How can I handle an autistic teenager that has become aggressive?

Question

This child has been for the most part mild mannered most of his life but puberty brought a whole new game. I'm looking for people with some experience to answere this not people stating the obvious (mental health facility?) are you serious? You think I want him to be put in a ward at the local community hospital? I'm not at that point yet. I might consider drugs if anyone has some history with some choices that you'd like to share.

Answer 1

There are centers for treatment of autistic children. Depends How aggressive he's getting! (I assume your teen is a guy.) If he's at the higher end of autism--Asperger's--there is a way that worked with a couple of teen's that I used to work with. It was a special SP Ed classroom, self-contained in a mental health building with 8 students, ages 14 - 19--all with different mental health Dx's. ALL had communication difficulties in various stages! Most could be volatile if pushed a little too far. I studied Piaget's Cognitive Stages, and since verbal interaction was difficult for most, I dropped down to the DIAGRAMMING of information and behavioral traits. THEY ALL JUMPED ON IT LIKE CANDY!!! THIS was something they were GOOD at!! We worked at Glasser's Basic Emotional Needs--Belonging, Power, Freedom and Fun; Used Berne's Games People Play as the VEHICLE devised by the individual student with which to get their emotional Needs met--COVERTLY!! When kids can't get their needs met directly when young, then they devise COVERT, indirect behavioral patterns with which to get those met--in spite of the adults! Once these students began diagramming their behavioral patterns, they could ID which Needs were gratified through the "Game". All most ALL of the behavioral patterns obtained ALL 4 Needs!---------CJ Jung writes that diagramming bypasses the "human pain" involved in the verbalizing of one's own behavior. "Information Technology" or "IT" is foremost now in transmitting accurate information!!! This works like a CHARM with human emotinal needs, too! I have an old training tape I used to give workshops in KCMO at the Midwest Symposium for Behavior Disorders in the middle '90's. This tape is of "Bob", with Aspergers. He is eloquent in not only diagramming his behavior, FEELINGS and Family of Origin structure--but in VERBALIZING them, too!!! I don't know of any place that does that--but it is so NEEDED to help young and teen-aged kids understand AND verbalize their own behavioral patterns---AND KNOW that that was the only way in his family that he felt he could get those Needs met. AND that emotional NEEDS are just that!! We HAVE to have those Needs met daily, just as we do the physical Needs!

Answer 2

There isn't much support in this area. I did a research project last semester for my masters class and since institutionalization has ended, there has not been much development in the area of helping families and parents out. I would talk to social services or someone in the school system on the child study team to start and see if someone has resources that you can possibly use. Alot of times children and young adults end up being medicated especially when they become a danger to themselves or others. I'm not saying I necessarily agree with it, but sometimes sedatives can be used during crisis.
You can go in a few different directions. You can seek help from social services, the school district and or a behaviorist possibly a psychologist with experience working with the autistic population or an ABA therapist with a decent amount of experience. I say and or with the district, because sometimes you can get the district to pay for the services. From the research I did, one of the major issues is finding mental health professionals with experience working with the dd population. They are out there but it may take a little digging to find one.
If your child is a danger to himself or to you and others, you might want to start looking into a group home placement. There is usually a long waiting list, just in case the other things don't work out. It doesn't mean that you are a bad parent. It gets to a point where autistic children become bigger and stronger than thier caretakers and sometimes it's a safety issue.
Don't try to implement your own behavioral plan unless you have been trained. There are so many things that can go awry. You can actually make the behaviors worse, or create new ones. I have been working with the population for ten years doing behavior modification and working in a recreational program. Another org you can contact is ARC. They offer lots of programs if you need respite.

Answer 3

Autistic children need a lot of room to grow and be themselves. However, if a child has become agressive with you I think they need to understand that type of behavior will not be tolerated. Either sending them to counseling or teaching them the right way to act in certain situations will lead them to know how to handle themselves and give them time to understand the consequence of their actions.
But I also think it's important to find out the reason why a child is acting out. Is it for attention? Is it out of hatred or disregard for someone else? Or do they not understand that they are doing something wrong? Look at the location of the incident. Was it at home or at school? Was it with a group or by him/herself? Was the victim another child, or teacher or parent? By gathering as much information as you can about the incident(s) you can figure out the best action to take so that this does not occur again. If the incident has become a reoccuring problem, I think counseling to change the child's thinking and behavior is in order.

Answer 4

First of all you do actually need to seek a psychologist out that has extensive experience with agressive autistic individuals and find out what your options are. I am sure that there is a medication option. Remember when you seek assistance though that if your child is actually a danger to themself or others that the situation may get beyond your control, other wise you are the customer and you can direct the situation. Good luck and bless you.

Answer 5

That's really one of those questions you are best off asking a mental health specialist, not the Yahoo answers board.

Answer 6

I'm a teen and a pretty good one so I think if your kids is out of hand you can tell them to straiten up or get out. And yes they might leave but they'll come back they always do. I have an older brother and sister and they both did and they were bad kids .

Answer 7

You can't; get help. Call your local Mental Health Facility and they will assist in getting you help.

Answer 8

Being that you posted this in the Psychology section, I ask you at least consider antidepressants.

Answer 9

Active listening--repeat what he/she says to make sure you understand it, then explain CONSEQUENCES for unacceptable behavior.

Oh, and then FOLLOW THROUGH!

Answer 10

Try counseling...