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My out of control,autistic 3 yr old son,Help!

Keri - posted on 09/12/2012 ( 5 moms have responded )

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Well,here's the story,3yr old boy,autistic,he can tell me drink,eat ect,so some speech,no sentences,but he is in speech.He starts preschool soon.Anyways he has very severe behavior problems.He throws fits ,hits,bites ,spit and had caused a lot of damage in my house,ripping curtains,broke a window...ect.No matter what i say,or do,it does not work.it's gotten to the point,i have stopped taken him places alone (he has a 2 yr old sister,not autistic)And i can't handle them both.Time outs don't work!Icant take a shower unless an adult is home.I'm so stressed and frustrated,i feel like i'm gonna lose my mind!Oh and i battle Bipolar Depression on top of it.If u have advice ,i'm willing to listen:)

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Anaquita - posted on 09/17/2012

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I have to say, Ange's idea of behavioral therapy is a good one. I hear ABA is also good, but never been through it with my kid. Also if he has bad mood swings, he may have inherited your bipolar disorder. Might not have, but that's something that's commonly passed down in families. (My mother passed it down to my youngest sister)

Katherine - posted on 09/16/2012

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I was just going to suggest ABA (behavioral therapy). Also get a really good behavioral therapist, and a good fit for your son. I did it for 5 years and had great results with the kids. Sometimes I wasn't a good fit though and that's ok. Not everyone is. You really want to make sure they are.

Ange - posted on 09/13/2012

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No, my son cannot talk, and he still isn't potty trained. Luckily, we have no problems with bathing. He loves water. Brushing teeth can still sometimes be a hassle, but he has learned that it WILL happen daily. Sometimes, I have to do a section at a time (I take short breaks in between sections. It's taken as long as two hours.), but he has realized that if he sits still, it'll be over with faster. He is now realizing that his actions have consequences. For instance, if he gets mad and throws a toy, that toy will go into a clear storage box for the remainder of the day. He can see it, but he cannot play with it. When we first implemented actions like these, life was horrible, but as his understanding grows, he reacts less negatively. I've found that gentle reminders and positive reinforcement when he does something well have made a world of difference in his behavior.

Keri - posted on 09/12/2012

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He will be starting behavioral therapy!Can your son talk,i cant get him potty trained ,bathing and brushing teeth is a nightmare!Thank u for the response,btw,how is the behavoir and your stress level now?

Ange - posted on 09/12/2012

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We had incredibly similar circumstances with our son, who is now 4. Behavioral therapy worked wonders for him. In his case, the problem was rooted in his inability to communicate. His receptive language skills are immense, however, he is nonverbal. He would act out his frustration on himself and anything or anybody in his vicinity. Once we were able to pinpoint the underlying cause, it became easier to help him "vent" his frustrations in a calmer manner.

Is there a support group that meets in your area? Having sympathetic parents that can offer solutions or even a just listening ear can do wonders for your own stress levels.

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