Recovering Children from Sensory Processing Disorder

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We interviewed our own Maria Rickert Hong, author of Almost Autism, about recovering children from Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). You can watch the replay below.


What Is Sensory Processing Disorder?

Sensory Processing Disorder isn’t a true diagnosis, yet, because it is not a standalone diagnosis in the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition). However, most children with autism have it, and many children with ADD/ADHD, PANS/PANDAS and Lyme disease also have it. It can also be a standalone disorder, meaning that a child is over- or under-sensitive to lights, sounds, motions, tastes, smells and more. The good news is that children CAN recover from it.

In This Webinar

In this webinar, Maria discussed:

  • What led her to the world of “almost autism”
  • What some of the key behavioral symptoms that a child with SPD has
  • If there are any physical symptoms that are warning signs that precede symptoms of SPD
  • When she realized that nutrition and sensory processing were related
  • What some common practices that our medical advisors recommend that could be contributing to “almost autism”
  • Some of the first things she suggests to parents
  • How a parent can work productively with their pediatrician
  • What the role of retained reflexes in “almost autism” is
  • The role of vision issues in “almost autism”
  • How she got involved with Epidemic Answers

Please note that you will be asked to enter your email address at the 30-minute mark to finish viewing the video.

About Maria Rickert Hong CHHC

Maria Rickert Hong is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor who specializes in helping parents making dietary and lifestyle changes for children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), autism, ADHD, allergies, asthma, autoimmune and more.

Maria is the author of Almost Autism: Recovering Children from Sensory Processing Disorder, A Reference for Parents and Practitioners. She is also a co-author of Epidemic Answers’ Brain Under Attack: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers of Children with PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalitis. She writes many of the pages and posts on our website and elsewhere.

Maria is a former sell-side Wall Street equity research analyst covering the oil services sector at Salomon Smith Barney and Lehman Brothers. Later, she covered the gaming, lodging & leisure sector at Jefferies & Co. and Calyon Securities. She quit working on Wall Street when her first son was born. Prior to working on Wall Street, she was a marketing specialist for Halliburton in New Orleans, where she also received her MBA in Finance & Strategy from Tulane University.

You can find out more about Maria and her practice at her website www.MariaRickertHong.com

Disclaimer

This webinar is not a substitute for medical advice, treatment, diagnosis, or consultation with a medical professional. It is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on to make determinations related to treatment of a medical condition. Epidemic Answers has not verified and does not guaranty the accuracy of the information provided in this webinar.

Still Looking for Answers?

Visit the Epidemic Answers Practitioner Directory to find a practitioner near you.

Join us inside our online membership community for parents, Healing Together, where you’ll find even more healing resources, expert guidance, and a community to support you every step of your child’s healing journey.

Sources & References

Aguilera, M., et al. Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis alters host-bacterial interactions and leads to colonic sensory and motor changes in mice. Gut Microbes. 2015;6(1):10-23.

Ahn, R.R., et al. Prevalence of parents’ perceptions of sensory processing disorders among kindergarten children. Am J Occup Ther. May-Jun 2004;58(3):287-93.

Ben-Sasson, A., et al. Sensory over-responsivity in elementary school: prevalence and social-emotional correlates. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2009 Jul;37(5):705-16.

Boat, T.F., et al. Prevalence of Learning Disabilities. Mental Disorders and Disabilities Among Low-Income Children. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2015 Oct 28. 16.

Borre, Y.E., et al. Microbiota and neurodevelopmental windows: implications for brain disorders. Trends Mol Med. 2014 Sep;20(9):509-18.

Darling, A.L., et al. Association between maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood: results from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Br J Nutr. 2017 Jun;117(12):1682-1692.

Egset, K., et al. Magno App: Exploring Visual Processing in Adults with High and Low Reading Competence. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research. 07 Jan 2020.

Hertz-Picciotto, I., et al. Organophosphate exposures during pregnancy and child neurodevelopment: Recommendations for essential policy reforms. PLoS Med. 2018 Oct 24;15(10):e1002671.

Maenner, M.J., et al. Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years – Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2018. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2021 Dec 3;70(11):1-16.

Tomcheck, S.D., et al. Sensory Processing in Children with and without Autism: A Comparative Study Using the Short Sensory Profile. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2007. 61, 190-200.

Warner, B.B. The contribution of the gut microbiome to neurodevelopment and neuropsychiatric disorders. Pediatr Res. 2019 Jan;85(2):216-224.

Zablotsky, B., et al. Prevalence and Trends of Developmental Disabilities among Children in the United States: 2009-2017. Pediatrics. 2019 Oct;144(4):e20190811.

Zaigham, M., et al. Prelabour caesarean section and neurodevelopmental outcome at 4 and 12 months of age: an observational study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2020 (20)564.

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