My son has Autism, should I take away his string and try to break his unusual habits?
406087
Oh, No, NO, NO!!! Do NOT take his string away!!!  Do NOT try to break his habits, until you have gotten training in how to do it without making him withdraw any further from the world!\n\nAutism is a very tricky problem. He is responding to the world the way he really does see it. How would you like it if, every time you did anything, you were not allowed to do it?  No, you can't scratch your itches, no matter how much they hurt... No, you can't look at anything pretty or interesting? No, you can't do anything you enjoy doing?\n\nYou may not understand what he sees in that string, or what he feels that cause him to have his other behaviors.\n\nThere are special programs designed, through research and through the comments and suggestions of those intelligent autistics, now adults, who are able to communicate effectively, to help your son learn new ways of seeing his world, and learn new behaviors.\n\nHow old is he? If he is under the age of 22, he (and you) should be receiving specialized Autism programming through the public schools, with home training services linked through the school social worker.  If he is under the age of 3, you are eligible for service support in your home (Individualized Family Service Program). If he is age 3 or 4, he should be in a specialized preschool program. If he is ages 5 through 21, he should be getting specialized programming through the nearest public school.\n\nSee these links:\n\nhttp://www.autismweb.com/\nhttp://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/autism.html\nhttp://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer\nhttp://wwww.spedusource.org/
202378
Interactive play and comforting behaviors help enormously to bring this type of child out.\n\nThe use of ASL is a great idea, but should be kept as informal as possible in order to avoid pushing the child to oppositional behaviors (since he's already defiant of society in his refusal to communicate orally).\n\nDoes the child have cognitive differences? Does the child allow other methods of communication? Does the child show an interest in any social activity?\n\nIt has been my experience that most children exhibiting some form of anti-social behavior are in fact in need of 'empathetic parenting'.\n\nA teacher can do this and maintain her professional stance by shoulder touches, meaningful smiles and by creating a more natural learning environment which gives room for alternative behaviors and encourages basic curiosity and fairness.\n\nGood luck. I hope you are able to reach him.
142725
First of all, I think it is a great thing that he is currently being evaluated. Sounds like Aspergers is a possibility...in my opinion...but could be several other disorders.\nTo address his needs now...try to give him something to do with his hands (holding something, etc). Explaing 'personal space' by describing a 'bubble' that is around people. He may not enter someone elses bubble without their permission...but explain what he can do...shake hands, wave, hi-five. Try to remain positive and give lots of good feedback when he soes something desired...rather than lots of negative when he does something wrong. But, in order to do that you need to explain the 'rules' of what is appropriate more than once. You can even try coming up with a behavior modification system, (for example, stickers for each 10 minute period with positive behavior). I wish I could help more, but with a limited knowledge of the situation, this is the best I can do.\nOnce he is evaluated you will have the benefit of a team to work directly with him and possibly you to help him integrate into the classroom.\nGood Luck
584343
Be careful about medications as they create severe reations and gut problems. There are some enzyme that have been helping Autisic children that you should look into that are natural and effective. \n\nPeptizyde and HN-Zyme Prime appear to help the body metabolize glutens and therefore alow neurotransmitters to fire more efficiently. There is a support group for parents with children with Autism that are focusing on using these enzymes. I would highly suggest you join this group to discover how these enzymes can help your son.\n\nA gluten free diets and dairy free diet will also help with many Autism for gut and digestion problems.\n\nA multivitamin with B-3, B-6, Magnesium, and Zinc will also help.\n\nI would also like to suggest eliminating all sugary drinks and have your son drink six glasses of distilled water each day. Also switch from refined salt to unrefined sea salt for\nbetter mineralization. This will help with gut and digestion problems and help with metablolizing food.\n\nHug Therapy also has excellent result. Get everyone who has regukar contact with your son to hug him regularly.\nYou should also consider putting a very heavy blnket over your childs legs to keep them still so they can focus and prevent them from out of control behavior. It is comforting and helpful.Dolphin Therapy is supposed to have a significant impact on children with Autism.\n\nPeptizyde and HN-Zyme Prime. Of 260 total respondents using these products for at least 3 weeks, 235 (90%) reported positive results, 14 (6%) reported negative results, and 11 (4%) reported inconclusive results.\n• Significant improvements were seen in eye contact, language, humor, foods tolerated, digestion, stools/bowels, Significant decreases were seen in aggression, hyperness, anxiety, self-stimming, self-injurious behavior, pain, and headaches among others.\nhttp://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=54&i=438\n\n"Educating Instead of Medicating" puts you in the drivewr's seat. It is your choice...
