tactile sensitivity and *us*
Question:
I have always thought that my son felt things very much like "The Princess and the Pea." I’ve used that story to help through his hyper-tactilness. We have three generations of that "sensitivity" in our family. We have learned to appreciate the good aspects of it as well as the bad (like my father says, "people should just not be THIS sensitive.") When my father had glacauma, he told the MD that he felt the pressure in his eye, to which the MD said, "that is not possible…" Well, WE know that it IS possible. Your princess and the pea analogy caught my eye, I’ve used it often. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Joanne Cohen wrote: > My eye doc is amazed at how sensitive my eyes are to the slightest bit of > dust particle on my contact lens, as I scream and take it out to rinse yet > again during the exam…. > Until I told him how I was always the "Princess and the Pea" as a child, who > could feel the slightest thing in my clothes, bed, shoe, sock, etc. > Last November, just after my back surgery, I was *barely* conscious and only > half out of the anesthesia, and I kept mumbling "prick" "prick" to my mom, > who thought I was either cursing at the doctor, talking about a needle (she > loosened the IV needle for me, she’s a nurse) or talking about pain. Then I > said, "dumach prick", and pressed my belly. > By this time someone had taken my gown off me and put on my own nightshirt > that I had brought. Mom looked under my nightgown, and on my stomach was a > tiny 1/4 long down feather that had probably come off one of my feather > pillows at home, and stayed on my nightgown. You know the sharp little > point at the end of a feather? It was brushing against my skin, and it was > pricking me! So although hardly alert, not even oriented, I could feel that > tiny little feather against my skin! > Never underestimate the power of Tourettic awareness! > Jo > — > Joanne Cohen, LICSW > ~*~"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing"~*~ > -Helen Keller
Response:
Jean Holstein wrote: > Sarah was diagnoses as Tactile defensive beofre she even got the TS > diagnoses. Like Leslie said, there are times when she can be oblivous to > pain and other times the slightest thing can seem like a knife to her. To > this day all tags are cut out of her clothes and certain fabrics she can’t > wear. Hum… > Hugs, > Jean
I have this too. I can’t stand tight clothing, other than jeans. I can’t stand hats, or god forbid, headbands. I can’t wear glasses. Sunglasses are worth the irritation (especially the new J. Lopez ones) are they not cute, girls? The television irritates me. I like the radio for driving. Two people talking at me at the same time makes me go nuts. I hate drony noises – machines, the printer. I can’t stand people surprising me – I get really nasty. You know, poking you in the ribs from behind, or slapping you on the back. It scares the Beejesus out of me.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Blondie wrote: > Jean Holstein wrote: > > Sarah was diagnoses as Tactile defensive beofre she even got the TS > > diagnoses. Like Leslie said, there are times when she can be oblivous to > > pain and other times the slightest thing can seem like a knife to her. To > > this day all tags are cut out of her clothes and certain fabrics she can’t > > wear. Hum… > > Hugs, > > Jean > I have this too. I can’t stand tight clothing, other than jeans. I can’t > stand hats, or god forbid, headbands. I can’t wear glasses. Sunglasses are > worth the irritation (especially the new J. Lopez ones) are they not cute, > girls? The television irritates me. I like the radio for driving. Two > people talking at me at the same time makes me go nuts. I hate drony noises – > machines, the printer. I can’t stand people surprising me – I get really > nasty. You know, poking you in the ribs from behind, or slapping you on the > back. It scares the Beejesus out of me.
I deserve the wife of the week award over this something like this. My DH likes peaches. I cannot stand peach fuzz. It makes me crazy. It sets my teeth on edge. It is worse than fingernails on a chalkboard. Just considering touching them is torture… Well, last Sunday I bought him fresh peaches for his lunch! This entailed not only looking at peaches, but thinking about them, squeezing them, putting them into my shopping cart, taking them back out, and putting them away at home. Then for the next THREE DAYS, I had to touch them again to take them out of the refrigerator and into his lunch sack!!!!! It was traumatic….maybe that is why I am so bitchy this week…. jennybravo — The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues. — Elizabeth Taylor
Response:
> I have this too. I can’t stand tight clothing, other than jeans. I can’t > stand hats, or god forbid, headbands. I can’t wear glasses. Sunglasses are > worth the irritation (especially the new J. Lopez ones) are they not cute, > girls? The television irritates me. I like the radio for driving. Two > people talking at me at the same time makes me go nuts. I hate drony noises – > machines, the printer. I can’t stand people surprising me – I get really > nasty. You know, poking you in the ribs from behind, or slapping you on the > back. It scares the Beejesus out of me.
