then it goes to a panel.  

Hope that’s a help wishing you and your daughter all the best x 

sorry for the lengthy post x

Thank you everyone for your reply’s! Very much appreciated. Sound cancelling head phones is a great idea and will definitely be buying some. I always let her have as much time as she needs by herself, her room is her safe place and I encourage her to relax in there. Mum on a mission :) could you please tell me how the diagnosis process has been for you? I’m going to make a doctors appointment tomorrow and will try and speak to her school on Tuesday. But it would be good to have an idea of what to expect. 

louise. 

Hello Louise,

I’m a mum also and my daughter is 12 and we are in the diagnosis process for her.  Just up to the bit where we are awaiting the OT assessment. 

I’ve read the replies from the other members and think all are wonderful ideas and I will be noting some of those down that apply to my daughter.  This is a very helpful place to come to  and the community members are so helpful. 

Have you spoken to the SENDCo at your daughters school ? They can put things in place for her so for example maybe a special allowance to leave lesson a bit earlier so it’s quieter on the corridor or a card so she can leave lesson and go to the SEN base if she’s overwhelmed.   Some lessons trigger anxiety for my daughter such as music and PE - she says they are too noisy and chaotic but she knows she can leave if she needs to and just knowing this lessens the anxiety levels. 

My daughter likes to know the details of everything we are doing so I’ve got a calendar that’s just for her so she can visualise the days.  Also I will draw out the day for her like a timeline as her anxiety starts if she’s not in the house for a certain time, the diagram / timeline helps her and the family a lot.

I’ve read that girls mask all the time and try their best to fit in and be like their peers.  That’s exhausting for them, after school my daughter is shattered.  The anxiety has started  already about going back in next week, been keeping her busy!  

Wishing you and your daughter all the best x

Thanks, Beefree. I love the idea of a sensory profile - might have a go at that myself

I think this is very good advice from duckbread. I have recently been diagnosed/identified as being autistic. Growing up I had no idea of some of the sensory issues that were causing me to live in an almost constant state of anxiety. Having reflected on them my awareness is now much better and enables me to manage my anxiety levels much more effectively. These are the things that have helped me. I hope you find them useful.

• Worked out my sensory profile... The sensory input that calms me and the input that stresses me. It may be useful to discuss these with your daughter. Considering, movements/activities, foods, things to touch/fiddle with visual things (drawing, colouring for example), music and sounds, and smells..... work out and place them into two columns... Stressing or calming. If you Google sensory preferences checklist there are lots out there that you can use. 
• Use the calming ones before and after stressful experiences. 
• Use those (that are practical) during experiences that might be stressful for example... Sucking/chewing on a favourite sweet whilst in a supermarket, fiddling with blu tac whilst sat on a bus, playing a game on my phone when in a cafe or ordering a milkshake and sucking it through a straw. Having a lip salve that smells good and applying it when shopping.
• Also establishing a 'plan B' if the sensory experience becomes too much for example... If going shopping in town and it is too busy to go to a cafe for lunch buying a sandwich and eating it in the park or quiet place.

For me it has been important to not totally avoid the sensory stuff that stresses me because it would have really limited my life and also avoiding can actually make the sensitivity worse as I am not developing the ability to 'modulate' manage the experience.

I hope you and your daughter may find this helpful. I would also strongly recommend asking for an Occupational Therapy referral for a comprehensive sensory processing assessment. 

Hi, Louise. Welcome to the group. I'm 25 and currently pursuing diagnosis. 

I find noisy places very difficult too. Have you ever tried noise cancelling headphones? I find mine really helpful. I sometimes play relaxing music through them to give me something else to focus on (I'd just encourage caution if she's using them on her own - I sometimes worry that they make me a little vulnerable if I'm out alone, as I don't have the best road sense, and I'm conscious that someone could approach from behind without me hearing).

You could also try fidget toys - I sometimes carry one in my pocket and use it when I'm struggling to focus. 

In terms of having some time by herself when she gets back, I'd recommend letting her have that time. Sensory issues make everyday activities really tiring, so taking that time out to relax when she gets home could help her conserve energy for later in the day.