Not a paerenting thread - Autism thread

[Steinhauer]

A friend of mine had his son diagnosed with autism several weeks ago. He wants me to take care of his son 2 days a week, and I recently took care of him. He isn't a handful, he is about 10 handfuls. Getting on to him for bad behaviour like you would any other child will not work. I learned that quickly.

He is "ok" with me, he knows I am "safe". When he starts to get aggressive and have a tantrum, I will pick him up and hold him and he calms down. I don't send him to a corner or a room. He is 4 years old.

He has trouble communicating what he wants, when he is told to do something he just shouts angrily "go away" and will push you away. Then the next minute, he is smiling and friendly.

Any pointers? His dad (my friend) wants to see if I can communicate with him with sign and wants me to just spend some time with him. He seems to be more calm when I am around because I don't pressure him and I just let him be.

Any change in his routine, or when someone is around he doesn't know, he flips out and breaks down.

[deafdyke]

Does he have High functioning autism? Kids with autism may have severe spoken language issues, so they might find ASL easier to use.

[Steinhauer]

He is going in next month for further tests. He is almost 4 but still wears diapers and does not verbally communicate except for just a few words ... i.e. "wow" "go away" "help me" "Thirsty" "hurt"

[Jiro]

Originally Posted by Steinhauer

He wants me to take care of his son 2 days a week

why?

[missywinks]

Look up Positive Behavior Support and Augmentative Communication- it benefits children with autism. They need stability and predictability in order to function.

[Steinhauer]

Originally Posted by Jiro

why?

I am good with him.

[Steinhauer]

Originally Posted by missywinks

Look up Positive Behavior Support and Augmentative Communication- it benefits children with autism. They need stability and predictability in order to function.

I am wondering if tactile sign would have a more profound effect.

[Aleser]

Originally Posted by Steinhauer

I am wondering if tactile sign would have a more profound effect.

Unless he also has a vision loss, that would likely be unwelcome and obtrusive.

My 2c on the matter would be to visually sign everything you say around him, he's old enough to get the idea if you keep it up.

[Steinhauer]

Originally Posted by Aleser

Unless he also has a vision loss, that would likely be unwelcome and obtrusive.

My 2c on the matter would be to visually sign everything you say around him, he's old enough to get the idea if you keep it up.

Ok, will do.

He likes to pinch people. When I was watching the cartoon network with him, he was lying against me unexpressive, then he would pinch my elbow. He would do this repeatedly (pattern???) the whole time with no expression.

Almost like he was completely unaware he was doing it.

[Jiro]

Originally Posted by Steinhauer

Ok, will do.

He likes to pinch people. When I was watching the cartoon network with him, he was lying against me unexpressive, then he would pinch my elbow. He would do this repeatedly (pattern???) the whole time with no expression.

Almost like he was completely unaware he was doing it.

maybe that cartoon network is scaring him.

better start figuring out the best way for him to communicate his thought. drawing? music? computer?

[Steinhauer]

Originally Posted by Jiro

maybe that cartoon network is scaring him.

better start figuring out the best way for him to communicate his thought. drawing? music? computer?

Maybe, all I can remember is it being about this dog, old man and an old woman - it was a little scary to me, that cartoons are not as good now a days.

Spongebob sucks

[Steinhauer]

Originally Posted by Jiro

maybe that cartoon network is scaring him.

better start figuring out the best way for him to communicate his thought. drawing? music? computer?

He likes to draw. A lot. Rather, he likes to color.

Which is kinda cool - I like to draw too.

[Jiro]

Originally Posted by Steinhauer

He likes to draw. A lot. Rather, he likes to color.

Which is kinda cool - I like to draw too.

I'm guessing what he draws is not something conventional. Probably very abstract or maybe little disturbing. Might be a good idea to have a professional to look at it to interpret it or something.

[Steinhauer]

Originally Posted by Jiro

I'm guessing what he draws is not something conventional. Probably very abstract or maybe little disturbing. Might be a good idea to have a professional to look at it to interpret it or something.

When I helped his parents move last year, his room had crayon scribbles all over the walls. Just up and down strokes. I should have taken a picture of it. There were more crayon scribbles than paint. There were no circular scribbles, all were in straight up and down strokes.

His room was an absolute mess. He is doing better now, has more order and routine in his day. He is being taught that unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated (time out).

I felt bad for the house painter that had to paint those walls, crayon bleeds through paint.

[inmate23]

Originally Posted by Steinhauer

He likes to draw. A lot. Rather, he likes to color.

Which is kinda cool - I like to draw too.

Originally Posted by Steinhauer

When I helped his parents move last year, his room had crayon scribbles all over the walls. Just up and down strokes. I should have taken a picture of it. There were more crayon scribbles than paint. There were no circular scribbles, all were in straight up and down strokes.

Originally Posted by missywinks

Look up Positive Behavior Support and Augmentative Communication- it benefits children with autism. They need stability and predictability in order to function.

Originally Posted by Jiro

Might be a good idea to have a professional to look at it to interpret it or something.

If he likes to colour may it could be incorporate into his communication program.

The autistics I no very well are very into tactile signing(and body signs) for communication. The parents thought we will try diffident communication program a month and have a unbiased professional asses videos of the children using the programs. After trying tactile signing the children stopped wanting to try new communication programs. Now the kids only use tactile signing. pces will reused later for communication in public. If pen/paper dont work At the moment the they need tactile terps to communication in public. As the kids dont understand pen/paper have uses outside school. The kids are A B students

[Mrs Bucket]

Wirelessly posted

Try setting up visual cue cards with expressions of emotions like happy, sad, mad etc. Each emotion with different colour. Blue for sad yellow for happy red for mad. Make up cue cards for food, chores and use them for him to communicate with you when he is all upset and in the middle of his tantrum. Autism is difficult for everyone involved including the child. Making things easier for the child lessens meltdowns. The diaper will come off at his pace and at his self confidence level. Knowing when to go to pee-pee or poo-poo is a hard mental task & takes a lot of work with praise. Keep it up as you defitinely have a calming presence if the boy prefers you to watch him.

