skip to navigation
Pampers® Village a place to grow
  • Home
  • Pregnant
  • New Baby
  • Baby
  • Toddler
  • Pre-school

Development

Expert Q&A:
Where can I find resources for a 20-month-old with sensory dysfunction?

0   people commented
on this article
 
0
 
0
Suzanne Dixon
Answered by Suzanne Dixon M.D., M.P.H.
Meet our authors
"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R. Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals. Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women''s health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists.
Read bio Hide bio Hide

Question


My 20-month-old daughter was diagnosed with sensory dysfunction. Can you give me the latest news on therapy and perhaps a hotline for parents or support groups? I am a single mom with two children -- sure could use some help.

Answer


This isn't really a diagnosis but a term to describe children who seem to be both overly and under-responsive to sensory input such as touch, sound, and activity. I see this more as a temperamental issue but one that you need to really understand in order to manage and help your daughter. Therapists do know a lot of activities that seem to help some but not all kids with this kind of responsiveness. I hope you are getting therapy services and that you are learning what activities help your daughter gain better control of her responses, the ultimate goal for such treatment. Give any therapy program three months to show any progress. Gains will be slow but the course of things should be one of improvement. Scientific proof of these treatment modalities is lacking, but I've seen some gifted therapists work miracles with some very challenging kids. Although written with mainly older children in mind, Stan Turecki's book The Difficult Child provides insight and some practical tips on how to manage overly sensitive children. Raising Your Spirited Child, by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, has also been helpful to families. I'm not aware of any resources but I'm sure your therapist will have them. Remember, you have a child, not a diagnosis, and you are running a family, not a treatment center. Any program that becomes the centerpiece of your life isn't right for any family member including your daughter.
ADVERTISEMENT
 
 
0
Member comments

You might also like

Dora® and Diego designs are great for boys and girls

Find out about: Pampers Splashers® Swim Pants for Boys and Girls
Pampers Splashers® Swim Pants for Boys and Girls