Love, Jean: Inspiration for Families Living With Dysfunction of Sensory Integration

by A. Jean Ayres, Zoe Mailloux, Philip R. Erwin

Captured in previously unpublished correspondence written by sensory integration pioneer A. Jean Ayres to her nephew Philip Erwin, Love, Jean provides insight and inspiration to parents of children who have been diagnosed with dysfunction of sensory integration.

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2004

Reviews

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of a boy, Philip, with Sensory Integration Disorder and his aunt, Jean, who live the far side of the USA from each other. The book is a true story, set in the 1970s. Jean, who is a research specialist in this, then very new, field treats Philip’s SID by letter. The story is told with the interspersed commentary from Philip himself, now an adult, the original letters from his Aunt Jean and additional comments from a modern day sensory disorder occupational therapy specialist.

Sensory Integration Disorder has many different ways of expression in different individuals. I do not know anyone who shares Philip’s symptoms. However, the modern OT specialist goes through several different types of symptom expression in her chapters. The very first one she mentions is only half of one page of the book, but despite that hit home very hard. The first time I’ve ever seen in print a description of my daughter when she was very young. Exactly like her. And she also describes exactly the reception we got as parents from teachers, medical and social work professionals. Suffice to say none of which were helpful. Just stunning to see, so many years on, an actual identification of, and acknowledgement of, the problem. Wow!

I loved this book. I often read books on similar topics for enjoyment and information. Compared to those, this one was beautifully structured and very readable and interesting. This particular one also had the added personal interest bonus.