Newly expanded and revised with essential updates and insights, the third edition of this definitive guide delivers new information on sensory processing disorder and differences (SPD).

"The Out-of-Sync Child has become the parents' bible to [SPD]." -The New York Times

Does your child experience sudden bursts of anxiety, agitation, or discomfort, or appear sensitive or sensory-craving without explanation? Is your child clumsier than most children, or unable to discriminate between ordinary sounds, sights, and other sensations? Sensory processing differences, in which the central nervous system misinterprets messages from the senses, are common yet widely undiagnosed in young children today. Often overlooked or undiagnosed, SPD impacts thousands of children from all walks of life.

This latest edition of Carol Kranowitz's renowned and practical guide for parents, teachers, and professionals offers authoritative, research-based information on recognizing SPD and comprehending the diagnosis, and important advice on how to help kids and families cope and thrive. Delivering comprehensive guidance and drug-free interventions, The Out-of-Sync Child is a trusted resource for parents and professionals who want to understand and ease the challenges of living with SPD.

Résumé
**2022 Mom's Choice Gold Award Winner

The groundbreaking book that explains Sensory Processing Difference (SPD)--and presents a drug-free approach that offers hope for parents--now revised and updated.

Does your child exhibit...

Over-responsivity--or under-responsivity--to touch or movement? A child with SPD may be a "sensory avoider," withdrawing from touch, refusing to wear certain clothing, avoiding active games--or he may be a "sensory disregarder," needing a jump start to get moving.

Over-responsivity--or under-responsivity--to sounds, sights taste, or smell? She may cover her ears or eyes, be a picky eater, or seem oblivious to sensory cues.

Cravings for sensation? The "sensory craver" never gets enough of certain sensations, e.g., messy play, spicy food, noisy action, and perpetual movement.

Poor sensory discrimination? She may not sense the difference between objects or experiences--unaware of what she's holding unless she looks, and unable to sense when she's falling or how to catch herself.

Unusually high or low activity level? The child may be constantly on the go--wearing out everyone around him--or move slowly and tire easily, showing little interest in the world.

Problems with posture or motor coordination? He may slouch, move awkwardly, seem careless or accident-prone.

These are often the first clues to Sensory Processing Difference--a common but frequently misdiagnosed problem in which the central nervous system misinterprets messages from the senses. The Out-of-Sync Child offers comprehensive, clear information for parents and professionals--and a drug-free treatment approach for children.

This revised edition includes expanded information about SPD “look-alikes,” including Learning Disabilities, ADHD, and autism; about diagnosis and treatments; and about other topics.

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Four Out-of-Sync Children at Home and School

NOTE: Mild sensory processing challenges are "differences." More pronounced challenges are "difficulties." Severe challenges are a "disorder." In this book, the "D" in the acronym SPD can stand for all three. (See "A Word about Words," page xxii.)

Surely you know a child who is oversensitive, clumsy, picky, fidgety, and out of sync. That child may be your son or daughter, your student or Scout, your nephew or neighbor . . . or the child you were, once upon a time.

That child may have sensory processing differences, difficulties, or disorder (SPD), a common, but misunderstood, problem that affects children's behavior, influencing the way they move, learn, communicate, relate to others, and feel about themselves. SPD can stand alone, or it can accompany other physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional challenges.

To illustrate how SPD plays out, here are the stories of four out-of-sync children and the parents struggling to raise them. Perhaps you will recognize familiar signs in the child you know.

Whether sensory processing differences are major or minor, the child who is out of sync needs understanding and support, for no child can overcome the obstacles alone.

Tommy

Tommy is the only son of two adoring parents. They waited a long time before having a child and rejoiced in his arrival. And when they finally got him in their hands, they got a handful.

The day after he was born, his wailing in the hospital nursery kept the other infants awake. Once he arrived home, he rarely slept through the night. Although he nursed well and grew rapidly, he adamantly rejected the introduction of solid food and vigorously resisted being weaned. He did not welcome cuddling; in fact, he seemed to hate it. He was a very fussy baby.

Today, Tommy is a fussy three-year-old. He is crying because his shoes are too tight, his socks too lumpy. He yanks them off and hurls them away.

To prevent a tantrum, his mother lets him wear bedroom slippers to school. She has learned that if it is not shoes and socks that bother him, it is inevitably something else that will trip him up during the day.

His parents bend over backward, but pleasing their healthy, attractive child is hard. Everything scares him or makes him miserable. His response to the world is "Oh, no!" He hates the playground, the beach, and the bathtub. He refuses to wear hats or mittens, even on the coldest days. Getting him to eat is a trial.

Arranging playdates with other children is a nightmare. Going to the barbershop is a disaster. Wherever they go, people turn away-or stare.

His teacher reports that he avoids painting and other messy activities. He fidgets at story time and does not pay attention. He lashes out at his classmates for no apparent reason. He is, however, the world's best block-builder, as long as he is not crowded.

Tommy's pediatrician tells his parents nothing is wrong with him, so they should stop worrying and just let him grow. His grandparents say he's spoiled and needs stricter discipline. Friends suggest going on a vacation without him.

Tommy's parents wonder if yielding to his whims is wise, but it is the only method that works. They are exhausted, frustrated, and stressed. They cannot understand why he is so different from other children.

Vicki

Sweet Vicki, a pudgy first-grader, is often in a daze. Her response to the world buzzing around her seems to be "Wait, what?" She does not seem to see where she is going, so she bumps into furniture and stumbles on grass. When she tumbles, she is slow to extend her foot or hand to break the fall. She does not appear to hear ordinary sounds, either. Other six-year-olds may have developed the sense to stop, look, and listen, but Vicki is different. She needs a lot more sensory input than they do to catch on and catch up.

In addition, Vicki fatigues easily. A family outing or a trip to the playground quickly wears her out. She says with a sigh, "You go. I don't want to. I'm too pooped."

Because of her lethargy, her parents find that getting her out of bed, asking her to put on her coat, or maneuvering her into the car is an ordeal. She takes a long time to carry out simple, familiar movements. In every situation, it is as if she is saying, "What does that sensation mean? How am I supposed to use it?"

Nonetheless, she wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. Every day she sprawls in front of the TV to watch her favorite video, The Nutcracker. When her beloved Sugar Plum Fairies begin to dance, she hauls herself up t…