Compulsive behavior

[Guest guest]

HI megan,My daughter who is 8 yrs old has over compulsive disorder. She is on medicine to help with that. She also has some eating issues. I don't know where you live specifically, but here in va. We have a feeding clinic in Richmond. They have gotten her to eat all kinds of food. Trust me sounds what I went through with my darling Faith. The best thing they told me. Is after a couple of times. Try to distract her with something else. Yes I know the fits and tantrums and violence that can come from this. SO far all she has is the fits and trantrums we too have another child. She has learned to adapt to her younger sibling. The food eating is all so familiar My faith likes only dinty moore beefstew, peaches, pears, and applesauce. Since this summer when I did The clinic

omg. Pancakes waffles, frenchtoast, fruits and vetables, soups. She now likes things cold too. She came off her bottle after 8 yrs. She drinks from a cup. Her therapist told me to switch things around so she wouldn't get accustom to one way. That is kind of the same thing with the book. GOsh I really hope this helped. If you live in and around va. I can help you get the appt. possibly. I hope in someway you will have found this to be helpful. I still struggle too. Its not an easy road. Well good luck Twilla'From: Richeson <ksukitty1979@...>Subject: Compulsive behaviorautism Date: Saturday,

November 6, 2010, 10:33 PM

Hi,

I've been a member of this group for a while, but this is my first post. My 3 1/2 year old has been diagnosed autistic with global developmental delay. While many things have improved since his initial diagnosis, his obsessive/compulsive behaviors seem to be getting worse. Especially when it comes to food and toys. It is incredibly hard to get him to eat, especially fruit and veggies. He will throw food and scream if it isn't one the few things he likes to eat. Also, he has started handing me books to read to him. We are very happy that he is interested in books. However, he wants me to read it multiple times in a row. Sometimes he can spend an entire hour having me reread the same board book over and over. I have two other children and he can get violent with them if I stop reading to tend to their needs. I would love advice in dealing with these issues. Family suggestions have

been less then helpfull. They seem to forget he's autistic and he just needs time out and to "deal with it".

[Guest guest]

I have a 9 1/2 year old son with autism. Both of your issues are SO familiar to me! The food aversions sound more like sensory issues to me. My son still eats only 6 or 7 different foods. Oh, yes...I can guess the advice you've been given, but what works for a "typical" child DOES NOT work with our kids with Autism. Occasionally, my son will add another food on his own. As long as he is eating something, I'm happy. There are MANY more issues to deal with...you have to let some things go.

Reading the same book over and over is probably very calming and soothing to him. It's a way to create "order" out of the chaos of his world. You will probably find that he will always enjoy certain books, movies, video games, etc. Fortunately, it won't always involve YOU having to sit and read the same thing over and over. You'll just have to tune out the repetitive movies/games, etc. And, it's usually little bits of movies/games, not the whole thing. Thank goodness for DVDs where he can easily select scenes instead of rewinding a VHS tape! lol

If you haven't already, I would definitely recommend ABA. My son has had in-home ABA for the last 5 years and will continue for many years to come. In the beginning, we did not have the insurance to cover it or the money to fund it, so we hired an ABA therapist to train our whole family (parents, grandparents, aunts, etc.) to follow the programs and serve as therapists. Then the ABA person came in 1-2 per month to work with him and tweak the programs. That is, until we could get it covered by insurance. (Actually, my son has SSI & Medicaid. In TN, it's covered by TennCare Select.) Providers and # of hours have varied over the years. He is currently receiving 8 hours per week.

By the way, we also use medications...Zoloft, Risperdol, Straterra, and Melatonin.

I hope this helps...

Marty

's Mom

White House, TN

[Guest guest]

I think LeapFrog has a book that reads to a child. Have you tried that? Pat K

Compulsive behavior

Hi,

I've been a member of this group for a while, but this is my first post. My 3 1/2 year old has been diagnosed autistic with global developmental delay. While many things have improved since his initial diagnosis, his obsessive/compulsive behaviors seem to be getting worse. Especially when it comes to food and toys. It is incredibly hard to get him to eat, especially fruit and veggies. He will throw food and scream if it isn't one the few things he likes to eat. Also, he has started handing me books to read to him. We are very happy that he is interested in books. However, he wants me to read it multiple times in a row. Sometimes he can spend an entire hour having me reread the same board book over and over. I have two other children and he can get violent with them if I stop reading to tend to their needs. I would love advice in dealing with these issues. Family suggestions have been less then helpfull. They seem to forget he's autistic and he just needs time out and to "deal with it".

