Keegan's Food Update
Some of you have been asking about Keegan's food issues, so I thought I'd finally blog an update!
I've had a lot of "Aha!" moments in understanding Keegan's food issues over the past year. I'm finally able to link so many of Keegan's behaviors since childbirth with a bigger picture. We have come to the conclusion he has Sensory Processing(or integration) Disorder (SPD). The pediatrician agrees. We haven't had him officially diagnosed because it would only mean a lot of testing, a lot of money spent, and a diagnosis that would not impact or help his treatment. However, this diagnosis (call me Doctor Amber) makes sense. SPD basically means that Keegan has difficulty taking in sensory input. This is bigger than just food issues.
Some symptoms specific to Keegan throughout his life have included sensitivity to light, strong dislike for water on his face (making baths difficult), strong aversion to texture (like messes) on his hands and/or faces, dislike for being held as a baby, not liking his head touched (making haircuts difficult), strong aversion to various textures in his mouth (causing his food issues), and more. I'm finally able to connect some of his behaviors with this bigger picture and diagnosis.
He's made major improvements in the past year. He took 17 swim lessons to help with his aversion to water (although it still can't touch his face). He is finally able to sit through a haircut (no more headlocks!). He's gained weight (up to 31.5 lbs). And, my favorite.... he's eating a much wider variety of foods. Over the summer last year, we had many, many long meals (imagine a 3 hour lunch followed by a 3 hour dinner almost daily) where Keegan worked through his fears and had to taste bites of new foods. Slowly but surely, he would finally take a bite and we pulled through. He now tastes foods for us pretty easily (in comparison) and is eating a lot of normal foods like PBJ sandwiches, so we can leave the house at mealtimes easier. He even ate some pizza for the first time a few weeks ago.
Here he is at Red Lobster. He's breaking open a crab leg with his grandpa. This is something he would not have touched with his hands a year ago. And, later that meal he even ate some popcorn shrimp! I'm just amazed when I see something like this and remember how far he's come.
It helps that he's now 5 years old and is at a better maturity level too. I'm offering him less custom food choices and forcing him to try new foods more at mealtime. Sometimes each bite is a struggle and I can see the agony on his face as he chews. He's a trooper.
He'll be in full-day Kindergarten in the fall which means he'll have lunch at school. I'm already introducing him to the foods on the school menu to get him ready. We also need to work on him eating faster and without someone coaching him through each bite and reminding him to eat. We have to be careful in how we work with him, being aware of his sensitivities (this is different than just dealing with a picky eater).
Thanks for everyone who has shown love and support. And, if you made it through this lengthy and unexciting blog entry then you should definitely win a prize!!
I've had a lot of "Aha!" moments in understanding Keegan's food issues over the past year. I'm finally able to link so many of Keegan's behaviors since childbirth with a bigger picture. We have come to the conclusion he has Sensory Processing(or integration) Disorder (SPD). The pediatrician agrees. We haven't had him officially diagnosed because it would only mean a lot of testing, a lot of money spent, and a diagnosis that would not impact or help his treatment. However, this diagnosis (call me Doctor Amber) makes sense. SPD basically means that Keegan has difficulty taking in sensory input. This is bigger than just food issues.
Some symptoms specific to Keegan throughout his life have included sensitivity to light, strong dislike for water on his face (making baths difficult), strong aversion to texture (like messes) on his hands and/or faces, dislike for being held as a baby, not liking his head touched (making haircuts difficult), strong aversion to various textures in his mouth (causing his food issues), and more. I'm finally able to connect some of his behaviors with this bigger picture and diagnosis.He's made major improvements in the past year. He took 17 swim lessons to help with his aversion to water (although it still can't touch his face). He is finally able to sit through a haircut (no more headlocks!). He's gained weight (up to 31.5 lbs). And, my favorite.... he's eating a much wider variety of foods. Over the summer last year, we had many, many long meals (imagine a 3 hour lunch followed by a 3 hour dinner almost daily) where Keegan worked through his fears and had to taste bites of new foods. Slowly but surely, he would finally take a bite and we pulled through. He now tastes foods for us pretty easily (in comparison) and is eating a lot of normal foods like PBJ sandwiches, so we can leave the house at mealtimes easier. He even ate some pizza for the first time a few weeks ago.
Here he is at Red Lobster. He's breaking open a crab leg with his grandpa. This is something he would not have touched with his hands a year ago. And, later that meal he even ate some popcorn shrimp! I'm just amazed when I see something like this and remember how far he's come.
It helps that he's now 5 years old and is at a better maturity level too. I'm offering him less custom food choices and forcing him to try new foods more at mealtime. Sometimes each bite is a struggle and I can see the agony on his face as he chews. He's a trooper.He'll be in full-day Kindergarten in the fall which means he'll have lunch at school. I'm already introducing him to the foods on the school menu to get him ready. We also need to work on him eating faster and without someone coaching him through each bite and reminding him to eat. We have to be careful in how we work with him, being aware of his sensitivities (this is different than just dealing with a picky eater).
Thanks for everyone who has shown love and support. And, if you made it through this lengthy and unexciting blog entry then you should definitely win a prize!!
Comments