Children with short attention spans who can't sit still for long and experience frequent "melt- down" temper tantrums are often diagnosed with ADD or another spectrum disorder, but the diag- nosis may be incorrect, some ex- perts say.

Spectrum disorders include attention deficit disorder, hyper- activity or both; obsessive com- pulsive disorder; oppositional de- fiance disorder, and even autism.

To control impulsivity, anxiety or other symptoms of such disor- ders, many youngsters are placed on mood-altering medication- drugs that alleviate stress and help them cope with their day-to-day lives.

New research is pointing to a different diagnosis-sensory in- tegration dysfunction, a condition that causes children (and adults) to be hypersensitive to various sensory experiences.

The Conejo Valley Mental Health Professionals Association, a multidisciplinary mental health group, presented a seminar Friday on sensory integration dysfunc- tion.

Shiro Perera Torquato, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist who said she's discovering through her Simi Valley practice that many children's disorders have been misdiagnosed.

Members traveled from Ventura, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark and throughout the Conejo Valley to hear Torquato speak about the little-known dis- order.

"Most people haven't heard about it," Torquato said, includ- ing teachers and pediatricians, even though the disorder was first identified many years ago.

Torquato identified several "red flags" for psychologists, par- ents and other professionals who work with children. Hypersensi- tivity to fluorescent lighting, noise, or even tags on clothes are signals that a child may be suf- fering from sensory overload rather than a mental disability.

Oftentimes, Torquato said, children with a sensory dysfunc- tion that goes untreated will de- velop other disorders, including anxiety and depression.

Torquato presented an ex- ample of a 15-year patient. The girl had displayed personality problems starting at age 2. The child would become suddenly en- raged, and eventually had prob- lems with her family and at school. After seeing dozens of doctors with no results, her par- ents brought her to Torquato's office, which is lit with fluores- cent lighting to simulate a school setting.

The girl was angry, defiant and screaming about the lights, Torquato said. Torquato turned the fluorescent lights off. "All of a sudden she totally relaxed, she was a different kid," Torquato said, noting that every class in every school uses fluorescent lights.

Torquato and others believe that even children who've been diagnosed with Aspergers, a milder form of autism, may have sensory integration problems.

"Different scenarios keep cropping up," Torquato said.

The disorder can manifest in many different ways, including being hypersensitive to sound, light, movement and touch. There are varying degrees to which the disorder interrupts everyday life. Even muscle tone, balance and motor skills problems are related to the disorder.

Symptoms are sometimes evi- dent from birth. Babies may cry or scream at common loud noises, and many children with the dis- order have a high tolerance for pain. As a result, these children may play more roughly and inad- vertently hurt playmates.

Torquato said she knew of one child who cut his foot and didn't react at all. Some children bite because of the pressure on their mouths.

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Hyperactivity occurring dur- ing noisy or busy situations is also a red flag, Torquato said.

Unpredictable meltdowns are common, as is clumsiness and poor motor coordination.

Some symptoms mimic au- tism, including the behavior of babies or toddlers who appear unaffectionate or prefer to be left alone.

Tactile problems often arise-- from refusing to wear socks and hating scratchy tags on clothes to avoiding water near the head or face.

Poor posture and slumping in chairs at school are often misun- derstood by teachers as laziness, Torquato said.

Another "classic" indication of the disorder is that normal pa- rental techniques don't work, she said. "The household is in chaos because of one kid."

Pediatric bipolar disorder is often diagnosed when children display frequent unpredictable meltdowns, Torquato said. "I've seen it enough times, the cumu- lative effect in terms of sensory overload."

Sometimes learning to read is difficult because the child can't track the words on the page. This symptom is often misdiagnosed ory disorders

as ADD or ADHD.

Other disorders rise out of un- diagnosed sensory problems, from anxiety disorders, including panic attacks, which sometimes lead to agoraphobia, the inability to leave home.

One treatment may be occupa- tional therapy that includes a sen- sory-rich environment, which helps children to manage their response to a range of stimulation. Linda Lower, president of the Conejo Valley Mental Health Pro- fessionals Association, said the association conducts a "State of Mental Health" seminar each year.

The group also holds board meetings on the first Friday of every month at Los Robles Hos- pital East Campus, 150 Via Merida in Westlake Village, at the corner of Lakeview Canyon Road. The meetings are held from 9 to 11 a.m.

"Everyone is welcome," Lower said. "We're always look- ing for willing hands and hearts."

Torquato can be reached at (805) 527-4146. She listed Simi Valley Hospital as a resource as well as Honore Kyle, an occupa- tional therapist who works at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in Thousand Oaks. She can be reached at (805) 370-4001.