Guest guest Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Debbie, My JJ was a very sweet and loving little guy with autism until he hit age 12......! Then it was up and down with agression. He is 22 now and still has agression. Of course I am the one he takes it out on. I think anxiety causes it. He takes zpraxa which helps with it but it still doesan't complety stop it. Lois Meltdowns Hello Everyone,I have an non-verbal autistic son who just turned 13 in May. For the most part, my son is usually happy and cooperative (at home and at school); however for the last two months he has had more "meltdowns" than I can ever remember. He gets upset more easily and he sometimes has two a day - which just wears me out! Especially since he's getting stronger and heavier. It seems that most of his meltdowns occur in "familiar" places such as home, school or at the store but as we all know, once they get upset - it's like a torando in that you can only ride it out. I've been keeping a log on the behaviors and will make a note when I know what I think triggers them, but they usually occur when he can't wait for a desired item or something that he thinks or wants to happen does not occur. When he has them at home, he completely undresses himself, pulls his hair, yells and kicks his chins with the bottom of his heels - sometimes I wonder what the neighbors think (but luckily most of them know we have a son with a disability). Anyways, with the sudden change in his behavior, does anyone think it could be caused by "hormones"/Puberty"?? He does have seizures (mostly at night) and he sees a neurologist regularly for them, so I'm just not sure what is going on.....He also has a behaviorist at school that I will be bringing this up with at his IEP meeting. It makes me not want to take him anywhere for fear of it happening in public! Thanks for reading my post....Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Hi Debbie, I am almost 24 with autism (verbal and high IQ though). I've had meltdowns since I was about 6. I can't remember whether mine got worse during puberty, but that might be wha tis going on with your son. I would say get him evaluated by a behavior specialist, who can determine what hte cause/function of the behavior is. It could be that he's having more anxiety or somehting. -- Astrid astrid@... http://www.astridvanwoerkom.com/ http://astridvanwoerkom.wordpress.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 My sons meltdowns got worse and more frequent in the last year. He's 11 now. He's also showing other signs of puberty. He is verbal though so he's been able to tell me. I'm attributing it to hormones. I don't know if there's anything that can be down about it. If you can find a school nurse that works with special needs kids at that age she may have some input. Or see a developmental pediatrician maybe? Jane > > Hello Everyone, > I have an non-verbal autistic son who just turned 13 in May. For the most part, my son is usually happy and cooperative (at home and at school); however for the last two months he has had more " meltdowns " than I can ever remember. He gets upset more easily and he sometimes has two a day - which just wears me out! Especially since he's getting stronger and heavier. It seems that most of his meltdowns occur in " familiar " places such as home, school or at the store but as we all know, once they get upset - it's like a torando in that you can only ride it out. I've been keeping a log on the behaviors and will make a note when I know what I think triggers them, but they usually occur when he can't wait for a desired item or something that he thinks or wants to happen does not occur. When he has them at home, he completely undresses himself, pulls his hair, yells and kicks his chins with the bottom of his heels - sometimes I wonder what the neighbors think (but luckily most of them know we have a son with a disability). Anyways, with the sudden change in his behavior, does anyone think it could be caused by " hormones " /Puberty " ?? He does have seizures (mostly at night) and he sees a neurologist regularly for them, so I'm just not sure what is going on.....He also has a behaviorist at school that I will be bringing this up with at his IEP meeting. It makes me not want to take him anywhere for fear of it happening in public! Thanks for reading my post.... > > Debbie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 I think there about 5 to 10 of us who have boys in different stages in puberty - my son just turned 12 and is sleeping a lot more and growing like a weed this all goes hand in hand with more meltdowns or tantrums that represent a 3 years old. It is so hard to differentiate between the puberty meltdown and the Autism meltdown although I am getting better. I know I am not helping much, but I have just been trying to keep Danny so busy that he doesn't have too much down time, trying to duplicate school structure with other things and he has finally said mom it's too much I can't handle it all. Now what do I do? Keep him going he has to do it cause he is going to have a much harder school schedule and the classes are going to get tougher - so we plug along. SharonAutism is not a burden it's a God given blessing. From: Jane C <chesshirfam@...