Boy, you and I have a great deal in common, Blondie!! Especially the Beejesus part…(startle response is extreme). Drop something on the floor without warning me and I’ll virtually levitate across the room…. KAT in CT
Response:
Well, last Sunday I bought him > fresh peaches for his lunch!
JB…let HIM buy the peaches from now on…. "-)) KAT in CT
Response:
Joanne <snip> >Why do we need to label that too?
Good question. Alex has so many "peculiar" (as in peculiar to him) attributes that it’s kind of a relief to find out that other people/kids have them as well. I hadn’t really thought of the tactile sensitivity as something that could be "co-morbid" with TS until Jo made her post. I like pursuing it because it’s helping me put Alex into a context. — Lara thanks for the web site, I’ll check it out. Ross Greene also recommended "the out of sync child" in his book "the explosive child" and I borrowed it from the library. I guess I’ll have to decide if Alex’s sensitivities are annoying enough to get occupational therapy for him. Alex voluntarily started playing in the water this year, announcing that it was so much fun that it was worth putting up withwater in his face. It’s possible he’ll be able to work himself out of it. — Vigco >When my father had glacauma, he told the MD that he felt the pressure in
his >eye, to which the MD said, "that is not possible…" Well, WE know that it IS >possible. Jean >Two people talking at me at the same time makes me go nuts. I hate drony >noises – machines, the printer. I can’t stand people surprising me – I
get >really nasty. Now these descriptions sound like my husband. He has early onset gaucoma and complains about the various medicated eye-drops making his eye muscles cramp up. He’s always picky about the type of clothing he is willing to wear. Although he consistently articulates this as a fashion thing, these descriptions suggest to me that it may well be tactile sensitivity. He is bothered a lot by back ground noise and dealing with the two kids trying to get his attention at the same time drives him up the wall. I tried tickling him once (only once) and got knocked over by his automatic defensive reaction. He’s the one who had possible TS and OCD-like symptoms when he was younger (he still is pretty "fidgety" at times), so it wouldn’t surprise me if Alex’ sensitivity also came from him. Maybe TSNW can comment on the possibility of co-morbidity when she gets back from vacation. lesliedelong
Response:
Leslie DeLong wrote: > Maybe TSNW can comment on the possibility of co-morbidity when she gets > back from vacation.
Hi, Leslie! My understanding is along the lines of everything that has already been posted (and I also recommend The Out-of-Sync Child). I think Vicki H. explains it well, by thinking of Sensory Integration Dysfunction like a fever. A fever is not unique to any one illness or condition; rather, it indicates that something else is going on in the body which is producing the fever — could be viral, bacterial, etc. Sensory integration issues are not unique to any one condition, rather an indication that something else is going on with the neurological wiring. My son has a very good friend who has no well-established diagnoses (although I strongly suspect that he is on the very very very mild end of the autism spectrum), and yet his sensory integration issues interfere with his life much more than my son’s TS ever has. He has problems with fabrics, clothes, food, water, swimming, balance (can’t ride a bike at 12), can’t swallow pills, and so on. All of these issues have been extremely detrimental to his self-esteem, although it has only hitting him full-force now that he’s in middle school, so his mom has him in therapy hoping to avoid depression as adolescence approaches. Occupational Therapy with someone qualified by Sensory Integration International can be very helpful … I will send you the name of an excellent practitioner who I believe also has an office somewhere near you … (still catching up … if I forget, please remind me) … also, you can find the Sensory Integration International website by going to the TS Links, then Other Links page of my website … — Tourette Syndrome – Now What? http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
Response:
And Did he appreciate all that he put you through? <G> Jodi, wondering to what lengths us women will go to to please our men 
) "jennybravo" <jaispl…@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:3B91E4A7.61FDC730@worldnet.att.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I deserve the wife of the week award over this something like this. My > DH likes peaches. I cannot stand peach fuzz. It makes me crazy. It sets > my teeth on edge. It is worse than fingernails on a chalkboard. Just > considering touching them is torture… Well, last Sunday I bought him > fresh peaches for his lunch! This entailed not only looking at peaches, > but thinking about them, squeezing them, putting them into my shopping > cart, taking them back out, and putting them away at home. Then for the > next THREE DAYS, I had to touch them again to take them out of the > refrigerator and into his lunch sack!!!!! It was traumatic….maybe that > is why I am so bitchy this week…. > jennybravo > — > The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be > pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues. > — Elizabeth Taylor
