Lancelot’s Senses

“The greater the understanding of a problem, the more effectively it is helped.” A. Jean Ayres, Ph.D, Sensory Intergration and the Child

Lancelot lived bouncing on a trampoline until he
transferred to his ball.

 

At one time Lancelot over 20 doctors. All of them were kind, and several are still cherished friends today.
Yet  not one of them could help me understand why Lancelot screamed, cried, throw his head back against things,
and would bite me on the shoulder in the mist of his anguish.

When Lancelot was 3 weeks and one day old he
started screaming!
(Every couple of months I would recieve a “Heart to Heart”, magazine from the William’s Syndrome Association.
I would read every detail looking for a solution or new research. I really learned a lot from the other parents stories.
Every once and awhile, I would come across Sensory Integration Therapy. Some of the parents had had success with this type of therapy, so
I mentioned it to Dr. Bridgett Freeman ( Lancelot’s Hemotologist). She set up an appointment for Lancelot to be evaluated
with a occupational therapist at Nemours Children’s Clinic.

Loved, Loved the thearapist, though I cannot remember her name. She was just  great with Lancelot.  She told me Lancelot was like those ladies in the old Calgon commercials.  You know the ones
that said, ” Take me away!”She pushed him
hard in a gentle and caring way. Of course Lancelot had every sensory intergration problem possible. I mean if Lancelot has some-
thing he has it but good. She let me check out a book by A. Jean Ayres,Ph.D.. I took the book home, and once I started reading it;
I could not put it down. Nope it was not a simple story, but every page open the door to understanding Lancelot.
Why he got down on his knee’s to get over a crack in the side walk; why when we were riding in  the car, and he would suddenly yell.
Why he would be having a great day( no screaming ), and as soon as we walked into a store or someone came over to our apartment the screaming would begin.

I had answers! Answers did not give me a quick cure for Lancelot, but it helped me understand his behavior.
It made me love him all the more!

1.Large Crowds

2.Areole Cans

3.Blow Dryers

4.Rain (The sound of Rain in automobiles,etc.)

5.Water hoses (the sound on automobiles,etc.)

6.Blenders, Mixers, Food processors

7.Light touches (Can feel like someone hit them)

8.Hugs (though long, hard, bear hugs
can help calm)

9.Trains, Train Tracks, Semis, any large
motor running

10.’The smell and texture of certain foods

11.Slides, swings, and all playground equipment
(although all of these are used in Sensory Integration therapy)

Each person will have their own Triggers. As a parent,
friend, teacher, or family member it is up to you to help protect them from
these triggers. They will need your help to help them learn ways of adapting to
this world. There may places and things they made never be able to tolerate.
Each day through learning and acceptance life becomes richer. Look how far
Lancelot has come.

These helped Lancelot

Each person will need
to be evaluated by a Sensory Integration Therapist to find out their own
special needs! It works or Lancelot and I would never been able to drive around
the country!

Sensory UPDATE

Lancelot has passion for Dairy Farming was greatly
hampered for years. The sound of the milking machines kept him outside
screaming wanting so badly to get into the milking parlor. Today  one of Lancelot’s  greatest joy is being in a milking
parlor.

Lancelot and I have come a long way, yet over the past few years, when I least expect it
Lancelot’s evil twin emerges. For example, on our 2010 Summer Quest at the
Hoard’s Dairyman magazine office we got to meet the Managing Editor, Steven A.
Larson. Lancelot was talking with Mr. Larson about dairy farming, then much to
my horror, he started to take the books off the shelves as fast as he could,
and just laying them down instead of putting the books back where he had gotten
them. (Speed reading)  I started putting
the books back. Mr. Larson said the order of the books did not matter because
some of the books had not been off the shelves in 100 years! I had not seen
Lancelot do this since he was a small child; needless to say he was in Sensory
Overload.  Evil Twin equals Sensory
Overload.

It is a challenge to keep Lancelot
from becoming over stimulated as we travel. He needs to be in a quiet,
controlled environment with just his books, movies, and balls to calm his
senses. I do my best, but we really need a home on wheels.