Maybe It’s Not Just Trauma? A brief look at ADHD, Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, & Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder

Last week we recognized that because of our kids' early experiences, many of them are stuck in younger stages of emotional regulation and development and need us to lower our expectations and provide more coregulation and support. This is a good starting place for all of us parenting kids with histories of relational and developmental trauma.

And a lot of us will begin to see real healing occur when we do this and provide the kind of supervision, co-regulation, and support our kids need. 

But for some of us, we'll still see confusing or difficult behaviors from our kids and wonder what else might be going on.

This is a moment for us to consider whether the "trauma lens" is all we need to have on. 

It might be. Or we might need to consider a few other things that make sense of the difference in our kid's chronological and developmental age.

In this conversation we briefly unpack 4 of the most common additional lenses we might need to consider for our kids; ADHD, Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD).

 

Episode references:

"Chasing the Why" podcast episode: https://therestorenetwork.podbean.com/e/understanding-unusual-or-challenging-behaviors-by-chasing-the-why/ 

The Connected Child-Chapter 3: https://www.amazon.com/Connected-Child-healing-adoptive-family/dp/0071475001 

The Center for Neurobehavioral Guidance (FASD-Illinois): https://centerforneurobehavioralguidance.org/ 

Trying Differently Rather Than Harder (FASD): https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Differently-Rather-Than-Harder/dp/0972953205

"TBRI & FASD" podcast episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tbri-fasd/id1566206875?i=1000669909806  

The Connected Therapist: https://www.amazon.com/Connected-Therapist-Relating-Through-Senses/dp/1737205203 

The Out of Sync Child (SPD): https://www.amazon.com/Out-Sync-Child-Recognizing-Processing/dp/0399531653 

Riley the Brave's Sensational Senses: https://www.amazon.com/Riley-Braves-Sensational-Senses-Challenges/dp/1839973110 

"All Things Sensory" Podcast: https://harkla.co/blogs/podcast

ADHD Resource: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF7eJrFzV4/GCZ2pMS_sFG9LMX4jCw7MQ/view?utm_content=DAF7eJrFzV4&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h2a501ffdc4 

Autism Resource: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF7eEoMi1I/S-gN8yE2KmzH2Xi_gfutIQ/view?utm_content=DAF7eEoMi1I&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h072d2a7f1b

SPD Resource: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF7eCQ95WM/AqB27Rg2cmz0t_J2Eo864g/view?utm_content=DAF7eCQ95WM&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h7d6ca04222

Sensory Checklist: https://therestorenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sensory-Checklist.pdf 

For an Occupational Therapy provider list for families in the counties we serve-email abennett@therestorenetwork.org