Response:
KATHRYN A TAUBERT wrote: > Well, last Sunday I bought him > > fresh peaches for his lunch! > JB…let HIM buy the peaches from now on…. > "-)) > KAT in CT
He knows better than to bring those things in my house without permission!<VBG> jai — The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues. — Elizabeth Taylor
Response:
David is also tactile sensitive — although it was described to us by the psychiatrist as a sensory integration issue. On several occasions — the "feel" of some piece of clothing, shoes, etc. has been so uncomfortable for him, that he has thrown up. My ever-helpful in-laws insisted that he was trying to manipulate us with his "temper-tantrums". David is very happy to know that there are other people out there with the same issues. It makes it much easier for both of us to deal with it. Ellen (LN) "Leslie DeLong" <LeslieDeL…@alum.mit.edu> wrote in message
news:LeslieDeLong-0209011127100001@net243-50.med.yale.edu… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Joanne > <snip> > >Why do we need to label that too? > Good question. Alex has so many "peculiar" (as in peculiar to him) > attributes that it’s kind of a relief to find out that other people/kids > have them as well. I hadn’t really thought of the tactile sensitivity as > something that could be "co-morbid" with TS until Jo made her post. I > like pursuing it because it’s helping me put Alex into a context. > — > Lara > thanks for the web site, I’ll check it out. Ross Greene also recommended > "the out of sync child" in his book "the explosive child" and I borrowed > it from the library. I guess I’ll have to decide if Alex’s sensitivities > are annoying enough to get occupational therapy for him. Alex voluntarily > started playing in the water this year, announcing that it was so much fun > that it was worth putting up withwater in his face. It’s possible he’ll > be able to work himself out of it. > — > Vigco > >When my father had glacauma, he told the MD that he felt the pressure in > his >eye, to which the MD said, "that is not possible…" Well, WE know > that it IS >possible. > Jean > >Two people talking at me at the same time makes me go nuts. I hate drony > >noises – machines, the printer. I can’t stand people surprising me – I > get >really nasty. > Now these descriptions sound like my husband. He has early onset gaucoma > and complains about the various medicated eye-drops making his eye muscles > cramp up. He’s always picky about the type of clothing he is willing to > wear. Although he consistently articulates this as a fashion thing, these > descriptions suggest to me that it may well be tactile sensitivity. He is > bothered a lot by back ground noise and dealing with the two kids trying > to get his attention at the same time drives him up the wall. I tried > tickling him once (only once) and got knocked over by his automatic > defensive reaction. He’s the one who had possible TS and OCD-like > symptoms when he was younger (he still is pretty "fidgety" at times), so > it wouldn’t surprise me if Alex’ sensitivity also came from him. > Maybe TSNW can comment on the possibility of co-morbidity when she gets > back from vacation. > lesliedelong
Response:
Jodi wrote: > And Did he appreciate all that he put you through? <G> > Jodi, wondering to what lengths us women will go to to please our men )
I know….that was WAAAYYY beyond the call of duty….But who knows…I may do it again in another 11 years or so…. — The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues. — Elizabeth Taylor
Response:
top post: Don’t you just love people who decide you kid is just manipulating you. I’m sure your son LOVES to throw up just to have a different frabric!! I have a friend with a son with Asbergers who is now in college. When he was in Middle school he hatted to go to school. Everyone thought he was a master manipulator, he looked so cool while he refused to do what they wanted saying he was afraid. I once had to watch him and his younger brother while his mother took her moter-in-law to the doctors. Michael refused to go with me on an erand. I was frustrated and about to agree with those who thought he was just a manipluator ubtil I looked into his eyes. even though on the outseide the kids looked cool and in control, there was panic and fear in his eyes. Indeed this child was trying to protect himself, not manipluate me. His mom fought so many experts and catered to Michael who still deals with many phobias, but is able to go away to college and do well. Jean "LN" <ejm…@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:x4xk7.4572$Uf1.338108@bgtnsc06-news.ops.worldnet.att.net… My ever-helpful in-laws insisted that he was – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> trying to manipulate us with his "temper-tantrums".
