I have 2 autistic sons the youngest who is quite severe has spent the past couple of weeks screaming alot. It is starting to drive us all crazy. He is non-verbal and don't know if it's in frustration, anger boredom or something else as it does't seem to have a trigger and his mood varies so much at the time. He also bangs things with the palms of his hands at the same time (whatever is near to hand, including us).
We are at a loss as to what to do. He is only at the very first stage of pecs (exchanging a blank card for a desired object) so our communication level with him is very low and he has limited understanding.
Has anyone been through anything similar or have any suggestions to help us. Any advice whatsoever would be much appreciated. ↓
|
|
| Name: onlinedizzy | Date: Jun 23rd, 2007 11:44 PM |
| Have you tried a casein (dairy)free gluten free diet, Even just try taking all the dairy food out of your son's diet for 2 weeks. This is exactlywhat my 2 kids used to be like and it reduces the shouting and hyperactivity a lot. When they eat dairy food it starts agin. Just one suggestion. Liz ↑ |
| Name: crofty | Date: Jun 24th, 2007 4:27 AM |
Hi online dizzy
I don't think that would work for us as unfortunately he has such a limited diet only eating 3 or 4 things that we have been advised by the dietitian that it would be nearly impossible to restrict things until we can build up what he will try. ↑ |
| Name: aaturci | Date: Jul 15th, 2007 2:11 AM |
| HELLO- MY SON TREVOR WHO WILL BE 4 IN JANUARY WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM LAST MONTH. I DONT REALLY HAVE ANY ADVICE YET, BUT I CAN SAY I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. HE IS AGGRESSIVE ALSO AND THE PICKIEST EATER I HAVE EVER MET. I WOULD LIKE TO CHAT WITH YOU MAYBE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED BECAUSE I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. MY EMAIL IS ATURCI@TAMPABAY.RR.COM--- HE HAS A 2 YR OLD SISTER THAT ISNT SHOWING ANY SIGNS BUT SHE IS STARTING TO IMITATE HIM AND SINCE HE HITS, SHE THINKS THAT IT IS OK TO DO IT. I JUST THINK THAT IT WOULD BE NICE TO TALK TO IN A SIMILAR SITUATION, IF YOU LIKE. THANKS! ↑ |
| Name: crofty | Date: Jul 18th, 2007 2:49 PM |
Hello aturci again, did you get my email I sent you?
Maybe I took your address down wrong. ↑ |
| Name: pevansmum | Date: Aug 21st, 2007 9:36 PM |
| I have the same problem...my 9 yo is non-verbal, and i try everything to appease him. screaming, crying and whining are usually all i hear. it can be frustrating, but all i can say is just walk up to him, tell him to take your hand (and physically do it at the same time) and say "take my hand and show me what you want" ...it took almost a year to teach my son how to do that, but sometimes he does calm down and take my hand...good luck! ↑ |
| Name: LeAnn | Date: Aug 25th, 2007 8:21 AM |
| My son is pretty bad too he cries all the time when he can't tell us what he wants. Then he beats up on my older two for no reason. Yesterday he poured out my liquid detergent that I was my clothes in the whole gallon all over my kitchen floor and played in it. I think I sit and cried for an hour because its really hard to deal with his behavior problems I never new how hard it really was going to be until now ↑ |
| Name: LeAnn | Date: Aug 25th, 2007 8:28 AM |
I opened up my son a myspace page if you all want to go and take a look. I have his pics on there and it tells more about him
the pics are when he was first diagnosed and before he was diagnoised the site address is www.myspace.com/remember_autism ↑ |
| Name: crofty | Date: Aug 25th, 2007 10:38 AM |
Hi LeAnn, I have cried many a tear too over my sons behaviours. The majority of time we seem to be at a stand still with any kind of progress whatsoever.
I suppose that is just the way it is and you have to try and keep strong, but it is unbelievably hard sometimes.
Bye for now, I'm going to look at your sons myspace page now with great interest, all the best to you and your family. ↑ |
| Name: wallflower | Date: Aug 25th, 2007 12:17 PM |
My 4 yr old with autism used to scream all day to. My 12 yr old did as well. I know what it's like to be overwhelmed and not know what to do especially if he can't communicate. He must be so frustrated as well. I have an emotions chart with different types of faces on it and when my 4 yr old, michael is screaming I ask him to point to the face in which he can relate. At 4 this is hard but my son has mastered it. Putting my 3 autistic kids on the glutent free diet has helped their meltdowns and has cut them in half. Michael is also medicated because he is agressive and unpredicable. I wear ear plugs when my kids are screaming because I can't handle the sounds. Good luck !
