Welcome to SPD Life
Join our new forums!
SPD International, our parent organization, is a free and open, laid back forum-based support community for adults, parents, and professionals who's lives are effected by SPD. If your life is effected by SPD in some way, feel free to join!
We are not your typical support community for SPD. We are so much more! We are here to help you through all of your hard times, celebrate all your successes, and get to know you for who you are outside of SPD! SPD can seem to rule your life, can't it? Well, at this site, we focus more on the individual, getting to know who you are and what interests you, and focusing on your strengths and gifts, rather than your disability!
If that sounds good, please join us at SPD International!
Make this site softer and easier to read, here in Soft Version.
An update for loyal followers
Hello to everyone who has been checking in on this website frequently, just waiting for me to change something. Well I have
been incredibly busy lately and have not had much time to update anything. Currently, I am in the process of redesigning this website. I have quite a few ideas on how to improve it, and organize it
better. If you have any comments or suggestions, please drop me a line at spdlife@gmail.com to let me
and the rest of the crew know what you think. I thank you all for this patience.
— Daniel Travis, founder and webmaster of spdlife.org
Check out my article: 5 Steps for Coping with SPD as an Adult.
What is SPD?
SPD is the acronym for Sensory Processing Disorder, a common yet mostly unheard of neurological disorder. Sensory processing, otherwise known as sensory integration, is a function that all brains must perform. It is a crucial body function. The nervous system is responsible for sending millions upon millions of recorded, encoded sensory messages to the brain every minute. It is the brain's job to respond to that sensory data in an appropriate and efficient manner. But how does the brain interperate these encoded sensory messages? Through the process of sensory integration. It is the body function responsible for deciphering all of the jumbled up sensory input the nervous system is constantly sending the brain.
However, like anything else in the human body, sensory processing can be less than perfect. Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), formerly known as Sensory Integration Disorder (SID or DSI), occurs whenever this process goes wrong. Sensory Processing Disorder is not actually just one disorder, but an entire spectrum of disorders. It has been broken up into categories to make it easier for everyone to understand.
The 3 main categories of SPD are Sensory Modulation Disorder, Sensory Discrimination Disorder, and Sensory Based Motor Disorder. Sensory Modulation Disorder impacts an individual's ability to regulate their state of arrousal. In this way, people can be over-responsive to sensory input, under-responsiveness to input, or seek an out extreme amountof input. Sensory Discrimination Disorder effects a person's ability to determine the source, degree, or significance of an input. It makes it difficult for a person to make sense of the world. Sensory Based Motor Disorder impacts a person's ability to navigate through this world physically. It can cause clumsiness, poor coordination or posture.
What Are The Symptoms?
There are many symptoms that can occur in each type of SPD. It is important to note that not everyone will display ALL of these signs. It is possible for someone to have every disorder under the SPD spectrum, but one does not have to have every form of dysfunction or be effected in all of their senses to qualify for the SPD diagnosis.
Here is a VERY brief list:
- Poor eating and sleeping habits
- Easily agitated by changes in plans and routines
- Constantly at extremes, especially in emotions and energy level
- Fidgety or can't sit still
- Often lost in own imagination or 'little world'
- Performs repetitive movements (pacing, tapping, rocking, etc.)
- Overly sensitive to sensations such as light, texture, and noise
- Don't seem to notice sensations that others find annoying
- Constantly seeking and craving certain forms of sensory input
- Difficulty determining where a sensation came from, or how intense it is
- Clumsy, slow, or behind motorically
- Slouching or 'lazy' attitude
- May suffer from anxiety and depression
- Have constantly felt 'odd' and have had to answer to "What is wrong with you?" a LOT
Check the Symptoms page for a more complete listing.
Can SPD Be Cured?
No, unfortunately, but it can be better coped with, and things truly can get better with the help of an Occupational Therapist. Researchers are discovering more and more about SPD every day. While we may not have found all of the answers yet, we do know quite a bit already. By working diligently and by using the right tools, we CAN improve sensory processing capabilities.
I'm New To SPD - Where Do I Start?
Well, you've come to the right place. SPD Life is the first of it's kind. It is the first website where adults can turn to when sensory issues are making their lives unbearable. We are knowledgeable, dedicated adults who suffer from SPD ourselves, and understand what you are going through. We are here to help you get started on your path to a better, fuller life with SPD. Go to the top SPD Life Navigation bar to find links to pages that will fill you in on the rest. Once more, welcome to SPD Life!!!