Please help me...... please......?

my 5 year old cousin is having some issues. she is physically hurt by some materials, shoes, ect. before, a tag might bother her, but know there are only 3 outfits she will wear and her hair has to be pulled back as tight as i possibly can. there is only one pair of shoes that she will wear. and she is not just trying to get attention or anything like that..... i have seen her when she wears something that bothers her. u can see the physical pain it causes her. her mother hasnt talked to a doctor yet but we have no idea what it might be. i dont think its a form of autism because her mother is a physical therapist and works with autisic childen, i think she would have picked up on it. and its gotten worse from when i last saw her so i dont think its something that she will grow out of. but if u have any ideas about what this is or any useful websites i would be very greatful.....

Please help me...... please......?
Look up tactile defensiveness. I'm surprised her mother doesn't know about sensory integration disorders. Have her ask a pediatric occupational therapist. They can give her tons of help! Best of luck and bless you for caring so much about your cousin.
Reply:I agree with Guinea girl...possible sensory integration disorder. I DISAGREE with Larry's comment that occupational therapy is like behavior modification. It has nothing to do with behavior modification, it's a way to retrain the sensory system to sense "normal" sensations as normal.





Just about everyone has some type of aversion to a sensation, but when they are persistent and interfere with daily life is time for her to get help. Other signs would be: aversion to certain textures of food, aversion to loud noises, aversion to lotions, creams or body soaps, etc.
Reply:I would assume she has extremely sensitive skin. A lot of people have trouble with tags on undies and clothes - that's why Hanes and Fruit of the Loom started making tag-less undies..


It could also be the detergent her clothes are being washed in -





I use downy on all my Dad's clothes as his skin is very sensitive. I used to use the dye %26amp; scent free stuff for myself, but then discovered some laundry balls (I'm sorry, I don't remeber the name - they are white and filled with white pellets- got 'em at Bed bath %26amp; beyond) that have no chemicals in them and it's helped my sensitivity.





At 5 she should only be bathing every few days, make sure you use infant safe products with no fragrances. I know which fragrances set me off, but everyone has different triggers.





The hair probably irratates her neck, try a gentler shampoo.


Try lotion on her skin - I use St. Ives Extreme healing, Eucerin is what my dr gave me to try too.





try this site..


http://www.quickcare.org/skin/rashes.htm...


http://www.quickcare.org/skin/culprits.h...
Reply:This is clearly a sensory issue and your cousin should see an occupational therapist right away. Some exercises like playing with play doh, dry rice, shaving cream, sand, using a brush on her skin, and walking barefoot on the grass have been used to desensitize individuals with sensory disorder.


Some parents are using weighted vests and blankets to provide deep pressure and this seems to help their kids. Another mother ( who is a doctor) has found that spandex tights and body suits allow her child to wear clothing.


As for a medical reason I would look into the possiblility of metal or chemical poisoning. This could have damaged her nervous system. I know that since I radically changed my son's diet to gluten/casein free, added vitamin/mineral supplements, detoxing him of heavy metals ( mercury, lead, and arsenic, and giving him an anti inflammatory drug that most of these " sensitivities" have gone away. Clothing tags were a big problem before but now I rarely have to remove them.


This approach may seem strange but a Chinese acupuncturist diagnosed metal poisoning as the reason behind my son's sensitivitiies. The metal poisoning was later confirmed through multiple medical tests.
Reply:The fact that it is not skin sensitivity, along with the fact that the girl likes her hair tied tight--a typical autistic symptom-- makes it look like a psychological issue. The aversion to tags on clothes is a red flag. If the child is freaked out by really specific sensations, like loose hair touching the cheek, and it's getting worse; well if that's not autism I don't know what else it could be. I think the mother is in denial, which is VERY common among mothers with autistic children.





As for occupational therapy, that's like behavior modification therapy. That could be disastrous to an autistic child. I knew a woman who sent her seven-year-old autistic daughter to a behavior therapist because her doctor told her her child had a form of "brain damage." The girl ended up having to be instituionalized.





Anyway, if it is autism it isn't so catastrophic as people would have you believe. If an autistic child is given careful and patient therapy he will outgrow the condition. In adulthood he may have a residue of the infantile autism in the form of an oddball unsocial personality, but that's it. He will be well within the range of normality.



skin disease