Response:
>Subject: Re: tactile sensitivity and *us* >From: "J & S Bouchard" joanne…@hotmail.com >Date: 9/1/01 4:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time >Message-id: <TQbk7.6938$lJ2.174…@newsfeed.slurp.net> >But is this really TS? My husband can only wear certain clothes and the >tags must be cut. (we’ve lost many a shirt because of his lack of precision) >Same for myself, I can’t wear anything "picky" or "thick"… but we both >don’t have TS… I just thought it was "our way". Why do we need to label >that too? My TS son is sensitive as well, but again, I just thought it was >personal preference… he needs to smell everything and if the smell is >strong or bad… watch out! >– >Joanne Bouchard
I have to ask the same questions as Joanne……."But is this really TS?" and "Do we really have to label this?" I had to laugh at some responses to this thread because one of my most vivid memories from childhood is of my younger sister howling, "But it don’t feeeeeellll good!" while pulling at whatever clothes my mother had picked out for her that morning……and her searching through the hamper for her "favorite" pair of underwear……and screaming while her long hair was brushed. She still prefers looser clothes that are made of comfortable fabrics and still has a "sensitive" head. I can feel a grain of sand in my shoe, and can’t think of anything else until I get it out. A bunched up sock is just horrible. I’ve taken my shoes off just about every place I can think of LOL. And wool? Or polyester? Fuggedaboutit! I can’t stand even touching either. Cotton for me, thanks (but I can wax my legs no problem, go figure). Yep, I can suffer tight jeans for a while, but not contacts *or* glasses (somehow, I’ve been able to squint *really* hard and pass the vision test for my driver’s license…….so far…..). My 11 yo son lived sans socks and underwear until last year, because "They don’t feeeeellll good!" Oh, and look out if all the tags weren’t cut out of all his clothing. Finding a comfortable pair of shoes was/is just about impossible for him. My daughter was the same way about shoes, socks, shirts, etc., until puberty hit, and now wears things I would have never thought possible for her (I kind of miss the good ol’ days . Use a timer when cooking? Why? I can *smell* the exact moment when things are "done." I’m the one everyone asks, "Smell this…..is it still good?" I can smell talcum powder someone has used in the bathroom (and that smell really bothers me), and can’t stand that "new clothes" smell. But, OTOH, my favorite scents are Lilac and Honeysuckle, the stronger the better……..which *other* people find overwhelming……. So, me and two kids who have those "tactile sensitivities" (or need for comfort and none of us with TS. In fact, now that I think about it, I don’t know one parent who doesn’t cut the tags out of clothes and doesn’t curse whoever decided to put the sock seam in such an uncomfortable place……… Only spekaing from my own experience………and again, is it really TS and does it need to be labeled? Warm Regards, Lisa
Response:
LisaViger wrote:
<snip> > In fact, now that I think about it, I don’t know one parent who doesn’t > cut the tags out of clothes and doesn’t curse whoever decided to put the sock > seam in such an uncomfortable place……… > Only spekaing from my own experience………and again, is it really TS > and does it need to be labeled? > Warm Regards, > Lisa
*ACK….I NEVER cut the labels out of clothes!!!! I never even considered it until grandma and daddo decided that the tags MUST bother Raymond. (Because it bothers them, or it’s a family tradition or something. I don’t know…)He never complained himself before they kept making a big deal out of it. And he still doesn’t unless reminded. But they will eventually get around to inspecting his shirt to make sure I have cut out the tags. (And they say I’m obsessive…) Of course then he notices and asks me to cut them out. I tell him no way, not until he remembers all by himself that they bother him. They’ll talk about how mean I am, but he will have forgotten about it two minutes later. And even though I refuse to, they somehow mysteriously disappear. It is very hard to not to raise a fuss about it because I LIKE the tags in them. Then I can tell what size he wears in what brand of clothing. Or even just what brand of clothing it is. You cut out the tag in a lot of shirts, you don’t know what kind they are any more! So if they turn out to be cruddy, it’s harder to remember what brand to avoid!!!!! But you have to pick your battles…I won’t even tell you the carrot story….geez…I can’t win….<smile> jennybravo — The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues. — Elizabeth Taylor
