Sensory Speak

Apparently my plan to post once every day during Trich week isn’t working out so well.  I thought I’d only missed one day, but it has been two.  Oops.

I’m not getting very many hits lately though, so did any of you even miss it?

I’m sitting here with one of my warmest softest hats on today.  I’ve posted about these before and they are just a little stretchy so they compress my scalp a little.   So lets talk sensory.

My guess is that most people don’t even know what I’m talking about unless you’ve taken a ComB (Comprehensive Behavioral Model) training or learned about SCAMP from Dr.  Mansueto.  Dr. Mansueto is the first Trich specialist that I know of who identified and felt it was important to treat the sensory needs of clients with TTM.

Working with kids on the autism spectrum like I do, sensory needs are something I constantly think about while at work.  Many of the behaviors and frustrations presented by these kids are because they are too over or under stimulated and their brains aren’t wired to help them regulate these sensations.  It may be the lights blinking too much, back ground noises, planes flying outdoors (some of them have amazing hearing, sometimes even perfect pitch), too much movement around them.  It may be that their joints aren’t receiving the sensations of pressure and movement than most of us take for granted (which leaves them feeling like they don’t really know where their body is in space & they sort of float).  They will self stimulate with waving their hands in front of their face, needing to carry certain objects al the time, etc.   I’ve had a few students who pull their hair or twirl it as a part of their self-regulation.  It can send them into a behavioral and/or emotional tailspin if these needs can’t be met.

I have some of my own sensory issues as well, and started wondering about the connections between what worked for some of my kids (fidget toys, weight vests, bear hugs for joint pressure, etc.) and if they might not help me.  Accidentally getting this first compressing hat was the connector for me.  I’ve used other hats & scarves, but back when I wore wigs they had to be big enough to fit over that extra hair.  So they never compressed.  When I got this one all of a sudden, my hand almost stopped going to my head at all when I had it on.  Doesn’t make any sense UNLESS it is that my scalp just needs some extra stimulation (in this case pressure rather than pulling) to help regulate the little bit of extra sensory stimulation I need.

This hat and looking into the sensory components of TTM are actually what eventually led me to present music therapy at the 08 TLC retreat and now to present about BFRBs & Music Therapy at my AMTA national conference.  Music Therapists, especially those trained to work with clients with sensory issues, could be of huge benefit to us pullers who need to figure out a good sensory diet that might help us stop pulling so much.

Pretty good for a hat I bought for $6 on clearance, no?

So if you still struggle with why you pull and especially those zone-out trigger moments (computer, tv, driving, reading, etc.) see if you can identify whether you feel over or under stimulated.  Are you bored or are you feeling anxious?  See if you can find fidget items or head covers or a heavy blanket that help you to feel more at peace.  These little things might just give you one more tool to fight the urges.