Success Stories - Sensory Integration Dysfunction

Jamie's Story

I decided to do the AIT program at the strong referral of a friend who had great success with her children on the program. Like most people I felt like it was a leap of faith because the problems we are searching to solve aren't easy to understand nor easy to "fix." My son James (2.5 years old) was diagnosed with sensory integration dysfunction, speech delays, and behavioral issues while we were also trying to rule out a PDD diagnosis for him. Approximately two months ago we did the AIT program with him Since that time not a DAY goes by when my husband and I don't have a jaw dropping moment with Jamie. Every single day the child mutters something we never imagined he could. Words we never knew HE knew, concepts we didn't know he understood. On day four of the program I noticed a very obvious language boom. I kept a journal throughout his ten-day journey with it and I'm so glad I did.

On day four Jamie was playing with a truck and it broke. Normally Jamie would have said "truck" "broke" with a solid break between the words. Jamie instead looked at me and said "mommy this broke." I was in awe. He hadn't known the concept of "this" up until then and to go from one word utterances to a full three word sentence was huge! Being able to tell ME what happened was so super huge for us! He also began labeling items for the first time. Walking through the house he'd say "Robbie bed," "mommy bed." The very next day Jamie said cheeseburger. Plain as day. Cheeseburger! He had previously been limited to one-syllable words. After dinner he told me "unbuckle." That was the beginning of our journey that allowed Jamie to tell me his wants and needs.

Jamie's language continues to grow. His sentences are longer and more complex. He now has the words to have an actual conversation with me. How amazing to be able to have a conversation with your child!

On about day ten Jamie began requesting to make tinkles in the big boy pot. We hadn't attempted trying to train him due to his issues but he went to the commode and said "pot" which is what my four year old calls it. Sure enough, Jamie knew what he wanted to do and continued to request that we potty train him! I never thought he'd be ready to potty train at this age given the concerns we have for him. He hasn't mastered it completely yet but he knows what he is supposed to do when he goes and recognizes the sensation and THAT is amazing. I don't think for a MINUTE that it is coincidental that it happened at the end of our AIT program.

I could go on and on about how AIT has helped Jamie and our family in general. But let me tell you my other story. My four-year-old Robbie had what I suspected to be auditory processing issues because he talks very loudly all the time. He has no concept of volume variations even when modeled he can't match them. So we decided to do AIT for him as well in hopes that we can help him and honestly, to lower the frustration of everyone in our home. We got Robbie's audiology testing done and as necessary went back on day 5. Robbie's initial testing showed that his left ear and right ear were hearing things differently. Both within what and audiologist will call "normal" range but they weren't hearing "together." On day five his testing showed that his ears were beginning to hear the same sounds the same way. They were beginning to work together at the same level. How amazing! Those changes aren't even subject to interpretation, they are right there staring at you plain as day! I can't tell you how excited I was to be able to show my husband that it was working. Our leap of faith was paying off for yet another child.

I am writing this today because I had another head smacking moment this afternoon. Both Jamie and Robbie are easily awakened. Every day the mail truck wakes them up simply by driving by and slowing to deliver mail. But today it didn't and I realized that it HADN"T been waking them up from naps for some time. HOLY COW! My children who both have, wait, HAD hypersensitive hearing are now sleeping through the mail truck and the telephone ringing. I used to have to take the phone off the hook during naps but haven't in a few days and they have slept right through the ringing. THAT is progress. It just keeps coming.

What AIT has done for us is indescribable. I have pages in my journal that include such excitement and details all exclaiming, "It is working! It is working!" AIT is a leap of faith for certain. Its benefits aren't guaranteed to be the same for any two children and they can't be measured on a scale and that makes it hard too accept. I am so grateful that we invested not just the money but the time and FAITH because it has made all the difference for us.

God Bless!