Posts from ‘Behavioral Interventions’
Head-Banging Isn’t Fun
About a month ago, Jackson started hitting his head again. He hasn’t done that since his “catatonic stage” when he first showed signs of withdrawing and regression, pre-GFCF diet. The bumper of the van, the corner of the dresser, every doorpost in the house planted their mark in the middle of his forehead, and before long, the school was sending notes home asking about the giant purple bruise on his head. We, of course, were disturbed by this self-injurious behavior and interrupted the head-banging as soon as possible, but after one or two hits, Jackson looked like the loser in a boxing match. Continue Reading
No Debate at Crater Lake
A few weeks ago, I dipped my toe into rougher waters in the world of autism. I attended a parent advisory meeting at Jackson’s school. The discussion had turned to providing more training for parents, equipping them to reinforce their children’s training at home using the same methods employed in school. One mom’s response revealed a new side of the autism debate of which I had been blissfully unaware. Continue Reading
I’ve only had a handful of migraine headaches in my lifetime, just enough to feel sympathetic to those who deal with them all the time. All of them begin the same way: I suddenly realize that movement is lost in a strobe-light effect, lights flash, black spots dance across my field of vision, and I have a hard time concentrating, and sometimes my speech is slightly slurred. This lasts for 20-30 minutes, then the pain begins and lasts for about 5 hours. Last week, as I struggled through visual distortions of an ophthalmic migraine to concentrate on Jackson making a breakfast request, I wondered if my visual symptoms are similar to what he experiences.
I am able to focus on Jackson’s left eye, but the rest of his face is fluid, moving, jumping. My brain feels mushy, and my lips thick. I focus hard on that left eye, trying to hear what he’s whispering, “I want….” What is my prompt again? So hard to concentrate.
Is this what you feel like most of the time, love? I wish I knew. I’m glad I had a headache today if only to remind me to slow down, be patient, wait for your response. Remember that your efforts are valiant. Your victories worth celebrating. You’re a tough little fighter, buddy.
So it took about a week longer for Jackson’s teacher to make her final decision on his placement for next year. Rearranging children, deciding the best for all, and a child dropping out of the morning class all contributed to the final outcome. Jackson will be attending the five day (instead of four-day) morning class with the understanding that if he’s too stressed and cannot hang with it or needs more support and and a slower pace, he’ll be free to move back to afternoon.
I am satisfied with this final answer and more determined than ever to keep him moving forward during the rest of the summer break. We cannot let him slide backward, he needs that consistent schedule and concerted practice to keep him on track, and we need it too.
Jackson stimming
Rat, tat, tat, tat, chk, chk, chk, chk, chk, chk, chk, chk…Ahhh…all else in the house is quiet, but my pounding head is still not at peace since Jackson is not allowed to nap in order to protect the sanctity of nighttime sleep. Two packaged strips of fruit leather are madly flailing against the edge of the coffee table. Jackson’s arms are a blur. With incredible precision and endurance, he whips those fruit strips like his life depends on it. And I am faced with a decision: do I allow him to be lost in this repetitive movement, known in the autism community as flapping or stimming (Self Stimulatory Behavior)? Continue Reading
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