Stimming...............................

While Robbie's language has increased, his stimming behaviors seem to have done the same. For over a week now the stims have been out of control. I say out of control because it seems they are out of control for him. His pupils are dilated and his eye color shifts to slightly gray. He wrings his hands, flaps, jumps up and down, repeats "eeeeee" and occasionally will get very tense throughout his body for a moment or two. We are constantly reassessing food diet, sensory diet, treatment, therapy, etc, etc. Right now I am stumped. We have been told by many therapists that teaching Robbie to self regulate these behaviors is very important, especially as he gets older. We are trying to teach him to stim in a safe place- his room. His room should be his quiet place to get it out. We also are teaching him that it is not socially appropriate. I have struggled with this, because these behaviors are hard for him to control. I have to think about the bigger picture as well. A cute 7 year old flapping his hands and saying "eeeeee" is almost ok. Imagine a 6 foot tall, 16 year old young man doing the same....... not so much. Here is an excerpt I took from the internet to explain what stimming means. It is a really good overview. What Is Stimming? Stimming is repetitive stereotypic behavior commonly found in autism, but also found in other developmental disabilities. This behavior may involve any or all of the senses in various degrees in different individuals. Several examples are listed below. Visual – staring at lights, blinking, gazing at fingers, lining up objects Auditory – tapping fingers, snapping fingers, grunting, humming Smell – smelling objects, sniffing people Taste – licking objects, placing objects in mouth Tactile – scratching, clapping, feeling objects nail biting, hair twisting, toe-walking Vestibular – rocking, spinning, jumping, pacing Proprioception – teeth grinding, pacing, jumping All of us engage in some of these behaviors occasionally, especially when we are stressed. However, your child may engage in these activities excessively so that they may interfere with learning or activities of daily living. Also, these behaviors may be embarrassing to you and others. Individuals engage in stimming as a way to self-regulate sensory input and manage sensory integration dysfunction. These behaviors may be excitatory (stimulating) or inhibitory (calming) with the result of normalizing sensations. Occupational therapy can help to reduce this unwanted behavior. A sensory diet should be initiated which provides your child with an appropriate amount and type of sensory input throughout the day to modulate their sensory experience. In other words, your child needs sensory meals and snacks periodically to meet their sensory needs before stimming becomes necessary. Often, deep pressure on the body provides needed proprioceptive inputs promoting calmness and security and lessening unwanted behaviors. This deep pressure can be provided by any or all of the following items. weighted blanket weighted lap pad weighted neck wrap weighted vest. The child should be taught to understand and regulate their own behavior. That's where we're at........

The best days of summer

We've had a pretty good summer so far. Great vacation with family in Massachusetts, went to see fireworks for the first time in year and caught fireflies with Dad and watched them light up in a jar. Lots of great summer memories for us and the kids. One thing we've noticed is the more swimming Robbie gets, the better off he seems to be. Better mood, less stimming behaviors, better sleep. That being said, there have been days where we go to the lake and then to a friends pool. The intention being- the more time in the water, the happier everyone is. Tomorrow extended school begins for Robbie and we know it will not be an easy morning. He will not want to get dressed (that early in the morning.) He will not want to wear sneakers- flip flops are the shoe of choice at the moment (mine too.) He will probably not want to take the bus. The benefit is- we know what we're in for and can begin to talk about it with him. The drawback- it's still really hard. I had a strange encounter with a man at Shop Rite this afternoon. I was loading my car with groceries as he was collecting carts to bring back inside the store. He began to speak to me about the heat, asking if I thought today was better than yesterday. I said I wasn't sure- it's still really hot. He spoke about the fact that he was probably getting used to it and that the night before he had woken up three times to take a cold shower because it was so bad. Then he paused for a moment- I assumed because of the heat, and asked if I had a child with Autism. ( Looking at the magnets on my car- it's a safe bet.) I replied "yes, my 7 year old son." He told me he had struggled with autism as a child. He had a hard time reading. He told me was ostracized as a child. School was very difficult for him. He was so articulate and looked me straight in the eye. There was no awkwardness or stimming behavior at all. Not sure how to respond I said "you seem to be doing well now." He told me his parents had spent a lot of money on the best educational programs and mentioned a reading program at university of Pennsylvania. He said they all worked very hard, but it was hard. Autism is hard. He has spent most of his life alone. I wished him well, again not knowing what to say. Now I can not get this man out of my mind. He is probably in his early 60's. He had many layers of clothes, which seemed odd with the heat. The clothes were not particularly clean, if you looked closely. He works at Shop Rite moving carts. He probably does not have air conditioning. He is alone. The most startling feature were his eyes. Very clear beautiful blue. The crystal blue Robbie's eyes are when he's on, or present. This could be my son one day. Where is she going with this post? I am suffering from pregnancy brain- as I like to call it. But also I have been talking to my husband about creating memories for our children- especially summer ones. Aren't summer memories everyone's favorite. I can't predict where Robbie will end up. I can and sometimes do make myself miserable thinking about the possibilities. What I can do is be present for him now. Take him for one more swim. Help him cope with the stress of change. Give him lots of hugs. This is the best way to prepare him for a future. I also will hope and pray that he does not spend most of his life alone. That he finds a friend or companion to share his life with. I wish I had said or done something else today to help this grown man with Autism........