Title: The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Processing Disorder: Easy, Everyday Solutions to Sensory Challenges
Author: Roya Ostovar, Ph.D.
Length: 340 pages
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher/Date: Sensory World, 2010
Source: Review copy
About the Book
When sensory processing is impaired, lights can be too bright, sounds too loud, and clothes can actually be painful on the skin. It can be practically impossible for children to tolerate their day, let alone learn in a classroom. In this book, with a forward by best-selling special-needs author Carol Kranowitz, neuropsychologist Dr. Roya Ostovar helps parents to help their children. She provides clear explanations, up-to-date research, step-by-step strategies, and case examples that bring her proven methods to life.
My Thoughts
I have to admit, I approached this review unsure whether we needed another book about sensory processing disorder. Many of us have gained a fairly good understanding of the topic from books such as The Out-of-Sync Child
But this book is actually written from a new perspective on the topic, as we learn in the foreword by Carol Kranowitz herself. Dr. Ostovar is a neuropsychologist who has worked in this area for over 14 years and looks at the disorder from a neurobiological basis. As Carol shares, “I rejoiced at this news, as many medical and mental health professionals are still unaware of the causes and effects of sensory processing issues.”
In her introduction, Dr. Ostovar breaks down the layout of the book and tells us her main takeaway message:
In the end, however, all I would like you to know is that SPD is a real diagnosis and disorder that is neurobiologically based, and that children with SPD can be treated with impressive results.
Following the introduction, there are seven chapters in the book:
- What Is SPD?
- What It’s Like to Have SPD
- Understanding SPD as a Form of Stress
- Helping Your Child Every Day and at Special Events
- Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment—Where to Begin
- How to Help Create a Sensory-Friendly Classroom, and
- The Difference between SPD and Look-Alike Disorders
Each chapter covers its topic well and includes many examples of what to look for as well as suggestions of how to help. In addition, there are two appendices covering typical developmental stages in children and developmental milestones for children.
I was especially fascinated by Chapter 3, which suggests that we can better understand SPD by viewing it as an ongoing and chronic form of stress. “Like stress,” Dr. Ostovar tells us, “SPD causes physiological changes or abnormalities that show themselves and are reported based on how the individual experiences them on a daily basis.”
Dr. Ostovar clearly states that more research is needed into the physiological and psychoneuroimmunological processes driving SPD, but recommends that parents and teachers keep this analogy in mind when dealing with a child who has SPD. Untreated stress, (and, theoretically, untreated SPD) can lead to low self-esteem, isolation and vulnerability for depression and can also negatively impact daily living, cognition and behavior.
It’s interesting that behavior is listed as one of the areas affected, since people are often focused on behavior as being the main problem. Back in chapter 2, Dr. Ostovar points out that “the children’s atypical behaviors and responses are the manifestations of the disorder, and not the disorder itself.”
And in connection with the discussion on SPD as a form a stress, she states, “Behavior is the part of stress that connects everything together—the physical symptoms of stress (physiology), … your perception of the stressful event (subjective experience), and the way you solve problems or think while under stress (cognition).” This all makes so much sense to me, and I look forward to seeing more research on the topic in the future.
Although I have focused primarily on one chapter, I can tell you that this entire book is extremely well-written and includes a lot of practical information along with the foundational explanations. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who lives or works with children who have SPD, either by itself or along with another disorder. It is available directly from Future Horizons, where you can use the code INTERRUPTED to receive 15% off and free shipping in the continental US.
Note: This is Book #48 of my 2011 Reads (master list here). I received a review copy of this book for free, and all opinions and comments are my own. The Future Horizons discount code is an affiliate link.
I'm a mom with Asperger's raising an amazing son with autism, which means I'm basically the case manager/advocate/cheerleader/chauffeur. The rest of the time, you can usually find me with my nose in a book!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I like the connection between SPD and stress. Maybe teachers can get this better with this in mind!
This review is one that makes me want to read the book! Behavior being the manifestation of SPD and not the SPD itself is something I do not think we – as parents overlook so much as the therapists coordinated with our children’s behavior. Fascinating ingredients to yield behavior as the part of the stress connecting everything together. Very thought provoking and yet so common sensical. Thanks for sharing Trish!