Some children may be hypersensitive to stimulus
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Children with short attention spans who can't sit still for long and experience frequent "meltdown" temper tantrums are often diag- nosed with ADD or another spec- trum disorder, but the diagnosis may be incorrect, some experts say.

Spectrum disorders include atten- tion deficit disorder, hyperactivity or both; obsessive compulsive disorder; oppositional defiance disorder, and even autism.

To control impulsivity, anxiety or other symptoms of such disorders, many youngsters are placed on mood-altering medication-drugs that alleviate stress and help them cope with their day-to-day lives.

New research is pointing to a different diagnosis-sensory inte- gration dysfunction, a condition that causes children (and adults) to be hypersensitive to various sen- sory experiences.

The Conejo Valley Mental Health Professionals Association, a multidisciplinary mental health group, presented a seminar Friday on sensory integration dysfunction.

Shiro Perera Torquato, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist who said she's discovering through her Simi Valley practice that many children's disorders have been mis- diagnosed.

Members traveled from Ventura, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark and throughout the Conejo Valley to hear Torquato speak about the little- known disorder.

"Most people haven't heard about it," Torquato said, including teachers and pediatricians, even though the disorder was first iden- tified many years ago.

Torquato identified several "red flags" for psychologists, parents and other professionals who work with children. Hypersensitivity to fluores- cent lighting, noise, or even tags on clothes are signals that a child may be suffering from sensory overload rather than a mental disability.

Oftentimes, Torquato said, chil- dren with a sensory dysfunction that goes untreated will develop other disorders, including anxiety and de- pression.

Torquato presented an example of a 15-year patient. The girl had displayed personality problems starting at age 2. The child would become suddenly enraged, and eventually had problems with her family and at school. After seeing dozens of doctors with no results, her parents brought her to Torquato's office, which is lit with fluorescent lighting to simulate a school setting.

The girl was angry, defiant and screaming about the lights, Torquato said. Torquato turned the fluorescent lights off. "All of a sud- den she totally relaxed, she was a different kid," Torquato said, not- ing that every class in every school uses fluorescent lights.

Torquato and others believe that even children who've been diag- nosed with Aspergers, a milder form of autism, may have sensory integration problems.

"Different scenarios keep crop- ping up," Torquato said.

The disorder can manifest in many different ways, including be- ing hypersensitive to sound, light, movement and touch. There are vary- ing degrees to which the disorder in- terrupts everyday life. Even muscle tone, balance and motor skills prob- lems are related to the disorder.

Symptoms are sometimes evi- dent from birth. Babies may cry or scream at common loud noises, and many children with the disorder have a high tolerance for pain. As a result, these children may play more roughly and inadvertently hurt playmates.

Hyperactivity occurring during noisy or busy situations is also a red flag, Torquato said.

Unpredictable meltdowns are common, as is clumsiness and poor motor coordination.

Some symptoms mimic autism, including the behavior of babies or toddlers who appear unaffectionate or prefer to be left alone.

Tactile problems often arise-- from refusing to wear socks and hat- ing scratchy tags on clothes to avoid- ing water near the head or face.

Pediatric bipolar disorder is of- ten diagnosed when children dis- play frequent unpredictable melt- downs, Torquato said. "I've seen it enough times, the cumulative effect in terms of sensory overload."

Sometimes learning to read is difficult because the child can't track the words on the page. This symptom is often misdiagnosed as ADD or ADHD.

Other disorders rise out of undi- agnosed sensory problems, from anxiety disorders, including panic at- tacks, which sometimes lead to ago- raphobia, the inability to leave home.

One treatment may be occupa- tional therapy that includes a sen- sory-rich environment, which helps children to manage their response to a range of stimulation. Linda Lower, president of the Conejo Valley Mental Health Pro- fessionals Association, said the as- sociation conducts a "State of Men- tal Health" seminar each year.

The group also holds board meetings on the first Friday of ev- ery month at Los Robles Hospital East Campus, 150 Via Merida in Westlake Village, at the corner of Lakeview Canyon Road. The meet- ings are held from 9 to 11 a.m.

"Everyone is welcome," Lower said. "We're always looking for willing hands and hearts."

Torquato can be reached at (805) 527-4146. She listed Simi Valley Hospital as a resource as well as Honore Kyle, an occupa-

tional therapist who works at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Cen- ter in Thousand Oaks. She can be reached at (805) 370-4001.