Response:
On Tue, 4 Sep 2001 19:36:33 +1000, "Lara" <kbu…@tpg.com.au> wrote: >I said it on another message, but I’ll say it again. I really wish I had >known more about this issue when my son was younger. The occupational >therapists here were not at all helpful. It was during a trip to the USA >where I heard a speaker, an ex-pat. Australian O.T., discussing SID at a TSA >meet there, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. It made sense to me and I >was then able to put into practice some ideas I’d learned. One of the most >useful for us was in the area of ‘touch’. Getting my son used to massage >for example, allowed him to become less defensive in that area. It truly >did help a lot. My daughter has no problems in this area.
this almost sounds like autism. though autism *is* implicated as one of the major comorbidities they have poor sensory managing so there becomes a ’sensory overload’ some person who caught on to this made up some contraption basically it’s like a huge foam vice. they shove the kids in the vice for an hour or so and it’s very therapeutic for them. and the kids look forward to it. it was part of a documentary i saw a while ago.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Subject: Re: tactile sensitivity and *us* >From: jennybravo jaispl…@worldnet.att.net >Date: 9/4/01 2:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time >Message-id: <3B947E00.A166F…@worldnet.att.net> >LisaViger wrote: ><snip> >> In fact, now that I think about it, I don’t know one parent who >doesn’t >> cut the tags out of clothes and doesn’t curse whoever decided to put the >sock >> seam in such an uncomfortable place……… >> Only spekaing from my own experience………and again, is it really >TS >> and does it need to be labeled? >> Warm Regards, >> Lisa >*ACK….I NEVER cut the labels out of clothes!!!! I never even >considered it until grandma and daddo decided that the tags MUST bother >Raymond. (Because it bothers them, or it’s a family tradition or >something. I don’t know…)He never complained himself before they kept >making a big deal out of it. And he still doesn’t unless reminded. But >they will eventually get around to inspecting his shirt to make sure I >have cut out the tags. (And they say I’m obsessive…) Of course then he >notices and asks me to cut them out. I tell him no way, not until he >remembers all by himself that they bother him. They’ll talk about how >mean I am, but he will have forgotten about it two minutes later. And >even though I refuse to, they somehow mysteriously disappear. It is very >hard to not to raise a fuss about it because I LIKE the tags in them. >Then I can tell what size he wears in what brand of clothing. Or even >just what brand of clothing it is. You cut out the tag in a lot of >shirts, you don’t know what kind they are any more! So if they turn out >to be cruddy, it’s harder to remember what brand to avoid!!!!! But you >have to pick your battles…I won’t even tell you the carrot >story….geez…I can’t win….<smile>
My kids have a "Momu and Poppa" who consistantly try to undermine my rules, habits, etc., when it comes to my kids, so I understand, believe me! Having a sockless, underwearless grandson almost put them over the edge…… But, come on, tell the carrot story! Pleeeeeeze? Warm Regards, Lisa – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->jennybravo >– > The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be >pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues. > – Elizabeth Taylor
Response:
"TSNowWhat?" wrote in message > Hi, Leslie! <snipped> > My son has a very good friend who has no well-established > diagnoses (although I strongly suspect that he is on the very very very > mild end of the autism spectrum), and yet his sensory integration issues > interfere with his life much more than my son’s TS ever has. He has > problems with fabrics, clothes, food, water, swimming, balance (can’t > ride a bike at 12), can’t swallow pills, and so on. All of these issues > have been extremely detrimental to his self-esteem, although it has only > hitting him full-force now that he’s in middle school, so his mom has > him in therapy hoping to avoid depression as adolescence approaches. > — > Tourette Syndrome – Now What? > http://members.home.net/tourettenowwhat