648529
sounds like your son is a freak. lol
1119764
Here are some tips and suggestions that I hope will help you! I wish you all the best. Please keep in mind, as I'm sure you do, that not all children with autism are alike, and will have different needs. These are just guidelines, please consult an education professional who knows your child for the most accurate and relevant information for your family.\n\n- Recognize your child's strengths and interests and use these as opportunities for education (for example, if your child is very interested in Star Wars, you can teach math problems about Star Wars, make cleaning up into a game about Jedi powers, etc.) You never know when an interest may turn into a possible career option for the future (I recently read a book written by a man with Asperger's who made his childhood interest in "The Wizard of Oz" into seveal job opportunities! ["Demystifying the Autistic Experience" by William Stillman"]) (Source #1)\n\n- People with autism/Asperger's are often visual learners and learn well with pictures, charts, step-by-step written instructions, etc. (Source #1)\n\n- Consider reading books by authors with Autism/Asperger's (while these are often geared towards adults, I think they offer valuable information) Authors to consider include Temple Grandin, Edgar R. Schneider, Jerry Newport, Stephen Shore, and William Stillman (Source #1)\n\n- To motivate a child to use language, you could, for example if you know she wants juice, don't just give it to her becuase you know that's what she wants. Have her say, "juice," or if she is not ready for that yet, just the first sound of the word before you give her any juice. Gradually, very slowly, require him to say additional words such as, "want juice," then "want juice please," then "I want juice please, etc." before you give her the juice. Start with him requesting with one word for most of the things he wants (and keep this up for a long while), before starting to require sentences for any items. If you feel your child is not ready for this, please consider using the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) as an early step before implementing the above procedure. (Source #1)\n\n- Make clear and objective descriptions of the behaviors that are concerning you. Then, make some notes whenever the behavior occurs. You could make a chart with three columns: (A) What happens before the behavior, (B) What the behavior was, and (C) What happened after or as a result of the behavior. You may find that it gets her attention from adults, or that it gets her a time-out (maybe she is overwhelmed in the situation and wants to be removed). If you see a pattern from the information you collect, you could teach her other ways to get attention or whatever she is gaining from doing these behaviors. These could include, tapping someone on the shoulder, asking for attention, handing someone a card that says, "attention please" or "all done" (to get permission to leave an area), etc. Also, make sure that you are giving her praise or a reinforcer (something she likes) when he is engaging in positive behavior. \n\n- "Many children with autism are good at drawing, art and computer programming. These talent areas should be encouraged. I think there needs to be much more emphasis on developing the child's talents. Talents can be turned into skills that can be used for future employment." (Source #2)\n\n- "Teaching generalization is often a problem for children with autism. To teach a child to generalize the principle of not running across the street, it must be taught in many different locations. If he is taught in only one location, the child will think that the rule only applies to one specific place." (Source #2)\n\n- "I interpret language literally. It's very confusing for me when you say, 'Hold your horses, cowboy!' when what you really mean is 'Please stop
551122
Pretty much anything that you are concern about your child doing or not doing.  If it is not a medical question, they should be able to point you in the correct direction to get an expert answer.  \n\nIf your child has had issues in the past or has a chronic ondition, you should definitely ask about any updates and be sure to share anything that you have noticed regarding the condition.
320213
You are obviously looking for the best advice possible, so please if you can do anything to rectify this situation then do it and as soon as possible. I am so proud of you even though I dont know you, for recognising that this man is in difficulty, please go to someone who can help him, go to his or indeed your Dr. and seek immediate advice. This is wrong, you know it I know it and I am sure every other user of this site will see it for what it is.  It is abuse of the worst kind.  I have a son with special needs, and this is my worst nightmare. I applaud your concern, now please get help for him....
821868
If I were you I would get the testing done.  As you know people that have autism can lead very fullfilling lives and should not be treated differently.  As a teenager I babysat an autisic girl and I fell in love with this sweet little girl not because she was autisic but because of what the autism made her.  It has been 12 years since this little girl went home and there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of her.\n\nGet the testing done and teach your child that he can live life to the fullest and that not everyone judges people that are different
652310
Special need children should not be rushed to do things that might feel complicated to them. Give him more time and let him learn slowly instead of drastically transitioning him. I would try with an open cup and put saran clear wrap over it and make a little opening. Teach him to not let water touch the clear wrap and slowly guide him. They need to be conditioned...even little puppies need guidance like that.