[missywinks]

Originally Posted by Steinhauer

Ok, will do.

He likes to pinch people. When I was watching the cartoon network with him, he was lying against me unexpressive, then he would pinch my elbow. He would do this repeatedly (pattern???) the whole time with no expression.

Almost like he was completely unaware he was doing it.

Again, you need to look into POsitive Behaviour Support because they use reinforcers to get rid of problem behaviour.

[Steinhauer]

Originally Posted by inmate23

If he likes to colour may it could be incorporate into his communication program.

The autistics I no very well are very into tactile signing(and body signs) for communication. The parents thought we will try diffident communication program a month and have a unbiased professional asses videos of the children using the programs. After trying tactile signing the children stopped wanting to try new communication programs. Now the kids only use tactile signing. pces will reused later for communication in public. If pen/paper dont work At the moment the they need tactile terps to communication in public. As the kids dont understand pen/paper have uses outside school. The kids are A B students

It is interesting to see how he adapts to his environment. He is already used to me. When he sees me, he smiles and waves. I can see the recognition in his expression.

When I watch him, he is into everything ... exploring every nook and cranny in my house. I had to put those plastic plugs in the electrical sockets and make sure there was nothing dangerous he could get into (my firearms are well out of his reach and locked up just to note - he could never find them even if he was trying to look for them).

When he is done "exploring" he will go sit in a corner and just look around. He is definitely aware of just about everything - he is just unable to express himself.

[Steinhauer]

Originally Posted by missywinks

Again, you need to look into POsitive Behaviour Support because they use reinforcers to get rid of problem behaviour.

I will look into it and thank you.

[deafbajagal]

Progress?

[SkullChick]

Wirelessly posted

I'd be cautious about tactile sign because it involve physical touching which some autistic dont like. Try buying him educational toys like puzzles he might like that. And since communication isnt there, I agree about using pecs.

[deafbajagal]

Good point!

[dotcomkari]

I have a 5 year old son with Autism and i would be glad to help you out anytime you want.

My son has less then 50 words and right now is using an Iphone with a communication app as his communication device till we get an ipad. It has been wonderful for him.

My son does know some sign, but he has a history in regression in speech. If he learns the word he will forget the sign.. or vise versa.. and even if he does sign the word once.. he may never sign it again. Not sure why it works that way but it does.
and signing is not too easy for him because his fine motor skills well.. SUCK ..

[FireTiger]

Watched some ABA therapy do 'ok' with an 80 lb 4-year old.

He was much better connected to me because I think/react on his wavelength sometimes and 'normal' wavelength sometimes.

Ever noticed the correlation between autism and either vision impairment, body structure in terms of muscle mass and skeletal size (large body structure/tiny body structure) or both?

[SkullChick]

Wirelessly posted

uhh no I dont see any correlation with anything about autistic people just behavior and thought process is similiar

[deafdyke]

Originally Posted by FireTiger

Ever noticed the correlation between autism and either vision impairment, body structure in terms of muscle mass and skeletal size (large body structure/tiny body structure) or both?

There is an autism syndrome where kids have sight loss, and perfect pitch...like they are musical savants....and some of the features you note might be related to a previously unidentifyed syndrome.

[FireTiger]

Originally Posted by SkullChick

Wirelessly posted

uhh no I dont see any correlation with anything about autistic people just behavior and thought process is similiar

Originally Posted by deafdyke

There is an autism syndrome where kids have sight loss, and perfect pitch...like they are musical savants....and some of the features you note might be related to a previously unidentifyed syndrome.

Just working in ;the' field (Tutor, PK to Adult) and myself also as an example I see a correlation - I am wondering if I am alone in noticing this, seeing a pattern that is there that nobody else sees or one that doesn't exist at all...

Sorry for side tracking the thread.

As far as tactile signing try it and if he likes it continue both tactile and non-tactile, if he hates it quit.

[stormpraiser91]

Originally Posted by Steinhauer

A friend of mine had his son diagnosed with autism several weeks ago. He wants me to take care of his son 2 days a week, and I recently took care of him. He isn't a handful, he is about 10 handfuls. Getting on to him for bad behaviour like you would any other child will not work. I learned that quickly.

He is "ok" with me, he knows I am "safe". When he starts to get aggressive and have a tantrum, I will pick him up and hold him and he calms down. I don't send him to a corner or a room. He is 4 years old.

He has trouble communicating what he wants, when he is told to do something he just shouts angrily "go away" and will push you away. Then the next minute, he is smiling and friendly.

Any pointers? His dad (my friend) wants to see if I can communicate with him with sign and wants me to just spend some time with him. He seems to be more calm when I am around because I don't pressure him and I just let him be.

Any change in his routine, or when someone is around he doesn't know, he flips out and breaks down.

I have a severe form of autism... feel free to contact me with any questions.

[shel90]

I have worked with children and adults with autism ranging from very mild to severe. All of them have different needs so try to find out what this boy's needs are and meet them to the best of your ability.

However, one common factor that I have noticed with almost (the key word here is almost) all of them need structure and their routines. They have difficulty coping with any changes in their routines but that doesnt mean you have to keep an extremely strict routine but providing a stable structure is very important.

However, as one poster here mentioned that he/she has a severe form of autism so I would take that person's word over any of us who dont have it despite our years of experience. Only the ones who lived their lives with it are the only ones who truly know.

Good luck!