Very much the same for my son. He’s really had some big problems with similiar issues since he was a young child. In a busy, cramped, noisy, smelly, usually badly lit classroom, he’s often found it very difficult. Not only has he been dealing with his tics and his counting rituals etc. etc., but he also has had to deal with things that are not noticable to most people. It’s really impacted on his ability to learn at times. If I am talking to parents who say their children are "raging" after a busy day at a shopping centre or immediately after school, then I immediately think of my son and the reasons he finds these sorts of places a very real problem. Still does. I said it on another message, but I’ll say it again. I really wish I had known more about this issue when my son was younger. The occupational therapists here were not at all helpful. It was during a trip to the USA where I heard a speaker, an ex-pat. Australian O.T., discussing SID at a TSA meet there, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. It made sense to me and I was then able to put into practice some ideas I’d learned. One of the most useful for us was in the area of ‘touch’. Getting my son used to massage for example, allowed him to become less defensive in that area. It truly did help a lot. My daughter has no problems in this area. I hope your son’s friend is doing okay there, BB2. Lara
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"LisaViger" <lisavi…@aol.com> wrote in message > >Subject: Re: tactile sensitivity and *us* > >From: "J & S Bouchard" joanne…@hotmail.com > >Date: 9/1/01 4:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time > >Message-id: <TQbk7.6938$lJ2.174…@newsfeed.slurp.net> > >But is this really TS? My husband can only wear certain clothes and the > >tags must be cut. (we’ve lost many a shirt because of his lack of precision) > >Same for myself, I can’t wear anything "picky" or "thick"… but we both > >don’t have TS… I just thought it was "our way". Why do we need to label > >that too? My TS son is sensitive as well, but again, I just thought it was > >personal preference… he needs to smell everything and if the smell is > >strong or bad… watch out! > >– > >Joanne Bouchard > I have to ask the same questions as Joanne……."But is this really TS?" > and "Do we really have to label this?" > I had to laugh at some responses to this thread because one of my most > vivid memories from childhood is of my younger sister howling, "But it don’t > feeeeeellll good!" while pulling at whatever clothes my mother had picked out > for her that morning……and her searching through the hamper for her > "favorite" pair of underwear……and screaming while her long hair was > brushed. She still prefers looser clothes that are made of comfortable fabrics > and still has a "sensitive" head. > I can feel a grain of sand in my shoe, and can’t think of anything else > until I get it out. A bunched up sock is just horrible. I’ve taken my shoes off > just about every place I can think of LOL. And wool? Or polyester? > Fuggedaboutit! I can’t stand even touching either. Cotton for me, thanks (but I > can wax my legs no problem, go figure). Yep, I can suffer tight jeans for a > while, but not contacts *or* glasses (somehow, I’ve been able to squint > *really* hard and pass the vision test for my driver’s license…….so > far…..). > My 11 yo son lived sans socks and underwear until last year, because "They > don’t feeeeellll good!" Oh, and look out if all the tags weren’t cut out of all > his clothing. Finding a comfortable pair of shoes was/is just about impossible > for him. > My daughter was the same way about shoes, socks, shirts, etc., until > puberty hit, and now wears things I would have never thought possible for her > (I kind of miss the good ol’ days . > Use a timer when cooking? Why? I can *smell* the exact moment when things > are "done." I’m the one everyone asks, "Smell this…..is it still good?" I can > smell talcum powder someone has used in the bathroom (and that smell really > bothers me), and can’t stand that "new clothes" smell. But, OTOH, my favorite > scents are Lilac and Honeysuckle, the stronger the better……..which *other* > people find overwhelming……. > So, me and two kids who have those "tactile sensitivities" (or need for > comfort and none of us with TS. > In fact, now that I think about it, I don’t know one parent who doesn’t > cut the tags out of clothes and doesn’t curse whoever decided to put the sock > seam in such an uncomfortable place……… > Only spekaing from my own experience………and again, is it really TS > and does it need to be labeled? > Warm Regards, > Lisa