[Guest guest]

A cousin of mine and her husband founded a company marketing a video based training program to teach parents and educators the skills to provide ABA training for their children and students. Their main mission for the service is to provide affordable ABA training principles for those who do not have access to therapists, whether due to finances or their residential location. I have not used their materials yet but plan to in the near future (our daughter just turned four.) Check out their site for more info:

http://www.maximumpotentialkids.com/index.htmOn Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 6:19 PM, <amandaakp@...> wrote:

 

Does anyone know ballpark range, how expensive ABA therapy costs? I know we all in different parts of the county but was curious? Also does insurance typically not cover this? I thought a bill was passed in the US to include autism therapies? I'm strongly considering it for my 5yr old as his obsessive behaviors and anxiety seem to be getting worse. Also what is the majority opinion on medications for anxiety on such young children? Most of these drugs haven't been around that long...worried about long term effects when they don't have the answers. Thanks in advance for the help!

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®From: " Marty " <keithmarty@...>

Sender: autism

Date: Sun, 7 Nov 2010 06:51:37 -0600<autism >Reply autism

Subject: Compulsive behavior

 

I have a 9 1/2 year old son with autism.  Both of your issues are SO familiar to me!  The food aversions sound more like sensory issues to me.  My son still eats only 6 or 7 different foods.  Oh, yes...I can guess the advice you've been given, but what works for a " typical " child DOES NOT work with our kids with Autism.  Occasionally, my son will add another food on his own.  As long as he is eating something, I'm happy.  There are MANY more issues to deal with...you have to let some things go.

 

Reading the same book over and over is probably very calming and soothing to him.  It's a way to create " order " out of the chaos of his world.  You will probably find that he will always enjoy certain books, movies, video games, etc.  Fortunately, it won't always involve YOU having to sit and read the same thing over and over. You'll just have to tune out the repetitive movies/games, etc. And, it's usually little bits of movies/games, not the whole thing.  Thank goodness for DVDs where he can easily select scenes instead of rewinding a VHS tape! lol

 

If you haven't already, I would definitely recommend ABA.  My son has had in-home ABA for the last 5 years and will continue for many years to come.  In the beginning, we did not have the insurance to cover it or the money to fund it, so we hired an ABA therapist to train our whole family (parents, grandparents, aunts, etc.) to follow the programs and serve as therapists. Then the ABA person came in 1-2 per month to work with him and tweak the programs.  That is, until we could get it covered by insurance.  (Actually, my son has SSI & Medicaid.  In TN, it's covered by TennCare Select.)  Providers and # of hours have varied over the years.  He is currently receiving 8 hours per week.

 

By the way, we also use medications...Zoloft, Risperdol, Straterra, and Melatonin.

 

I hope this helps...

 

Marty

's Mom

White House, TN

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My 10 year old son had similar issue with food. He also had food allergies which made transitioning to different foods difficult. What we found over the past 6 years is to expose him to textures that he liked in different types of food. We found that he would add different foods at different ages. As he matured he would explore different flavors and textures that he previously denied. He also would get bored with his routine diet after 2 or 3 years which presented windows of opportunity to try other foods. As far as the compulsive behavior, It is necessary to change things up so that the child does not get use to the same thing. I known that this goes against the structured environment that the child should have, however, if you do not try to introduce changes in certain patterns of behavior, it will be very difficult to change/ handle as the child becomes older. My son would have violent tantrums in the car if we took a different

route home. I would change my route every week giving my self extra time to stop the car and allow he time to calm down before arriving home. After the first two weeks, the transitions were easier going from 4 days to 1 day and from violent tantrums to a scream and then to enjoyment. I tried pointing out different thing that would interest him each time we changed something. This method worked for a long time and helped him in attending different events, going to the store, reading books, watching DVDs etc. The key is a little patience and a reward (hug, smile, kiss, something fun & familiar) at the end of each attempt that was successful.

From: Richeson <ksukitty1979@...>Subject: Compulsive behaviorautism Date: Saturday, November 6, 2010, 10:33 PM

Hi,

I've been a member of this group for a while, but this is my first post. My 3 1/2 year old has been diagnosed autistic with global developmental delay. While many things have improved since his initial diagnosis, his obsessive/compulsive behaviors seem to be getting worse. Especially when it comes to food and toys. It is incredibly hard to get him to eat, especially fruit and veggies. He will throw food and scream if it isn't one the few things he likes to eat. Also, he has started handing me books to read to him. We are very happy that he is interested in books. However, he wants me to read it multiple times in a row. Sometimes he can spend an entire hour having me reread the same board book over and over. I have two other children and he can get violent with them if I stop reading to tend to their needs. I would love advice in dealing with these issues. Family suggestions have

been less then helpfull. They seem to forget he's autistic and he just needs time out and to "deal with it".