Hello,
husband and I are at nearing our wits' ends about what to do about our 4 yr. DS (5 in December). DS was diagnosed as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) when he was 3, but we moved to another state and that diagnosis was taken away - we are currently awaiting a re-evaluation and to see a developmental pedi. We've been involved with-Occupational Therapist (OT) since he was 15 mos. (developmental delay and sensory issues) and he now sees a Behavioral Therapist 1x/wk. However, recently he has become EXTREMELY aggressive. If he doesn't get his way, he will kick, punch, and headbutt and throw whatever is with-in his reach. Usually it's directed at husband or me, but he will also go after his 2 yr. old brother or whoever is in his way. It's not just one trigger, it's everything. From getting dressed to eating to going to karate to playing to going to bed. It seems like every interaction with-him involves aggression/violent behavior on his part. The minute something doesn't go his way, he erupts. He could be building a block tower or playing with-lego, but the minute one block falls, all heck breaks loose and he starts throwing and if you go near him, he kicks and hits. Getting him dressed for school, he starts kicking and punching the minute we wake him up, continues when we help him dress, etc. The thing we don't understand is he's fine in school. He's always had tantrums, but never to this extreme or with-this much violence towards others (he used to headbutt out of anger when he was younger, but would headbutt the wall, floor, or ground). He just started this 2-3 weeks ago following an ear infection. We meet with-his behavioral therapist for his weekly session tomorrow, but it seems like the sessions are futile. We do what his therapist suggests, follow the hand outs, but nothing works. We remove him from the situation when he tantrums, we do positive reinforcement, we remove/avoid his triggers if we foresee a tantrum, we tried charts, but nothing seems to be effective. He's getting stronger as he gets older. We don't know what to do. husband thinks it's because he's spoiled and says he's too old to be acting like this. And my biggest fear is he's going to become more aggressive if we don't do something about it now, but don't know what to do.
Rosa
husband and I are at nearing our wits' ends about what to do about our 4 yr. DS (5 in December). DS was diagnosed as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) when he was 3, but we moved to another state and that diagnosis was taken away - we are currently awaiting a re-evaluation and to see a developmental pedi. We've been involved with-Occupational Therapist (OT) since he was 15 mos. (developmental delay and sensory issues) and he now sees a Behavioral Therapist 1x/wk. However, recently he has become EXTREMELY aggressive. If he doesn't get his way, he will kick, punch, and headbutt and throw whatever is with-in his reach. Usually it's directed at husband or me, but he will also go after his 2 yr. old brother or whoever is in his way. It's not just one trigger, it's everything. From getting dressed to eating to going to karate to playing to going to bed. It seems like every interaction with-him involves aggression/violent behavior on his part. The minute something doesn't go his way, he erupts. He could be building a block tower or playing with-lego, but the minute one block falls, all heck breaks loose and he starts throwing and if you go near him, he kicks and hits. Getting him dressed for school, he starts kicking and punching the minute we wake him up, continues when we help him dress, etc. The thing we don't understand is he's fine in school. He's always had tantrums, but never to this extreme or with-this much violence towards others (he used to headbutt out of anger when he was younger, but would headbutt the wall, floor, or ground). He just started this 2-3 weeks ago following an ear infection. We meet with-his behavioral therapist for his weekly session tomorrow, but it seems like the sessions are futile. We do what his therapist suggests, follow the hand outs, but nothing works. We remove him from the situation when he tantrums, we do positive reinforcement, we remove/avoid his triggers if we foresee a tantrum, we tried charts, but nothing seems to be effective. He's getting stronger as he gets older. We don't know what to do. husband thinks it's because he's spoiled and says he's too old to be acting like this. And my biggest fear is he's going to become more aggressive if we don't do something about it now, but don't know what to do.
Rosa