Sensory Processing Disorder: Every family has a story

William, 6

Kelly is a mom of three from Florida.

I knew nothing of SPD until about three years ago but first noticed my son William had a problem with loud noises when he was 10 months old. I’ll never forget the day it became apparent to me, and everyone with me, that he was different. We were walking through the French Quarter in New Orleans with William in the stroller when a mime, dressed in all silver and standing still as a statue, moved suddenly as a group of young girls leaned in close to touch him. They screamed and my heart fluttered in my chest as a result of the sudden screeching. I looked at my mother-in-law and we both paused to see if William would start crying but, when he didn’t, relief set in with the thought that a huge bullet was dodged. I quickly realized he was terrified and was turning blue from breath-holding. We spent what seemed to be an eternity trying to calm him down and the story is still told today about the extent to which he “freaked out.”