I see it as a separate issue from TS. Does it need a name? Depends. Certainly would have helped to have known more about sensory integration issues when my son was younger. I would imagine it depends on the severity of the sensitivities. As you note, this sensitivity can be a good thing. As I posted further up the thread here, it can also cause a lot of problems. If you are so hypersensitive to certain smells that it makes you vomit… if you are so hypersensitive to sunlight that you have difficulty travelling in a car… if you are so hypersensitive to certain noises that they keep you awake half the night…. if you are so hypersensitive to someone’s touch that it is a problem, then YES, those issues do need to be addressed and yes, there are things that can be done to make a person more comfortable. Lara
Response:
My eye doc is amazed at how sensitive my eyes are to the slightest bit of dust particle on my contact lens, as I scream and take it out to rinse yet again during the exam…. Until I told him how I was always the "Princess and the Pea" as a child, who could feel the slightest thing in my clothes, bed, shoe, sock, etc. Last November, just after my back surgery, I was *barely* conscious and only half out of the anesthesia, and I kept mumbling "prick" "prick" to my mom, who thought I was either cursing at the doctor, talking about a needle (she loosened the IV needle for me, she’s a nurse) or talking about pain. Then I said, "dumach prick", and pressed my belly. By this time someone had taken my gown off me and put on my own nightshirt that I had brought. Mom looked under my nightgown, and on my stomach was a tiny 1/4 long down feather that had probably come off one of my feather pillows at home, and stayed on my nightgown. You know the sharp little point at the end of a feather? It was brushing against my skin, and it was pricking me! So although hardly alert, not even oriented, I could feel that tiny little feather against my skin! Never underestimate the power of Tourettic awareness! Jo — Joanne Cohen, LICSW ~*~"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing"~*~ -Helen Keller
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In article <hx_j7.82$CR2.211…@typhoon.ne.mediaone.net>, "Joanne Cohen" <joco…@mediaone.net> wrote: > Until I told him how I was always the "Princess and the Pea" as a child, who > could feel the slightest thing in my clothes, bed, shoe, sock, etc. > Never underestimate the power of Tourettic awareness! > Jo
Is this normally part of TS? Alex has incredible sensory sensitivity, not just touch, but sight, hearing, smell, taste, you name it. I’ve wondered how much of it was due to crankiness, because he’ll complain about quiet noises sometimes (and repetitive sounds, especially if his brother makes them – oh my lord) – at other times he can put up with very loud noises, relatively intense pain (for him), etc. It could have to do with whether he’s "engaged" or not. Deafening noise doesn’t bother him at arcades, etc and he usually bounces up from the soccer field and other falls when he’s doing something he considers really "fun". lesliedelong
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Sarah was diagnoses as Tactile defensive beofre she even got the TS diagnoses. Like Leslie said, there are times when she can be oblivous to pain and other times the slightest thing can seem like a knife to her. To this day all tags are cut out of her clothes and certain fabrics she can’t wear. Hum… Hugs, Jean
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Jo writes:
Until I told him how I was always the "Princess and the Pea" as a child, who could feel the slightest thing in my clothes, bed, shoe, sock, etc. Benita responds: Thanks for bringing this up, Jo. Ben is this way, too, and I thought it was just as much a flair for the dramatic as physical hypersensitivity. I hope your post will prompt some discussion of this, and what can be done to make our kids more comfortable. Also, please know that our critters are sending your critters hugs, as are Ben and I!
