Autistic Son Starting to Feel More Sensations and Freaking Out Any Suggestions? - Troutdale,OR

Updated on February 12, 2014
M.S. asks from Troutdale, OR
3 answers

Our sweet almost 3 year old little boy is Autistic and non-verbal. We have been doing the Qigong Massage with him to help him learn to feel and talk. Well, it used to be that if he hit his head on a concrete floor he wasn't even phased. Last night his sister bumped him in the head gently with a plastic swing (it hangs from the ceiling in the living room for him) and he freaked out. He cried and cried for a good 5 minutes at least. He was inconsolable. This was not the first time this had happened, but it was the first time he reacted at all.

Later, he stubbed his toe on a truck he was playing with and his reaction was so bad that I though he had cut something off!

So, my question, is how do I help him learn what "normal" pain feels like so that he doesn't have to get so upset. I'm not saying he doesn't need to fuss or even cry, but this was way overkill. Any suggestions? I'd really appreciate it. He cant go back to his OT until next month because we ran out of insurance visits.

Thank so much for you suggestions and help. I really appreciate it. Take Care. M.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the ideas. I appreciate them, and the support.

Gamma, he has really been liking baths lately, like climbing in himself, even if he has clothes on, and with or without water. :) I hadn't thought of that. I'll take him to the pool too.

Crazihippie: thanks for the ideas. I looked into the PECS and we just aren't there yet. I can't even get him to sit on my lap and read a simple book of any kind. Even his therapists say he isn't ready for pictures or social stories, but, I will certainly be getting trained in it for when he is!

Becky, I hadn't heard of that therapy. I will talk to his OT, and see if she is familiar. If not, I'll look into finding someone who is.

More Answers

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M.G.

answers from San Juan on

Recognize his pain and of course allow him to show his emotions. However, whilst all this is going on try to distract him. I'd start with using PECS and/or social stories to allow him to redirect his thoughts and feelings.

Talk him through all the situations. For instance, when he stubbed his toe tell him something along the lines of "ouch, I know that hurts it hurts when I've done it too but it'll be okay." I know that may sound silly or whatnot but it's something I did/still do with my autistic son. I also did use PECS when my son was that age and completely nonverbal as well.

This advice however un/useful it is comes from a fellow mom of an autistic 7 year old boy who was nonverbal until June of 2013.

Hope you can work this out with your son. Best wishes.

3 moms found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Poor kiddo. It's a shock to his system. He'll hopefully get used to it.

Can he go swimming? Sometimes that helps. The pressure of the water touching him all over gives him some help in accepting the feelings.

1 mom found this helpful

B.H.

answers from Chicago on

Find an OT who has been trained in MNRI (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration). The OT clinic and the SLP clinic next door (where they partner with co-treat and back to back therapies) have EACH gotten training in this method in the past 2 years as they have witnessed how effective and successful it is for most of their pediatric clients. They used to do the Willbarger brushing at my son's clinic, but have larglely dropped that in favor of MNRI.

1 mom found this helpful
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