How do you discipline an autistic child?

Question

My son is 6 and is autistic (Asperger's Syndrome). He is on medication to help him control himself and his mood swings. However, we're still having trouble with him lashing out at his siblings (1 older bro, 2 younger sisters). He also screams alot and throws things. I have tried many different things but nothing is working and I'm at the end of my rope. He's also now starting to lash out at other children (neighborhood playmates). While he is classicaly an Asperger's Syndrome child, I know that he understands to a point. How do I get through to him? He has had 2 years of special needs pre-school and starts kindergarten in a special needs school this fall. But no one seems to be able to help me with what to do for him at home. I've tried finding resources in our community, but am coming up empty handed. Serious and experienced answers only, please.

Answer 1

If no one seems to be able to help you... your school isn't doing it's job! During Early Childhood, the home environment, especially with a parent's request for help, is just as key, and is part of the IFSP. Even when the transition to IEP happens, any program used at school that requires home support, should include training and resources for you.

Are you currently getting help from an ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) professional? Hopefully, your son's special education teacher/case manager is educated in ABA ... the best behavioral intervention today. That doesn't mean "oh, I had a class in a variety of techniques at school." Self-educated is ok, if he/she can prove to you he/she understands and knows how to implement the techniques. The articles below will help you find questions to ask to determine this. If your son's teacher is not educated in ABA techniques, call a new meeting so you can have that training for his teacher (and for you) written in to his IEP.

TEACCH has been found to be too simple and not appropriate for autistics with average or higher IQ's, except as a fallback program. All it does is make the work, school, and home environment highly predictible, reducing the child's stress. However, it does not prepare smarter autistics for the variety of stimulation and stresses in their eventual career choices (some autistics even have doctoratal degress now!).

Aspergers means he understands most "thinking"/intellectual information, but ALSO is unable to understand most "feeling"/emotional concepts from OUR point of view, and also is socially "blind." He may also have Sensory Integration Dysfunction... making him even more defensive... does he get Occupational Therapy? His lashing out at siblings and peers may be sensory defesiveness, as children are less restrained and may not control their vocies, touch, etc. enough to keep him comfortable. As someone with Asperger's, he CAN learn how to deal with this, rather than expecting other people to change.

Here's information on Sensory Integration:

http://www.autism.org/si.html

http://www.sensoryint.com/

Here are some sites to give you an idea of what is done to try to help situations like this:

http://www.abaresources.com/ (site designed by a parent with a child with Autism, who used ABA successfully in the home... and her cost shows just why your public schools should be your resource for training and continuation of the program in your home)

http://www.behavior.org/autism/... (scroll down a little on the main menu, to the links for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Autism

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/he...

http://www.autismtoday.com/karen.htm...


You need to analyze his behavior to find out what he perceives his gain to be (whether reduction of over-stimulation anxiety, getting something he wants, or something internal). Since Autistics perceive the world differently than we do, that is a tough call... which is why having a trained professional help you is so important. It also doesn't mean that such behavior is

It's a long road, but well worth it. Many Autistics, especially those that have normal or better intelligence, are leading very productive adult lives.

Answer 2

Spedusource has given you the best advice. It sounds as though your family would benefit from ABA services provided both at school and in your home. You should be able to find consulting services through in your area. Here is a link to the Association for Behavior Analysis and their affiliated chapters which may be of help in locating these services.

http://www.abainternational.org/sub/membersvcs/affchapters/contactinfo/index.asp

As a word of caution; please assure that you are receiving the services of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst or Associate (BCBA or BCABA). ABA services CANNOT be delivered via the internet, nor would an ethical, or certified, analyst suggest they could. ABA is a science and a discipline, a class or workshop in behavioral psychology does not make a person a behavior analyst!

http://www.bacb.com/becom_frame.html

Most importantly, do not give up or feel that there are insufficient services to help your child or your family. The services you need are out there but you will have to be the advocate. Assure your child's IEP specifies the services he needs to be as independent as possible, and do not sign an IEP that falls short of this goal.