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I do nto believe that it is aprt of any official list of diagnosis related to TS, but clothing issues have been discussed at ast at length earlier. I drew my mother nuts because of details in my clothing that did not "feel right" (a curled up stocking indside a shoe was impossible for me to walk with, as one example.) Today I need to have the sheet "straight" under me to sleep. (Yes, my military bunk was always well streched and the coin would toss right back to the sergant when tested). The conclusion as I remembered it was that there are a lot of people on ast with similar "problems" or "things" related to sensitivity to clothes, but there is nothing conclusieve in it related to diagnosis and TS. John Morten "Leslie DeLong" <LeslieDeL…@alum.mit.edu> wrote in message
news:LeslieDeLong-0109010845440001@net243-90.med.yale.edu… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> In article <hx_j7.82$CR2.211…@typhoon.ne.mediaone.net>, "Joanne Cohen" > <joco…@mediaone.net> wrote: > > Until I told him how I was always the "Princess and the Pea" as a child, who > > could feel the slightest thing in my clothes, bed, shoe, sock, etc. > > Never underestimate the power of Tourettic awareness! > > Jo > Is this normally part of TS? > Alex has incredible sensory sensitivity, not just touch, but sight, > hearing, smell, taste, you name it. I’ve wondered how much of it was due > to crankiness, because he’ll complain about quiet noises sometimes (and > repetitive sounds, especially if his brother makes them – oh my lord) – at > other times he can put up with very loud noises, relatively intense pain > (for him), etc. It could have to do with whether he’s "engaged" or not. > Deafening noise doesn’t bother him at arcades, etc and he usually bounces > up from the soccer field and other falls when he’s doing something he > considers really "fun". > lesliedelong
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But is this really TS? My husband can only wear certain clothes and the tags must be cut. (we’ve lost many a shirt because of his lack of precision) Same for myself, I can’t wear anything "picky" or "thick"… but we both don’t have TS… I just thought it was "our way". Why do we need to label that too? My TS son is sensitive as well, but again, I just thought it was personal preference… he needs to smell everything and if the smell is strong or bad… watch out! — Joanne Bouchard "BENITA M WINSLOW" <Ben…@prodigy.net> wrote in message news:CA5k7.22142$Vg1.3049080985@newssvr15.news.prodigy.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Jo writes: > Until I told him how I was always the "Princess and the Pea" as a child, who > could feel the slightest thing in my clothes, bed, shoe, sock, etc. > Benita responds: > Thanks for bringing this up, Jo. Ben is this way, too, and I thought it was > just as much a flair for the dramatic as physical hypersensitivity. I hope > your post will prompt some discussion of this, and what can be done to make > our kids more comfortable. > Also, please know that our critters are sending your critters hugs, as are > Ben and I!
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Leslie DeLong" <LeslieDeL…@alum.mit.edu> wrote in message > In article "Joanne Cohen" > <joco…@mediaone.net> wrote: > > Until I told him how I was always the "Princess and the Pea" as a child, who > > could feel the slightest thing in my clothes, bed, shoe, sock, etc. > > Never underestimate the power of Tourettic awareness! > > Jo > Is this normally part of TS? > Alex has incredible sensory sensitivity, not just touch, but sight, > hearing, smell, taste, you name it. I’ve wondered how much of it was due > to crankiness, because he’ll complain about quiet noises sometimes (and > repetitive sounds, especially if his brother makes them – oh my lord) – at > other times he can put up with very loud noises, relatively intense pain > (for him), etc. It could have to do with whether he’s "engaged" or not. > Deafening noise doesn’t bother him at arcades, etc and he usually bounces > up from the soccer field and other falls when he’s doing something he > considers really "fun". > lesliedelong
Dear Leslie, you might like to read the information on this site I’ve posted below. It’s my understanding that these sensory issues appear in lots of different neurological conditions – not only TS and indeed not all people with TS. Sensory integration dysfunction can cause a lot of negatives as well as the positives and if you suspect your son has these issues and they’re affecting him adversely, then it’s worth finding a qualified occupational therapist who is familiar with it. My son, amongst other things, hears frequencies of sound that are not audible or sometimes just barely audible to anyone else. They actually sometimes cause him a lot of pain and discomfort. He has also had difficulties with the feeling of water on his skin, the texture of certain foods etc. etc. etc. etc. Sight, sound, hearing, smell, and taste. http://www.sensoryint.com/faq.html Answers to Frequently Asked Questions – Sensory Integration nternational - The Ayres Clinic Here’s the title of a book that a lot of people recommended to me some time ago when I was investigating this subject. "The Out-of-Sync Child" by Carol Stock Kranowitz Hope that helps, Lara
