I have a 7 year old with HFA. She has sensory issues and we see a speech path, OT and PT. They really didn't present themselves (sensory issues) until she was a toddler. She was a wonderful baby. She was so content. Didn't cry when she was hungry, dirty , ever. My question is, I have a 3 month old that has cried nonstop since the day she was born with the exception of when she's held closely. She has to be held a certain way. Very close with her head hanging off your arm. She hasn't acted satisfied ever. I thought maybe my breastmilk wasn't satisfying her but I've started alternating formula with my breast and its not any better. I don't know how sensory problems present themselves in infants. Any answers/experiences would be appreciated.
Here are two checklists for sensory symptoms in infants:
http://www.sinetwork.org/aboutspd/prof-siobsguide.pdf
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/SPD-symptom-check list-for-infants-and-toddlers.html
Might be a good idea to rule out reflux, too.
I forgot to add my personal experience. My eldest had a hard time catching onto breastfeeding, and a terrible time sleeping on his back (lots of startling) which I now attribute to gravitational insecurity. He hated to go for walks in his baby carriage. He was also fussy every evening. I suspect that he might have been reacting to cooking smells -- a problem that I finally pinned down at age 8!
Good luck with everything.
p.s.
re-reading your post, I think it is very hard to know at 3 mos what is sensory and what is just "colicky." I have a friend whose baby was really really fussy when he was like 3 mos. But he kind of grew out of it after a few months. She always thought his problems revolved around eating/digestion.
I think the reason EI picked up on my son's delays so early was that he already showed signs of hypotonia at 7 mos- head lag (which he still has) when pulled to sitting, lack of verbalization, never really "played" with toys, etc. But the reason I had called them was because I noticed how jumpy and easy to startle he was. He was hypervigilant in public, like he was just waiting for something to jump out at him at any moment. It was like walking on eggshells trying to keep him from getting upset about lights, sounds, etc.
EI has a very specific list of things that they should or should not be able to do at a very early age. If you have any doubts, especially since she has a sibling with other issues, I would not hesitate to call them, just to be on the safe side.
I noticed sensory problems almost immediately. At 7 mos our son was evaluated by and qualified for early intervention because of sensory problems and gross motor delays.
I do believe my son had sensory issues from birth. He could not suck right and feeding him was a nightmare, he was a very,very fussy baby, he would not sleep as an infant, he finally started to take an hour long nap when he was a year old, and it only lasted a year. HE also would not eat with a baby spoon until about 6 months old, even when we were holding it for him. His hands were always closed fisted and he never was relaxed. My daughter didn't have any sensory issues until about 18 months old. She used to eat off of a spoon, as well as eat many foods. Not any more! After a bad bout of pnuemonia at 15 months, she seemed to change and develop these sensory issues.