Answer 3

I worked in a daycare for five years and there were two brothers who were autistic. They would scream and throw fits if they didn't get what they wanted. All they wanted to do was eat chocolate and chips. They would lash out at the workers and the other children. We had movie day every Friday and would set things up like a theater and serve popcorn. These two kids would freak if it wasn't the movie they wanted. The only way to discipline them was to remove them from the environment. They were really sweet if they were getting what they wanted. I didn't know what else to do.

Answer 4

I don;t have much experience with Autism but my younger brother has Down's Syndrome, so I have some experience with Special Ed kids. My brother had a hitting/screaming/tantrum stage for years and it frustrated our whole family. Never ever hit! But I'm sure you know that already. What worked in my family was explaining to him firmly that it was wrong to act that way and that you don't do things like that to your friends. If he has a favorite toy or something, show him that the toy doesn't hit and doesn't scream. The best way to show him is to give him an example to follow.It's up to you because you know how much he is able to understand, although I've learned special ed kids understand a lot more than we give them credit for. hope that helps!

Answer 5

Try Carol Gray's Social Stories, and Comic Strip Conversations. I've used these (at the suggestion of IEP committee) with a middle school student, and it helps the child to understand what is going on, and is about choices and consequences. It is used more as a preventative measure but works wonders. Check it out. This woman is very experienced in dealing with autism. Also, Temple Grandin is a good reference; she has a PhD, and has autism herself. More a motiational type speaker, but she can give a unique perspective.
I almost forgot......TEACCH in North Carolina, check it out. They gave us WONDERFUL training (me as a teacher, the parents, and the students themselves). Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children and Adults - the acronym works out somehow.

Answer 6

I am a behavior analyst specializing in working with children with autism (or on the autism spectrum)... Do you have a behavior consultant or services to one in your state? Your case worker should be able to get you one. If I worked with your family I would meet with you and have a flurry of stratagies and goals mapped out in one meeting. If you want IM me and maybe I can help you at least get started on finding a behavior analyst in your area. It seems to me you really need a functional behavior analysis, which would be easy to do even over the internet. So worst case scenario I could try to do one over the internet. In any case, good luck :)

Answer 7

Time out in a quiet place always works for my son, it may be that he is overly stimulated by the play.Try having one person round to play and praise him for playing nicely staying with him while they play and then slowly back off letting them play on thier own but restrict the play to something not overly stimulating and something you know he enjoys and is good at.

Answer 8

Hey i dunno, but my aunt is a therapist for autistic children. Email me [e-mail] and i will hook u up with her. Not to mention my 7 yr old cousin (her daughter) has autism and she is doing great, i think she could really give u some great advice. Seriously.

Answer 9

hey hey hey, now because he can draw or paint does not make him any differen, just treat him like any other child.
I dont meen to offend, i just thought i would brighten up a fairly unfortunate situation.

Answer 10

Hi!

I had written you a long answer but I deleted it by mistake....

There is hope....

Anyway what I wanted to say to you is that your child needs to be delivered from demonic attack...I would like to explain more to you but I just hope you will believe...

Jesus is able to deliver your child from this sickness...this is NOT some religious talk, this is real stuff...Jesus is real and in His name many sicknesses have been dealt with e.g. psychological ones, cancers, HIV etc

There are what we call generational curses that are sent by demons to people and their children...

Demons are responsible for divorces, killings, immorality and unfaithfulness that roams our generation...Please believe you me Jesus Christ can heal your child...I said "heal your child", I did not say "control your child"....

Jesus is not ONLY offering you help free of charge but also offers you something that you can never buy with money...LOVE...True Love!

There is hope for your child...try the the One who knows all diseases...Jesus Christ...When Christ died and rose, it was not a normal death...His death meant your freedom and healing and forgiveness of sins...

Take your baby to a born-again Christian church around your area that believes truly in Christ and you will thank God you did.God is NOT asking for your money, He is asking you to believe in Him...

Jesus Christ loves you and your child more than you will ever know....

Please read Luke 4:33-37 in the bible and see the power that Jesus has...the same power still works even as I write this now.

Hug!

Try Him.