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Autism Spectrum and Meltdowns
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<blockquote data-quote="WearyWoman" data-source="post: 367448"><p>Hi everyone,</p><p> </p><p>I used to visit this forum quite frequently, and now I'm back - years later making another "first post". Yes, it's been a bad day - a bad week, actually.</p><p> </p><p>Our youngest boy (age 9) has an autism spectrum disorder (Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)/not otherwise specified), ADHD, apraxia of speech, and ODD-like behaviors as well. He is relatively high functioning in that he attends school full-time (entering third grade this fall). With changes in the insurance laws in Wisconsin, we are now eligible to get in-home therapy for his autism. Therapists are here 20 hours per week to work with him.</p><p> </p><p>Well, it's been a few months now, and the honeymoon is over. At some point during the therapy, he will simply refuse to do the simplest thing, i.e. putting a toy away, at which point he'lll run away, yell, scream and avoid. This behavior has escalated, and he is now throwing any object he can get his hands on at me and the therapists. He punches, kicks, hits, etc. And these meltdowns are resulting from having to switch gears, do the next thing, etc. Being told "no" and general attempts to have him complete tasks also bring on the meltdowns. The therapists are using a visual schedule, and difficult child is verbal.</p><p> </p><p>Yesterday was the worst, and he truly could have hurt somebody or himself, and I don't even want to talk about the damage he did to his furniture and woodwork in the house, etc. These rage fits go on for over an hour. Afterward, he is sorry and upset with himself.</p><p> </p><p>I've read the Explosive Child stuff, and it fits him perfectly. I understand his problem pretty well, but I'm still not sure how to deal with it. The book mentions helping the child calm down. Well, this is much easier said than done, as nothing is helping him calm down. He does not want to be talked to or touched, and forget reasoning. He is not learning from his previous behavior very well at all. </p><p> </p><p>I've noticed the rages often happen mid-day. The morning usually goes quite well, with his Focalin XR. The afternoons are another story. I'm wondering if the medication could be causing a rebounding effect.</p><p> </p><p>Honestly, I don't think I can keep on enduring things the way they are. Something needs to change. Our life is consumed with this on a daily basis. I know others who have children with autism who aren't so disruptive and aggressive. And, I'm scared.</p><p> </p><p>difficult child's birthmom said she did not use drugs or alcohol during pregnancy, but that she did smoke for the first few months. Also, we don't have any info at all on bio father. I pray there is nothing else wrong with difficult child than what we already know.</p><p> </p><p>difficult child has had a neurodevelopmental assessment at a Children's Hospital. He's been evaluated by a number of autism specialists and the school. The hospital team diagnosed him with apraxia of speech and ADHD, and the autism spectrum disorder followed through the autism specialists.</p><p> </p><p>Is there anything else we can do for difficult child? I'm depressed I think, because I want to help him so much, and yet, nothing is really working very well. Not knowing what to do for my son is very painful. I want our home to be peaceful and joy-filled. And I know you all understand this.</p><p> </p><p>If anyone can offer any advice or support in the way of autism-spectrum behavior issues, please chime in.</p><p> </p><p>Thanks for listening,</p><p> </p><p>WearyWoman</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="WearyWoman, post: 367448"] Hi everyone, I used to visit this forum quite frequently, and now I'm back - years later making another "first post". Yes, it's been a bad day - a bad week, actually. Our youngest boy (age 9) has an autism spectrum disorder (Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)/not otherwise specified), ADHD, apraxia of speech, and ODD-like behaviors as well. He is relatively high functioning in that he attends school full-time (entering third grade this fall). With changes in the insurance laws in Wisconsin, we are now eligible to get in-home therapy for his autism. Therapists are here 20 hours per week to work with him. Well, it's been a few months now, and the honeymoon is over. At some point during the therapy, he will simply refuse to do the simplest thing, i.e. putting a toy away, at which point he'lll run away, yell, scream and avoid. This behavior has escalated, and he is now throwing any object he can get his hands on at me and the therapists. He punches, kicks, hits, etc. And these meltdowns are resulting from having to switch gears, do the next thing, etc. Being told "no" and general attempts to have him complete tasks also bring on the meltdowns. The therapists are using a visual schedule, and difficult child is verbal. Yesterday was the worst, and he truly could have hurt somebody or himself, and I don't even want to talk about the damage he did to his furniture and woodwork in the house, etc. These rage fits go on for over an hour. Afterward, he is sorry and upset with himself. I've read the Explosive Child stuff, and it fits him perfectly. I understand his problem pretty well, but I'm still not sure how to deal with it. The book mentions helping the child calm down. Well, this is much easier said than done, as nothing is helping him calm down. He does not want to be talked to or touched, and forget reasoning. He is not learning from his previous behavior very well at all. I've noticed the rages often happen mid-day. The morning usually goes quite well, with his Focalin XR. The afternoons are another story. I'm wondering if the medication could be causing a rebounding effect. Honestly, I don't think I can keep on enduring things the way they are. Something needs to change. Our life is consumed with this on a daily basis. I know others who have children with autism who aren't so disruptive and aggressive. And, I'm scared. difficult child's birthmom said she did not use drugs or alcohol during pregnancy, but that she did smoke for the first few months. Also, we don't have any info at all on bio father. I pray there is nothing else wrong with difficult child than what we already know. difficult child has had a neurodevelopmental assessment at a Children's Hospital. He's been evaluated by a number of autism specialists and the school. The hospital team diagnosed him with apraxia of speech and ADHD, and the autism spectrum disorder followed through the autism specialists. Is there anything else we can do for difficult child? I'm depressed I think, because I want to help him so much, and yet, nothing is really working very well. Not knowing what to do for my son is very painful. I want our home to be peaceful and joy-filled. And I know you all understand this. If anyone can offer any advice or support in the way of autism-spectrum behavior issues, please chime in. Thanks for listening, WearyWoman [/QUOTE]
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