shawn ↑ |
| Name: crofty | Date: Aug 26th, 2007 7:28 AM |
| Hi Wallflower, what kind of medication is your son Michael on? Has it helped cut the agression down a little? It is so tough, I just hope that some day we can communicate with him a little more, maybe with sign language or something. Thanks for you good wishes, it's nice to know i am not alone. (The ear plug idea is pretty cool too, I think I'll try it!!!) ↑ |
| Name: wallflower | Date: Aug 26th, 2007 4:38 PM |
Hi Crofty,
My son michael is on tenex, here is the info on it: (.Can provide for 24/7 modulation of impulsivity, hyperactivity, aggression and sensory hypersensitivity. This covers most out of school problems, so stiumlant use can be limited to school and homework hours. Improves appetite. Less sedating than clonidine.) It is used for kids with ADHD. It is very helpful for michael, my son chase is on it to. It's called an " Anti-antagonist ". But doing the Glutent free diet really made a change in my kids aggression. Defintely invest in some ear plugs....lol... Sounds like sign language would be great, giving him a way to communicate so he isn't so frustrated. Hang in there, I know how hard this can be. God bless you,
Shawn ↑ |
| Name: LeAnn | Date: Aug 26th, 2007 10:44 PM |
Hey Crofty did you get the chance to look at the webpage that I posted. If so what did you think and can you tell that he also has manic depression ? Talk to you soon
LeAnn ↑ |
| Name: LeAnn | Date: Aug 26th, 2007 10:48 PM |
| Also My son has good social skills with the doctor but not with other kids and people that comes in the home that are strangers he hides in his room or kitchen away from it all ..He hates loud music and Big crowds. He has really bad sensory disorder. He loves to smell everything that has a strong smell to it. And is very high pain tolerance except when he gets hit on the head that is the only time it hurts. Isaiah is constantly hurting the other 3 kids that we have. Scratching them and biting what else can I do ?? Other than pull my hair out ↑ |
| Name: crofty | Date: Aug 27th, 2007 4:40 PM |
| Hi LeAnn, I have looked at your sons myspace page and have to tell you I thought it was wonderful. He is a beautiful little boy and I am sure that even though you have a lot of difficulties to cope with, he seems extremely happy. Sometimes the hardest thing is trying to live with them in there world, rather than bring them into ours, (hope that makes sense). I also found the music really touching, are they an american band? Regarding the hitting your other children I can only say that I would remove him from the situation immediately say a firm no and give your attention to your other children for a while. Hang in there I know it's tough and remember 'Loving an autistic child makes the heart grow larger.' ↑ |
| Name: chatjunkie | Date: Aug 27th, 2007 7:00 PM |
| i recently did a course called an early bird course as my grandson has autism we learned about the iceberg where u draw an iceberg at the top you put the reasons y your son may be acting up i.e strange place people loud noise confusion etc at the bottom you put how you can change any of the above to best suit his needs don't know if this helps but good luck with it pecs is a fantastic means of communacation so hang in there ↑ |
| Name: crofty | Date: Aug 28th, 2007 6:47 AM |
| Hi Chatjunkie, i also did early bird a couple of years ago, it was great, I'd forgotten a bit apart the iceberg, but it still does make sense, so thanks for that i will read up on it again. Good luck with your grandson and good on you for doing the course. ↑ |
| Name: LeAnn | Date: Aug 29th, 2007 4:44 PM |
| does any body's child on here crave bread because mine does and it seems as though his behavior is off the chart ↑ |
| Name: crofty | Date: Sep 1st, 2007 4:51 AM |
Hi Leann you could try getting a dietitian to look at his food intake, maybe it's not a problem depending on what else he has. We have just had my youngest diet analysed he is pretty low on everything which we try to top up with a fish oil and vitamin supplement, but we have also found out that the reason he craves salt is because his zinc levels are extremely low also.
We are extremely worried as i've just looked up on the net about zinc deficiency and am fretting about loads more stuff now like how it can cause mental lethargy etc etc, to add to all the other worries i have with him. I guess i'm just feeling a little low right now. ↑ |
| Name: deb2007 | Date: Sep 1st, 2007 5:53 PM |
| hi everyone.... im a 45yr old mum and my son tom has recently been diagnosed with autism...i always knew deep down that something wasnt quite right so his diagnosis didnt come as much of a surprise to me...ive learnt how to cope with him and hes mostly good natured and happy but he can be a handful at times...shoppping with him is an absolute nightmare, hes also very clingy so i never get a minute to myself .. i tried to do the earlybird course but had to give it up when he decided he didnt like being in the creche...im lucky that i have internet ↑ |
| Name: jdourt | Date: Sep 1st, 2007 7:38 PM |
| Turnip (Brassica rapa L.) is a root Brassica crop and has been used as a vegetable for human consumption in Europe since prehistoric times. Turnip root has been a popular livestock fodder for at least 600 years wherever the crop can be grown. For most of that time turnip roots have been managed as forage. Researchers in the United States determined in the early 1900s that turnip roots are valuable energy sources for young ruminant animals. However, livestock farmers at that time were turning away from the Brassica root crops (which also include rutabagas or swedes) for fodder because much hand labor was required for the production and utilization of the large roots. One study showed that the labor requirement on a nutrient basis for these crops was three times that needed for corn silage production. ↑ |
| Name: irish Amy | Date: Sep 2nd, 2007 5:13 AM |
| Hi Deb, my Callum is also mostly a very good natured boy ( he also has his moments ), is he going to school at all? I only ask because of the early bird, if Tom was going you may be able to get back on the course, I personally found it so valuable, I understand so much more from it ↑ |
| Name: irish Amy | Date: Sep 2nd, 2007 5:14 AM |
| sorry *is Tom going to school at all?* ↑ |
|
|