>Subject: Re: Meltdownsautism Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 6:46 AM My sons meltdowns got worse and more frequent in the last year. He's 11 now. He's also showing other signs of puberty. He is verbal though so he's been able to tell me. I'm attributing it to hormones. I don't know if there's anything that can be down about it. If you can find a school nurse that works with special needs kids at that age she may have some input. Or see a developmental pediatrician maybe?Jane>> Hello Everyone,> I have an non-verbal autistic son who just turned 13 in May. For the most part, my son is usually happy and cooperative (at home and at school); however for the last two months he has had more "meltdowns" than I can ever remember. He gets upset more easily and he sometimes has two a day - which just wears me out! Especially since he's getting stronger and heavier. It seems that most of his meltdowns occur in "familiar" places such as home, school or at the store but as we all know, once they get upset - it's like a torando in that you can only ride it out. I've been keeping a log on the behaviors and will make a note when I know what I think triggers them, but they usually occur when he can't wait for a desired item or something that he thinks or wants to happen does not occur. When he has them at home, he completely undresses himself, pulls his hair, yells and kicks his chins with the bottom of his heels - sometimes I wonder what the neighbors think (but luckily most of them know we have a son with a disability). Anyways, with the sudden change in his behavior, does anyone think it could be caused by "hormones"/Puberty"?? He does have seizures (mostly at night) and he sees a neurologist regularly for them, so I'm just not sure what is going on.....He also has a behaviorist at school that I will be bringing this up with at his IEP meeting. It makes me not want to take him anywhere for fear of it happening in public! Thanks for reading my post....> > Debbie> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 I noticed my son is sleeping later in the morning also - and is definitely showing signs of puberty (hair under the arms already!). How do you know the difference between the puberty meltdown and the autism meltdown? > > > > Hello Everyone, > > I have an non-verbal autistic son who just turned 13 in May. For the most part, my son is usually happy and cooperative (at home and at school); however for the last two months he has had more " meltdowns " than I can ever remember. He gets upset more easily and he sometimes has two a day - which just wears me out! Especially since he's getting stronger and heavier. It seems that most of his meltdowns occur in " familiar " places such as home, school or at the store but as we all know, once they get upset - it's like a torando in that you can only ride it out. I've been keeping a log on the behaviors and will make a note when I know what I think triggers them, but they usually occur when he can't wait for a desired item or something that he thinks or wants to happen does not occur. When he has them at home, he completely undresses himself, pulls his hair, yells and kicks his chins with the bottom of his heels - sometimes I wonder what the neighbors think > (but luckily most of them know we have a son with a disability). Anyways, with the sudden change in his behavior, does anyone think it could be caused by " hormones " /Puberty " ?? He does have seizures (mostly at night) and he sees a neurologist regularly for them, so I'm just not sure what is going on.....He also has a behaviorist at school that I will be bringing this up with at his IEP meeting. It makes me not want to take him anywhere for fear of it happening in public! Thanks for reading my post.... > > > > Debbie > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 Most definately canbe caed by puberty. Maybe you can lok into a medication to help during this time mom of 12 year boy with Autism > > Hi Debbie, > I am almost 24 with autism (verbal and high IQ though). I've had > meltdowns since I was about 6. I can't remember whether mine got worse > during puberty, but that might be wha tis going on with your son. I > would say get him evaluated by a behavior specialist, who can > determine what hte cause/function of the behavior is. It could be that > he's having more anxiety or somehting. > -- > Astrid > astrid@... > http://www.astridvanwoerkom.com/ > http://astridvanwoerkom.wordpress.com/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010  pat, No-henry (Jakes friend) took him. It was done at a hospital about 35 miles from here. I took J last night to see him and he did ok when we got home. Lois Re: Meltdowns I noticed my son is sleeping later in the morning also - and is definitely showing signs of puberty (hair under the arms already!). How do you know the difference between the puberty meltdown and the autism meltdown? > >> > Hello Everyone,> > I have an non-verbal autistic son who just turned 13 in May. For the most part, my son is usually happy and cooperative (at home and at school); however for the last two months he has had more "meltdowns" than I can ever remember. He gets upset more easily and he sometimes has two a day - which just wears me out! Especially since he's getting stronger and heavier. It seems that most of his meltdowns occur in "familiar" places such as home, school or at the store but as we all know, once they get upset - it's like a torando in that you can only ride it out. I've been keeping a log on the behaviors and will make a note when I know what I think triggers them, but they usually occur when he can't wait for a desired item or something that he thinks or wants to happen does not occur. When he has them at home, he completely undresses himself, pulls his hair, yells and kicks his chins with the bottom of his heels - sometimes I wonder what the neighbors think> (but luckily most of them know we have a son with a disability). Anyways, with the sudden change in his behavior, does anyone think it could be caused by "hormones"/Puberty"?? He does have seizures (mostly at night) and he sees a neurologist regularly for them, so I'm just not sure what is going on.....He also has a behaviorist at school that I will be bringing this up with at his IEP meeting. It makes me not want to take him anywhere for fear of it happening in public! Thanks for reading my post....> > > > Debbie> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2010 Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 I came across this short video that talks about an idea to address meltdowns. My son's school is doing something like this but it's not working too well. Now that I've watched the video I think I may know why. Hopefully this may help them. Michele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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