179281
My personal experience has been it make my son act terrible it is way to stimulating for him which usually leads to bad behaviors I have to be very careful what I allow him to listen to.\n\nDo you have a 504 or IEP for your sons accommodations if you do you can ask that he be excused during that time. They can go to resource help in the office my son got to help the janitor with little jobs it just depends on your school and what you and your son are comfortable with when you approach them have a few things lined out that he could be doing instead and contrast what he has been doing in music class and how it is neither beneficial to him or the others to be there.\n\nBecause of the sensory issues with my son he cant go to the cafeteria or the gym and we had it written in his IEP\n\nIf I can help you in anyway please dont hesitate to contact me\n\nGood luck
1079924
I answered your other question, \ni would like to say to you that if your son is showing any symptoms of Aspergers Syndrome {however mild or severe} please persist with the fight to get this diagnosis {he is under a paediatrician?}\nAny level of an ASD can be extremely difficult to diagnose and entails a lot of assessments at home/ school and any other regular places he attends.\nTry and make a note of unusual / inappropriate things he might say and things he is sensitive to or that over stimulate him ie; my son can`t cope with people talking in a different voice than their own, bright walls make him hyper and he has no concept of another persons personal space.\nHe has no concept of fear or danger and does not feel pain like a person without ASD does.\nCertain things do become quite obsessive { the latest being climbing on shed roof tops} and he is only 4 and a half !\nI wish you all the best of luck as parenting a child with ADHD and ASD will probably be the most challenging and exhausting experience of your lives.
195456
What you are going through is normal I know its not easy there are several therapeutic residential schools that take teens on the autistic spectrum. They have classes therapy doctors the works some of them have financing and some have scholarships based on need. Also sometimes the school will pay for part of it if you can prove he needs to be in a different setting.\n\nIf this is not an option for you you might look into community based sevices thru your local mental health center they can provide you with in home one on one help with your son they may also have respite care that would allow you a much needed well deserved break.\n\nPlease dont feel hopeless! there are things out there that can help you both its just a matter of finding it for you.\n\nSince I dont know where you live or where on the spectrum your son is I can only suggest you use a search engine for "residential schools autism" "theraputic school autism and then select from there also yahoo education has a lot of good links\n\nGood Luck and feel free to contact me if I can help
59783
From what you are describing I'm not so sure this is something that you can 'cure'.  What you may be able to do is find ways to help your son with gaining social skills and improving sensory tolerances.  Your son may benefit from behavioral or cognitive therapy targeting social skill development and understanding.  He may need help with learning ways of coping with an overload of sensory input.  He may not be able to provide his own structure but may need to have his environment and routines structured for him.  \n\nA good place to start is by writing down a list or description of symptoms/behaviors/concerns that you feel need to be addressed.  Take a copy of this list to the school ask his teacher if any of these apply to your son in the school environment.  If they do then you can seek a school evaluation to find out what supports may be beneficial to your son in school.  School is not just about academics.  It is also supposed to be about learning how to get along in the world and being able to go on to college, tech school and work.  If you can't socialize or provide self structure then this is a problem.  Your pediatrician is also a good resource for directing you to additional sources of evaluation of his current needs and performance levels.  Once those are fully discerned then you can more appropriately target means of addressing his difficulties.
158921
Wow, what a handful you have! He is high functioning isn't he? Well, I hope you go to see the doctor for his mood. Has he always been antisocial? That is pretty much an autistic trait unfortunatly. Just talk to him about it. How is he feeling lately? Try some theapy with a therapist who deals with autism  (a plus if they are also a relationship therapy.) Are there many that you know of? Have you visited his doctor? Talk to his family about it.
912753
Discuss the possibility of asperger's disorder with your doctor.  It is a milder form of autism.  Also, he needs to have his hearing checked and to make sure his tonsils are not enlarged.\n\nIf everything comes back fine, get him a Leap Pad toy that seems approprite for his age (there are many).  Sit with him and play and try to find something common between you.  Even if he does not talk to you, talk to him.\n\nHugs
597505
I would certainly say that this should not be done unless under the direct supervision of a doctor with a  specialization in autism-spectrum disorders.\n\nPersonal experiences will be highly varied, and responses here should not be used to justify starting this sort of treatment.