September 26, 2007
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When an Odd Duck Quacks, Does it Sound Like Music?
Tucker marches to the beat of a different drummer. No doubt about that. We're starting to get a handle on why and how he marches. Julie gave us a clue last Spring when she said, "It appears that this child has a sensory integration disorder." The Special Ed team and diagnosticians at his school here are getting even closer to an answer.
There have been several incidents with Tucker at his school this year. The kind of incidents that have left me bewildered, have left him in a bad position vis-a-vis his classmates ...
The school team made a concerted effort to write down time lines to see exactly what happened in what order. And when they compared notes today, they discovered that every single incident had a specific sensory antecedent. They aren't stopping with this information, they are honing in to figure out as best they can exactly what it is that Tucker reacts to and what makes him over-react.
See, sometimes, there will be a small incident that would be "nothing" if it were you or me involved, but when Tucker experiences it he just loses it. He will break down into sobbing, or he will (over) react as though he's been attacked.
Today, we had an incident that revealed the other side of it all. He walked into the computer lab with his class and immediately said, "Something stinks in here. Something is really really bad in here. It's making me sick."
At this point the other kids and teacher were bewildered, they didn't smell anything. But Tucker kept insisting that something was bad wrong and that he could smell it. He was on the verge of tears when he also saw a little puff of smoke at the back of one of the monitors.
The teacher investigated and realized that a short in some wiring had caused a small electrical fire that was getting larger. She evacuated the room, they called maintenance. The day was saved. And even after, the class was still talking about how lucky it was that Tucker smelled it.
He's like that. He sees things, smells things, hears things, feels things, tastes things ...
The next step is to have him evaluated by the autism team. I didn't know it before today, but apparently sensory integration disorder is another piece of the autism puzzle. Sigh. My poor babies.
Some of you have wondered how Tucker got hold of a razor. He didn't actually. He got hold of a little electric trimmer. His brother has naturally very thick and heavy eyebrows and Michael likes to trim them a little. Tucker used Michael's trimmer to take off as much hair as possible.
The photo from this morning makes it appear that he didn't quite shave the whole brow. That picture is misleading. Because he used a trimmer instead of a razor, the thickest part of the brow was too thick for him to get all the way to his skin and there's a little residue, like razor stubble.
I am encouraged by WickedGlee's promise that kid hair grows like kudzu. Maybe in a couple weeks he'll be back to "normal" or at least a little more normal looking.
Comments (10)
Wow....that is lucky Tucker smelled it....but very strange he was the only one.
I've always found it interesting how the human condition can be so different...
what escapes the mainstream is a focal point for those outside of it...
There is much to be learned from Tucker & his "isms"
Oh, and look at it this way...at least he has one brow left? *wink*
"Sensory Integration Disorder". Oh boy, do I know all about that. But there are plenty of "workarounds", believe me. They become second nature to you.
I can't believe you all are living in Albuquerque now! I once had a guy break my heart who was from there. I was supposed to marry him and live happily ever after in Albuquerque. I hope you and your boys do live happily ever after there
If Einstein was in school today they'd diagnose him with some kind of disorder
Look long enough you'll be able to find some quack who'll tell you Tucker got some neurotic made up disease...maybe your son's a genius
Study a little history and you'll notice there was no ADD and all that other crap in the times of Einstein, Euclid, da Vinci, etc
That's a fascinating gift -- a word I use advisedly, of course. It does sound, given your example, like a trait that could be very useful, if you learn to use it. Gads. Huge hugs, Terri!!
Sometimes Tucker nose best.....
In the days when we still put blueing in our whites to make them whiter when washing. My kids took a bottle of this stuff and painted each other. It soaked into their skin made them look bruised. They thought it was quite pretty. The neighbors thought I beat them. They also painted each other red once with enamel. Kids. Judi
i am extrememly sensitive to light and smell and noise. it is part of the migraines. i can tell when i am about to get one because i get super sensitive. everything bothers me. People think i am nutzy! I can smell things no one else can.
kudzu-brows???? I am suddenly struck by the image of green taking over his face, or at least his forehead, a la Oscar the Grouch...
Yea for Tucker!!! He saved the day!
dan
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