A Case Study: Sophie

I started seeing Sophie a year ago this January. During their first meeting, Sophie's parents discussed a number of challenging behaviors which appeared to be related to faulty sensory modulation that included a number of difficulties related to sensory defensiveness. Sophie exhibited sensitivities and negative reactions to sound, touch and light. She couldn't tolerate the vacuum, phone or the toilet flushing. Each morning, the family went through an ordeal over dressing. Choosing clothing was stressful and frustrating to all. She had difficulty tolerating her underwear, and would wear only a dress with minimal seams and no shoes or socks. She resisted having her hair brushed and refused to wear ponytails. Her nighttime routine was also challenging. She wet the bed even if taken to the toilet prior to sleeping. She couldn't tolerate wearing pullups so she woke up at night, often twice, soaking wet and screaming. Many nights it would take an hour to settle her down. Along with this, her parents also reported inconsolable tantrums and an extremely high level of frustration.

The initial step in her program was the Wilbarger touch pressure protocol and a sensory diet rich in intensive input from swinging, spinning (which she craved) and proprioceptive input from jumping on a trampoline. This program was then combined with a Therapeutic Listening® program. Sophie listened twice a day for twenty minutes. Within the first week Sophie began sleeping through the night--something she had never been able to do. To her parents' delight, she stopped wetting the bed. The morning dressing routine improved. She selected underpants faster and she started to show an interest in shoes. Her responses to sounds became less negative.

The most important improvement is Sophie's new ability to "go with the flow" and handle a variety of situations. Changes in routine don't throw her like they used to, and even her brother doesn't bother her (as much!). Sophie's parents now describe her as much more physically affectionate. She is willing to engage with people in a more relaxed way. She will hug others and she smiles more. In fact, after she started on a listening program, other kids at school would greet her and be happy to see her, whereas prior to the Therapeutic Listening®, they would ignore her.

--Teri Jetter, OTR and Patricia Volpe, OTR (California)