Calming techniques for children on the autistic spectrum

Replies

By loopy

Re: Calming techniques for children on the autistic spectrum
Fri 20 Jun 2008 14:34

hi tracy,
just looked at the site and read some of the calming down issues that people could use. I have to say though that i dont think my daughter would appreciate me trying to calm her down using some of those techniques!! It would probably create more problems as she would end up throwing the items at me ! I found that the best thing that works for me is a "time out" spot. She has to stand on this spot for 2 minutes for some time out. If she continues to "perform" then she has to stand there for another 2 minutes. Sometimes this can go on for quite a while and it is mentally draining, but i stick to my guns and she always ends up saying "sowwy mommy" Its time consuming and tests your patience to the limit especially when she is self harming too. But it works for us. I am not saying that the techniques featured on that page wouldnt work, they may well do for other ppl.

By EL

Re: Calming techniques for children on the autistic spectrum
Fri 20 Jun 2008 16:32

Hi Tracy, i read to suggestions and to be honest i thought they sounded like they were written by a long haired hippy social worker who has no children of there own and no real knowledge of how Autism affects different people in very different ways. My son Adam is 13, when he is upset or 'kicking off' he is MADE to go to his room as i/we do not wish to see that kind of behaviour, once there he puts on his lamps! 1 is a tornado with changing colours, 1 is a super nova with the same, 1 is like a crystal ball with sound effects and changing or static colours, 1 is a lava, and 1 is a rotating globe of the world. As i said in my comment to pysically touch an Autist when there sences are at a peak is a recipe for further problems. As i said im sorry if i sound negative or rude even but i dont need advice on how to deal with my son as i have tried everything i can think of knowing him and how he is.

By morello

Re: Calming techniques for children on the autistic spectrum
Sat 21 Jun 2008 11:57

Having looking after and living with autistic people for 50 years , I have never heard such tosh. Anyone who can make an autistic person in a rage sit down and have fabrics rubbed on them is in cloud cuckoo. I can only imagine that the person it was first tested on was neither autistic or awake. sorry it may work for you but you are 1 in a million
Mo

By EL

Re: Calming techniques for children on the autistic spectrum
Sat 21 Jun 2008 19:21

lol

By Katjay

Re: Calming techniques for children on the autistic spectrum
Sun 22 Jun 2008 00:36

Hi Getme, yes a great article you wrote and thanks for the suggestions some of which I haven't used on my daughter.

With reference to your replies I wonder how many carers with children/adults with autism have had a sensory assessment carried out.

It has been a great help over the past few years knowing my daughter has sensory problems, I used to wonder why she could cope with pain if she hurt herself but was clearly distressed by for instance wearing a t shirt with a label or seam next to her skin.

EL, obviously your son's sensory needs are being met by way of light but other children might need there's met by sound, touch, taste etc.

Morello, I appreciate you have had some 50 years experience but there has been extensive research into sensory integration dysfunction with autism and perhaps you need your knowledge updating.

By Tricia

Re: Calming techniques for children on the autistic spectrum
Sun 22 Jun 2008 10:05

I have not read the links yet but have read the comments on this thread.

At first from your comments I thought yes us parents know our children and we know how to deal with them best.

But on reflection of my thoughts I realised what I say to every parent of a child or adult who faces difficutlies is to listen to others. As you may be able to pick a bit of this up from one person and a bit from another to suit your circumstances as there are never two situations the same when it comes to Autism maybe similar but rarely exactly the same.

For example I was just talking to a parent of a young person with autism who has no speech and little communication skills. This young person would be awake most of the night.

They are currently going through a new to them music programe where classical music is played each day for up to half an hour. This young person likes some of it some he gets very tearful but what is amazing is that every night this young person has put themselves to bed at 9pm each night. and is sleeping through most of the night.

After years of these parents trying every thing in the book they have now found something which they were septical of trying out is looking like it is helping them.

So never close your ears to every idea out there it may not be suitable for some but yet it could be for others.

As for my son he has never had a sensory assessment but i know from my own observations what his sensory needs are and what are not. One is he hates being touched and another he hates people singing he also has food sensory needs as he only likes certain foods.

By getme

Re: Calming techniques for children on the autistic spectrum
Sun 22 Jun 2008 12:17

Hi all thought I should really think about responding to some of my replies.
The only thing that has upset me is the suggestion that my son is not autistic, he is, profoundly as assest by 3 phychologists, a psychiatrist and 3 peadiotricians, 2 social workers and numerous special needs experts at his school.
If you read the suggestions I have stated the need to start when the child is calm, it is now well documented that although autistic people hate to be touched they do have a need for it which is why the level of touch is so hard and would be uncomfortable for someone who is not on the spectrum.
The reason that inflatables are used during OT sessions is that it allows the autistic person to enjoy the sense of touch without direct contact, taking this anxiety away. I did say that you would know your own child and would be able to gauge if they would be able to cope with this. Does your child enjoy being in a ball pool? The sensations are very similar.
Luke Jackson talks about the sensory issues of himself and his siblings in Freeks, Geeks and Asbergers chapter 5, making reference to some of the techniques that they used themselves. It also worth noting that Temple Grandin, a highly succesfull autistic woman, went so far as to invent a "squeeze machine" for herself to use, again this allows her to be touched without direct contact.
Many autistic kids and adults know that they need something, they just dont know what and with the related communication problems that go with autism it can be impossible to guage what is missing in their life. David is still having melt downs, it is not a miracle cure, they are however less frequent and shorter, and he also settles a lot better at night. It also gives all of his family members a way to bond with him and have some fun. He takes his favourite bit of fabric to school with him in his pocket and often rubs it through his fingers which he feels helps when he is upset.
Thank you to all of you with an open mind, I too have tried everything and am nowhere near reaching the magic answer, but have defenately seen an improvement.
I wish you all the very best with your autistic children, they are truely wonderfull, special individuals and the world would be a much sader place without them.
Thanks
Tracy.

By EL

Re: Calming techniques for children on the autistic spectrum
Sun 22 Jun 2008 13:58

Who was it that said they hated spending ages typing a reply and when they click the 'publish' button they find they have been logged off? Well i just wrote a valuable long, long reply and that just happened to me when i have stopped spitting feathers i will try again

By EL

Re: Calming techniques for children on the autistic spectrum
Sun 22 Jun 2008 14:04

You know what i cant be bothered to write all that again so i'll just say, i think banter and debates like this are healthy, it proves we all have a voice and all have the right to be heard its a shame we couldn't do it over a coffee or a pint and we shouldn't let any negatives prevent us from speaking up or passing on tips we think may be of help to someone else

By getme

Re: Calming techniques for children on the autistic spectrum
Sun 22 Jun 2008 14:05

I agree so thanx for the