His balance can be OK but still have poor coordination. I have too wear corrective insoles now too walk. I walked off balance so long arthritis set in as well was born Club footed and now my arches have fallen. For balance issues in the past couple of years I've started using a cane. But I'm now 54. My parents bought me on the average a pair of shoes every one - two months. I broke them over too the side. With the insole and a good pair of work boots I get a couple years use for a pair now. I can't use regular shoes even with the insoles for more than a few minutes.
It is important to get him as much help as you can as early as you can. The sooner he learns to adapt too it the less stress in adult life. I am an extreme case it seems. I did OK till about 37 years old when my sensory system began too show more and more issues including what is called Myoclonic Seizures. Due to certain auditory or visual stimulation I sometimes spasam violently from my shoulders up. The chances your son will ever get too this point is unlikely. I just seem too have a more severe form of this likely several combined issues or disorders involving sensory processing including the Inner Ear. So much so they can't actually name what I have LOL. But for disability I am diagnosed as having General Anxiety Disorder. Back when I got disability I diid not know what I know now. It is G.A.D. but not due to the defined typical cause mental health profession goes by.
When I was very young I had inappropriate or wrong responses for things. If I saw something that scared me I stopped up my ears. I also have had a life long sinus allergy problem. That can also damage the Inner Ear. A kid with sinus allergies needs allergy treatment which usually involves shots. They are well worth it. The shots when I was a kid did not work that well but the ones of today do.
C.A.P.D. can later in life be a trigger for General Anxiety Disorder or Panic Attacks. But the very huge difference has to be understood too treat it. This is sensory trigger and not phobic nor induced by traumatic experiences. IOW patients with this should avoid antidepressants.
Try this site www.dyslexiaonline.com This doctor never treated me nor have I been too his clinic. But his book called "Phobia Free" when no other doctors had any answers this book did for me and made a huge difference in my treatment. In the 1970's he linked many adult anxiety disorders to underlying and usually undetected vestibular disorders. I consider him the pioneer in such research. He was scoffed at for over two decades but Vestibular Researchers in the past decade have proved his early discoveries.
I haven’t given the OT very much credit, but maybe I should. It sounds like OT helped you quite a bit. I’ll give it more time and see if it helps my son. You’ve been through A LOT! But, you’ve noted what’s worked, what’s helped, and what hasn’t and stuck with “therapies” and practices that have worked. Good.
You mentioned that you covered or plugged your ears when something scared you. My son does that, too. Generally though, he’s not scared of much. Very social and will walk up to people in stores (usually older women) and say hi because he knows they like it and appreciate it (and he likes the attention). One more thing that has me curious and comparing you to my son are the allergies. He doesn’t really have typical allergic reactions to stuff - but his nose is perpetually “stuffed”. He hates blowing, so I chalked it up to that. But, I’ll mention it to his pediatrician and see what happens. Oh, and I’ll check out the dyslexiaonline.com website.
You’ve done well for yourself considering all the hurdles you’ve had to jump. You should be proud of your accomplishments. And thanks again. I’ll try to let you know what happens with our son over the next few months.