The Challenges of Being a Sensory Dysfunctional Child in a Military Family

Abstract

The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) stated that the Department of Defense would prioritize its allocation of time, people, and money into four principle objectives. The fourth objective is to "preserve and enhance the All-Volunteer Force." The military family, particularly during the uncharacteristically high operational tempo inherent in Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF), is experiencing significant strain. One stressor not addressed in the QDR is Sensory Processing Disorder. SPD is a relatively new and unexplored disorder, yet pilot studies and experts have identified that a significant percentage of the population is affected. Untreated and particularly unrecognized SPD creates low self-esteem and hinders social and academic learning in grade school. Treatment for SPD is available, but deployment, the transient nature of the profession, and an inadequate support system hinder and possibly prohibit normalizing neurological connections in the brain of a military child.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 02, 2011
Accession Number
ADA601897

Entities

People

  • Timothy L. Tormey

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Attention Deficit Disorder
  • Brain Injuries
  • Department Of Defense
  • Deployment
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Families (Human)
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Iraqi-War
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Families
  • Military Medicine
  • Nervous System
  • Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • United States

Readers

  • Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Science in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.
  • Systems Analysis and Design