Is Mixed expressive language disorder one of the LD's that are common with SPD?

by Donna
(Warren, RI)

From the time my son was born I can look back and see that as an infant in the NICU (he is a twin and they were born 6 weeks early) he was distressed. With all the beeping, monitors, lights etc... my sons little face always had a scowl on it. Not knowing any better we use to joke and say the NICU was stressing him out. Only when I took him to a quiet room would his face relax. When I think back to that now, I could cry. I had no idea what we were in for.

For the first 3 years of Zach's life, I was told by my family , pediatrician that he was fine. I was comparing him to his twin sister, "He's a boy", "He's a twin", "Stop looking for something to be wrong". My husband and I know something just was not right.

SInce this is a long story I will skip ahead. He has been diagnosed as mixed expressive language disorder. I see some of the symptoms in him. But a million more of SPD. such as picky eater, hypersensitive to smells. CLothes. Fine motor skills. Visual, spatial, processing, memory.

HE sees a psychologist (by our insistence, since he lacks self esteem) and sees an OT at school once a week for his fine motor skills .. ie: grasping a pencil, cutting with scissors. this has been going on or 3 years and in the last 4 months we have seen a dramatic increase in hostility, depression. He says he hates his life (not suicidal), he's stupid. He now hits himself in the head, or bangs his head on the wall.
I am at a loss of what to do next. Nothing seems to be working.

Help !! I have gone into depression. My marriage is in shambles and our daughter tries to coddle her brother just to keep the peace so he doesn't flip out.