Joanne,
You bring up a very good point.  Many children who have been abused or
hostilly touched also have sensory difficulties.  Think about it, touch is
the most intimate of our senses and if you've and your body have learned
that touch is bad (sexual/physical abuse) then you learn abnormal responses
to touch.  Your body is often at an increased arousal (of the fight or
flight kind).  I've worked with children in the foster care system, children
adopted from overseas, etc. and the first thing we have to teach them is to
trust us enough to let us touch them.  There are definate emotional
connections with touch.  I think I've taken over the list enough for awhile.
If anyone is interested in discussing this more, I'm willing to share what I
know on or off the list as they wish.

Beth the OT

email address: [log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of joanne
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 9:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Sensory Integration Problems


There is indeed an entity called sensory integration dysfunction( =
disorder). It is not the same as the CP startle reflex. You may want to =
check this sight for information
http://www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/fall97/sensory.htm. You would see =
an OT to deal with this issue. You might also want to consider in light =
of the abuse that you suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.=20
Joanne
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Matt Conaway=20
  To: [log in to unmask]
  Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 8:27 PM
  Subject: Sensory Integration Problems


  Folks,

  Is it just me, or does everybody with CP have hypersensitivity or =
sensory
  intergration problems?  I would like to know because I think I have
  sensory problems that have never been addressed.  Is there any help =
for
  that?  I'm emotionally hypersensitive as it is, and I was abused as a
  child and adult.  Yet, I am convinced for some time now that there is =
a
  definite neurological component to all of this.

  For example, I jump at loud noises. I can't talk to more than one =
person
  at a time because I get overloaded and melt down.  I need it quiet =
most
  of time.  I'm probably tactile defensive.  I could go on.

  Does any of this sound familiar to anyone?


  Matt