autism and temper episodes

Lisa - posted on 04/06/2011

The best thing you can do is read as much as you can about the the symptoms that your daughter has. If you don't like the doctor or the diagnosis, get a second opinion. Make decisions based on love and logic. Try not to let fear of the unknown block your path. Prepare for a marathon, not a sprint.
ABA is great for a child who can sit and attend that kind of therapy. Occupational Therapy, Speech/Language Therapy, Floortime Play therapy...those are all great, too.
It is unfortunate that things like special diets and nutritional supplements are not covered by insurance, but if your daughter's symptoms are those that can be addressed with biomedical interventions, don't be afraid to give them a try. There are lots of other parents out there who have been through what you're going through.
Chelation isn't something horrible and scary. It doesn't even have to be on your radar for treatments if your daughter doesn't test high for heavy metals. (ABA might be a "proven" or "regulated" therapy, but it doesn't remove lead or mercury from the body.) Even then, no doctor can force you to try anything you don't want to try.
I have 2 children on the autism spectrum. A 13 yr old daughter who is very high functioning and an 11 yr old son who is non-verbal. They've had some therapies or treatments that were the same and many that were different. My son has a DAN! doctor. My daughter doesn't have one.
Having her tonsils out may be totally unrelated to her tantrums. However, if she was having a problem with recurring tonsilitis or strep infections, you might want to have her tested for a PANDAS/strep connection. It can cause OCD-like behavior in some children...Which can lead to tantrums...just a thought.
All you can do is take things one day at a time and follow what your gut instincts tell you.

Jen - posted on 04/06/2011

My daughter was diagnosed when she was almost 3. However, she also had serious communication problems.

Autism Spectrum Disorder has such a huge range. There can be sensory issues, communication frustrations, or food sensitivities. See a pediatric neurologist or developmentalist to obtain a true diagnosis. If the diagnosis comes back as somewhere on the autism spectrum, I would strongly advise you to investigate therapeutic interventions that have been clinically proven to be effective: ABA (applied behavioral analysis), for example.

I would strongly advise against seeing a DAN! doctor unless they can assure you that they will not use chelation, which is not regulated and can be lethal, and if they can accept your medical insurance.

Best of luck. Feel free to friend me or email if you'd like to chat.

Lisa - posted on 04/06/2011

Oh dear, a tonsilectomy, too...I hope she's feeling better soon.

Lisa - posted on 04/06/2011

Meltdowns and tantrums are common. They are often caused by sensory processing issues. Depending on the diagnosis you get, your daughter should be able to receive Occupational Therapy through your public preschool or a local Early Intervention Program. Have you read, "The Out of Synch Child" by Carol Stock Kranowitz?
http://out-of-sync-child.com/
If she is on the autism spectrum, another thing that might help is finding a DAN! doctor. (Defeat Autism Now!) They follow a certain treatment protocol that focuses on removing toxins that don't belong in the body and replenishing nutrients if your daughter might have deficiencies.
Try not to let them talk you into prescription medications as the very first thing to do. There are many options that are much safer with few or no side effects.

Belinda - posted on 04/06/2011

It can happen. Although mine sons has not lasted that long, he has been known to clear out his entire classroom starting at 3 - 4 years olds. He acts as if all in fine when it is over. We call these meltdown. He is almost 8 now, they still happen buts not as. Often meds do help.

Dawn - posted on 04/06/2011

YES!! Kids with aitism so often have sensory issues which makes it hard or impossible for them to filter things out. Lights, noise, smells- then they become so overwhelmed and they go into meltdown mode. Try to see what triggers your daughter..are the lights to bright? TV too loud? Scented candles too strong? Whatever the case may be- if you find a trigger you can hopefully stop those from happening. My son is 8 now and is doing better with sensory overload but he used to melt down often at that age. It took me a while to figure out his triggers, but I eventually did. Good luck

Carla - posted on 04/05/2011

i def. will keep u all posted thanks for the help yesterday she had her tonsils out so shes not herself right now

Coralie - posted on 04/05/2011

I knu my son had autism before he was diagnosed. If by some chance he isn't diagnosed with autism ask for a second opinion or get him tested for something else. If there is one thing I've learnt as a mother it's if u feel something is wron it probably is. Hoping for a good outcome, keep us posted :-)

Becky - posted on 04/05/2011

Hi Carla,

Kids on the spectrum definately throw tantrums. Of coarse, so do three year olds not on the spectrum. the difference is the trigger. And I don't think most kids who are not on the autism spectrum throw tantrums that last an hour... I defiantely agree with Amber. it sounds like a meltdown. If it only happens once in a blue moon when she is exhausted, well that would be no big deal (after the episode), but if it's frequent, then it does sound like it could be. Who is testing her? I guess I'm hoping it's a doctor, not the school.

Becky
www.asdperspectives.com BLOG

Amber - posted on 03/31/2011

If you think she has it she probably does. I knew my son had it even when the first doctor that saw her said he didnt. My son is mild to high functioning. I know it can be hard. If you ever need someone to talk to feel free to message me or add me on facebook!

Carla - posted on 03/31/2011

thank you amber my daughter has yet to be diagnosed but im thinking that she has it an that its somewhat mild though im not a dr but i do see some signs sporadic in her like you said if you move something out of place she tends to throw a fit too an when its back shes fine

Amber - posted on 03/31/2011

Sound like she was having a meltdown. My son is five and has autism. Anything can cause a meltdown. For example, I could move something out of place and he would go into a tantrum. But when I move it back he would be fine. So yes there are episodes like that.