Sensational Kids

by Lucy Miller

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a condition affecting at least one in twenty children who experience sensations in taste, touch, sound, sight, smell, movement, and body awareness in a vastly different manner from how other children their ages do. What may be typical activities for most kids are a daily struggle that may result in social, emotional, or academic problems. Dr. Lucy Jane Miller, the best-known SPD researcher in the world, brings together a lifetime of study to teach parents and others the signs and symptoms of SPD and its four major subtypes; ways the disorder is diagnosed and treated; sensory strategies for living with the condition; and methods to help SPD kids thrive.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Health, Psychology, Education, Mental Health

384 pages, ebook

First published April 20, 2006

Reviews

[Matt LeFevers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book both compelling and frustrating. The author writes with winsome confidence and clear passion for her subject matter, and is plainly an expert. But the first third of the book reads a bit like a commercial for her center in Denver — good news for you, if you live in Denver, I guess — and the last few chapters are an impassioned defense of the relevance of occupational therapists, something I did not know was in question. Other, similar screeds permeate the book — that autism and SPD are not the same, that SPD should have made it into the DSM-V manual, that it’s a scientifically verifiable disorder backed by valid studies. I understand that these soapboxes are close to the author’s heart but I’m a parent, not a DSM contributor, and can’t help feeling these niche arguments are not intended for me.

So what did I get out of the book, as a parent who just wanted to know if this is what my child has? A couple of illuminating case studies, and an overview of the subtypes that greatly helped me narrow down which one is of relevance to my situation. A handful of home therapy ideas. Not a whole lot else.

The main crux of the book seems to be that 1) SPD is real, which, fine, as a person who spent money on a book about it, I probably didn’t need to be harangued about that. I’m already on board. And 2) that expert diagnosis, trained OTs, and professional support are the only things that can really help with this disorder. It’s good advice, and if that’s the scientific truth of it then it’d be disingenuous to say otherwise. But I can’t help feeling like this book was mostly a commercial for something else; as if I bought a book that spent 375 pages telling me to stop reading books and go to a clinic. I’ll take what nuggets I gleaned here and otherwise try the follow that advice and seek help elsewhere.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book about Sensory Processing Disorders in children. It is very readable and accessible and provides great insight and descriptions. The "case study" chapters of the individual children were especially enlightening.
If, as this book suggests, 5 to 14 percent of all children have some form of a Sensory Processing Disorder, I think that this book (or other information on the Disorder) should be mandatory reading for all of those involved in the educational system. I believe that it would make a huge difference in our schools if teachers were aware of the difficulties that so many children face in association with their sensory system, and were equipped with quick ways to aid these children in the classroom, thus facilitating their educational success.
I hope that my having read this book has made me more aware and will make me a better parent.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a wealth of information about sensory processing disorder in an easy to understand way. I found it easier to understand than "The Out of Synch Child", however, I haven't read that cover to cover yet.

Its amazing that a glitch with one (or more) of the senses can result in behaviors that you wouldn't expect to be related. For example, a problem with the vestibular system not only affects a child's balance but also may cause the child to be inattentive, impulsive, disorganized, and have poor fine motor skills. This book was eye-opening for me and finally gave me the answers I was looking for!

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for parents of neuro-divergent children. Lots of great information on recognizing sensory differences in your child, hot to find treatment, and things you can do every day to help your child cope.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for 52 Book Club Challenge #15 A Five-Syllable Title.
An interesting book on sensory processing disorder, although I would have welcomed more information on sensory integration therapy. Not everyone has access to a specialist sensory occupational therapist, so it is a little disheartening to be told this is the only option the author appears to recommend, especially as there is much that can be done from home to support children with sensory issues...

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for parents or families with Sensational Kids. It was reconnecting to me by my sons OT and was really helpful. There’s a section where they “follow” different kids with indivisible SPD symptoms and that was very relatable. I also recommend the book “The Out of Sync Child!”

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved, loved the way this book was structured. It began with vivid examples to illustrate the descriptions that followed; then several chapters of in-depth "case studies" following a sample child from each category through their day and showing some of the kinds of support that can help with the concerns; then finally information about research findings. This was the perfect order - people always lead with the research and descriptions, but those don't mean as much before you have some stories to attach it to. I thought this book was really useful in spelling out the different types of sensory integration concerns and beginning to suggest some ways to work with them. It was practical, well-written, and full of examples.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, is Life-Changing!

Have you ever heard of SPD? I hadn’t. Until someone I know told me about it. Do you know anyone who can’t stand Tags in their clothes? Maybe you’ve met someone who couldn’t stand (or tolerate) Loud Noises, (think- thunder, lightning, sirens, even music). I believe we ALL know someone with varying forms of SPD, or Sensory Processing Disorder. If we are adults, then we have somehow managed to navigate life, but our families may have thought or believed us to be ‘high maintenance’ or maybe just ‘weird’.
Well, this is the book to give you details: please, it’s not a novel. This deals with Real Life. It may not be an ‘easy read’, but, I believe it is an ‘Essential Read’.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives an in-depth look at all the variations of sensory processing disorder and presents ideas to help children with the disorder live joyfully and peacefully. It also is the only book on the subject that I've read to explain the current research in detail; the studies are new, but they are promising, in terms of finding causes and treatment. The book also includes an excellent resources section, with support web sites, on-line sources for sensory materials, and other books on the subject.

[Kymberlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many books about sensory integration dysfunction or sensory processing disorder tell you which activities are helpful for various sensory stresses. This book helps the parent understand what might be the trigger in order to help the child understand what is affecting them and then which activities to use. I found this very helpful.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember finishing this in one night, skimming to find the useful bits. Unlike other books I read in order to learn about my child's disorder, this one had a lot of fluff and not much more. Check it out from the library before buying. I might have just learned enougth by the time I found this one that it just didn't offer anything new that stood out.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great info for parents and teachers... An absolute must-read for pedi OTs. Loved it from start to finish and will be coming back to the chapter on treatment and strategies many times as I try to incorporate these ideas into my own treatment!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good overview of Sensory Processing Disorder. Not a lot of info about treatment approaches but good jumping off point for heading back into pediatrics.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I’ve found with info on recognizing, understanding and supporting sensory-seeking behavior (as opposed to sensory defensive).

[Tabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hardly a book I would have picked up casually. My oldest son struggles with sensory processing disorder and it's heartbreaking to watch him struggle everyday. Things that seem so easy or normal overwhelm him and it's hard to predict what will cause him to melt down. Sensational Kids by Lucy Jane Miller helped make some sense of what is going on in my sons brain and ways I can help him adjust. It also helped me feel not so alone. The title is true, there is hope and help out there.

I will say there are times the book gets rather scientific and a bit over my head, clearly some parts are aimed more at experts working with children with sensory processing disorder. But there is a lot of good information in this book for parents, too.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent insight into understanding Sensory Processing Disorder by the preeminent expert on it. The best part of this book for me was the middle section which walks us through a day in the life of 5 different kids: a neurotypical kid and four kids with different subtypes of SPD. The day of the neurotypical kid was... mindblowing. I can't believe there are families who live like that. The other days in the life of were extremely insightful and really helped to understand how a kid with SPD experiences different challenges in their environment over the course of the day. If you don't have time to slog through the whole book, at least read the middle section, because it is outstanding.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I clearly took a long time to get through this. It was read in spurts, many of them while sitting in the hall at OT appointments. The day- in - the - life chapters were slow going, if informative for the types of SPD my own child doesn't have. The chapters on the research, correlations, treatment outcomes were more engaging to me. Overall I would put this with Out of Sync Child on the must read list for any parent who knows or suspects their child has SPD.

[Hannah Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who works with children experiencing sensory processing challenges should read this book, including therapists, teachers, parents, and other healthcare professionals! Easy to understand descriptions of each pattern & subtype of SPD that were related to treatment ideas/ practical solutions. The case examples put you into the shoes of children with SPD and their families, which I found very eye opening and meaningful!

[Seraph · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapter breaking down symptoms and warning signs was extremely helpful, but there were too many anecdotal chapters. Someone else described the book as an advertisement for the center the author works at, and I agree. The concept of the therapies are great-- IF you have access to that center. Otherwise, that particular arrangement of strategies isn't available and is essentially useless information.

[Bonnie Ogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent explanation of and strategies for families of kids with Sensory Process Disorder. A child near and dear to me can whirl like a dervish without getting or dizzy, yet is afraid to go shopping because so much input is overwhelming. This book will help parents and teachers of kids who constantly struggle in ways we can only imagine.

[Jaq · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't begin to express how glad I am to have read this book. Having these concrete strategies on hand to address my SPD kiddo's needs and challenges is unspeakably useful, but even better is having the confidence to be able to identify the personal goals toward which we'd like to work as a family, and to be able to employ those strategies with the help of our OT to achieve them.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Severely marred by sounding like an ad for the author. Maybe it was just the Kindle edition and the long asides about how amazing the author is and all she has accomplished etc were sidebars or something that could be skipped in the print version. Probably lots of good info in here, but it's too hard to slog through all the stuff about the author, the arrogance, and the self-promotion.

[Julia Southwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely helpful, but I still feel like I have lots of questions. It’s hard living in a small community with few resources. Parenting a child with SPD is admittedly exhausting, so I’ll just keep looking for solutions and ideas! It was definitely a helpful resource though.

[Shannon Dudak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really great resource for parents navigating children with SPD. It's an event blend of anecdotes, practical advice, and the science behind the disorder. We'll be going back to this one frequently as we navigate the unknown waters.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and a great introduction into the sensory needs of children. I like how the author weaves practical advice into storytelling about children with different sensory processing disorders.

[Nicole R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really helped me to grasp the differences in our sensory systems and the impact they have on our functioning. It takes you through the lesser known sensory systems and expands on their impactful nature

[Elizabeth McLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good primer on SPD. Plugs her program but not too aggressively

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so helpful. It aided me in figuring out the needs of my child and seeking out the therapy she needed.

[Alison Young Sleight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for anyone who has a child or is a caregiver for a cold with sensory processing difficulty.

[Cara Fuller Engelbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I will continue to reference many times!