How do you deal with a severely autistic child's fits when they become violent?


Question:
My 3 1/2 yr old is severely autistic, and the fits she throws are gettinworse by the week. She now purposely harms herself or other people she can get close to. This is very hard for me to watch her go through and I dont know how to properly react to this. If anyone knows anything about autism and children with this disease please do share with me. I am young single mom of one and I need support!

Answers:
webmd.com has a message board where doctors and nurses will answer your questions for free, usually within 24 hours.

Other Answers:
check with your doctor

I can't guarantee this to work but try it. Make a special area for her. One that is quiet, with lights turned down including no outside light. Line the area with cushioning. Preferrably like what they have in a gym. The cushioned mats. Explain it to her as (her name) special place. When she starts to throw a tantrum take her to her area and let her stay as long as she wants. Also try joint compression. Example is pressing the pressure points on the hands, wrists, legs, back and neck. You really need to get with some autism support groups for more information. Best wishes.
Source(s):
I was a special ed. teacher's assistant and physical therapist.

See if you can get in touch with a Head Start early intervetion program with autistic support.

I've been wondering something like this myself. I have a friend whose 6 yr. old has assburgers autism. And he is a screamer! So I was trying to figure out something something that would get all of the internal pressure, that he uses for screamin, to get out.
I was thinking hitting a pillow ..but that is violent and teaching him that hitting is a release.
The only thing that I have come up with is making a special table just for him that is large enough to put some color books and plain paper and some crayons that he can destroy if he wants. And just let him know that if he feels like he needs to release to scream that he can go to his special table, just for him, and let it out.
I am looking into all of these things about kids with autism. It really is something that needs to have some attention paid to it.
Good luck with your baby girl.

To: oodlesofanimals:
Sorry, but couldn't help laughing at the way you misspelled "Asperger's syndrome"(assburger?)
Your response was great, but I just thought that if you really wanted to work with autistic kids, you should get this right! Nothing personal!:)
As a former special ed assistant, I too, suggest giving the child a private space with lots of pillows and padding where they might feel free to get physical but can't hurt themselves or anyone else. When the storm is over, provide a comfortable chair and stuffed teddy bear for them to hold.
They need a lot of rest. They've exhausted themselves beyond belief. She might also respond to being physically held during her blow-ups. I've seen this tactic work even with older kids. Gently but firmly. Her out of control behaviour frightens her as well.

Email me at Luvs2Write16@aol.com, or Instant message me on AIM: Luvs2Write16@aol.com, or Instant Message me on YAHOO! messenger : Michelle_Leatherbury@yahoo.com. I do not check YAHOO mail. I only receive email from AOL. I have Higher-Functioning Autism and I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Michelle
HFA; Higher-Functioning Autism, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD,

and a severely Autistic brother - he also has Schizophrenia, and moderate-severe MR.

My nephew is the same way, severly autistic and has violent fits. At first we thought they were just the terrible twos, but they have gotten progressively worse over the years. My sister does touch therapy, and that helps at times. We have tried having a quiet area, but that failed miserably. My nephew kicks, pinches, punches, jumps on, and stomps during some of his fits. They got to the point that his pediatrician prescribed Quanadine and it has calmed him down tremendesly. A natural remedy we tried was calm child, it worked for a while. We also started time out chair, he has to sit for as many minutes as he is age in years. Granted, he gets up a lot, but the time just starts over again until he stays put. Making it so he couldnt get out of the chair also helped when we first started. It takes patience, and it might take a long time, but just keep things consistent.



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