The Truth About Sensory Processing Disorder
The Connected and Capable podcast host Alisha Grogan, a pediatric occupational therapist, explains that sensory processing disorder (SPD) is not an official DSM‑5 diagnosis, which limits insurance reimbursement for treatment. She describes how sensory processing involves eight senses, including three hidden ones that affect movement, body awareness, and internal feelings, and how dysregulation can impact daily activities. Grogan outlines practical tools such as weighted vests and sensory integration therapy that help children regulate sensory input. She also highlights the overlap of SPD with autism, ADHD, and anxiety, emphasizing the need for informed advocacy and professional support.
How to Help Toe Walkers Walk on Their Whole Foot👣
Toe walking—when a child walks on the tips of their feet—can stem from sensory‑seeking behavior, retained primitive reflexes like the tonic labyrinthine reflex, or anatomical tightness in the calf and hamstrings. Persistent toe walking may lead to joint and muscle...
5 (More) Executive Functioning Skills Uniquely Wired Kids Struggle With
The podcast episode expands on five additional executive‑functioning skills—self‑control, organization, planning and sequencing, time management, and self‑awareness—that neurodivergent and neurotypical children often struggle with. It explains how these skills underpin everyday tasks such as homework, routines, and social interactions, and...