When I first started learning about SPD, I was so overwhelmed by all the language that was being used in the books and by the therapists. There were so many new terms, acronyms, and words I had to learn. One of the parents in our parent group calls it "Alphabet Soup" because of all the acronyms. OT, PT, SPD... It’s all kind of confusing at first. We decided to create a little cheat sheet to help you understand the lingo better.
The 7 Senses:
Tactile: the sense of touch; input from the skin receptors about touch, pressure, temperature, pain and movement of the hairs on the skin.
Vestibular: the sense of movement; input from the inner ear about equilibrium, gravitational changes, movement experiences and position in space.
Proprioception: the sense of "position"; input from the muscles and joints about body position, weight, pressure, stretch, movement and changes in position.
Auditory: input relating to sounds; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to sounds
Oral: input relating to the mouth; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to input within the mouth
Olfactory: input relating to smell; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to different odors.
Visual: input relating to sight; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to what one sees.
Terms:
SPD: Sensory Processing Disorder is a neurological disorder causing difficulties with processing information from the five senses (vision, auditory, touch, olfaction, and taste), the sense of movement (vestibular system), and/or the positional sense (proprioception). For those with SPD, sensory information is sensed, but perceived abnormally. SPD is used synonymously with SID.
SI or SID: Sensory Integration Dysfunction or Sensory Integration Disorder is still being used to describe the theory and treatment, based on the original work of A. Jean Ayres.
A. Jean Ayres, Ph.D.: was an occupational therapist and developmental psychologist known for her work in the area of sensory integration dysfunction, a term she coined in the 1960s to describe a theory used in occupational therapy.
OT: occupational therapist or occupational therapy
SLP: speech language pathologist
PT: physical therapist or physical therapy
DT: Developmental therapist or development therapy
EI: Early Intervention
GF/CF Diet: Gluten Free/Casein Free. Gluten-wheat. Casein- Dairy
Receptive language: ability to understand words spoken to you
Expressive language: ability to use words to express yourself
Echolalia: is the automatic repetition of words made by another person.
Hypersensitivity: over-responsive. over reacts.
Hyposensitivity: under-responsive. under reacts.
Sensory Diet: "A sensory diet is a planned and scheduled activity program designed to meet a child's specific sensory needs. Wilbarger and Wilbarger (1991) developed the approach to provide the "just right" combination of sensory input to achieve and maintain optimal levels of arousal and performance in the nervous system. The ability to appropriately orient and respond to sensations can be enhanced by a proper sensory diet. A sensory diet also helps reduce protective or sensory defensive responses that can negatively affect social contact and interaction."
Fine motor: is the action involving the small muscles of the hands, as in handwriting, sewing or knitting.
Gross motor: Gross motor involves the large muscles of the body, as in walking, running or swimming.
Dr. Lucy Jane Miller: "As founder of the first comprehensive Sensory Processing Disorder research program nationwide and author of groundbreaking Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Dr. Lucy Jane Miller's name is synonymous with sensory research, education, and treatment." (copied from SPDFoundaton.net)
DSM-IV: The Psychiatric bible. The manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and covers all mental health disorders for both children and adults.
Important Information Regarding the DSM-IV from the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation:
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, currently in its 4th edition and often called simply DSM-IV, is the standard diagnostic tool used by mental health professionals worldwide to promote reliable research, accurate diagnosis, and appropriate treatment of cognitive and mental health conditions. Currently, Sensory Processing Disorder is not included in the DSM. This absence limits awareness of SPD, contributes to the misdiagnosis and inappropriate therapeutic treatment of children, and reduces funding for research. Insurance companies often rely upon the DSM-IV diagnoses and may not cover treatment of SPD because it is not listed in the DSM.
Since 2000, the SPD Foundation has spearheaded an intense campaign for recognition of Sensory Processing Disorder in the revised DSM-5, which will be published in 2013. The SPDF has invested heavily in research and has facilitated complementary studies at premier research institutions across the country and internationally. In January 2007, the SPD Foundation submitted its first-stage application to the DSM-5 committee of the American Psychiatric Association. Because we completed or published so much additional research in 2007, we prepared and submitted a supplement to our original application in March 2008. This assured that the DSM committee members have the most current data before them as they deliberate.
In April 2008, we received a lengthy and extremely detailed letter from the chair of the DSM committee. In it, he indicated a significant number of additional studies we needed to submit before SPD could be recognized. We began those studies immediately. At the same time, we remained in close communication with the DSM committee. In June 2009, we received word that SPD is "on the list" of "novel diagnostic entities" being considered for the DSM-5. We also were informed that field trials for new diagnoses under consideration would begin in August 2009, five months earlier than we anticipated. We submitted additional requested data by that deadline.
