Noise has two functions in the life of an Aspie. One is made by others to irritate the Aspie and one is used by the Aspie to irritate others. Ok, that might be simplifying just a bit. But, in a nutshell, that's it.
Pencil tapping. Toe tapping. Crinkling paper. Chewing on a piece of plastic. You name it.
Ear plugs anyone??
Drums. Jon wants to play the drums. I think a musical instrument would be a good way to channel the noise factor. I'll try it and let you know. Since the Aspies are quite methodical and sequential, music is very likely an answer to...well...something.
But how to help them see that every little noise that others make is not a deliberate attempt to sabotage the Aspie's peace and quiet...I don't know! Solutions, rather than blame, is very likely the key factor here. It's funny, as in odd, how they want the authority figure to step in and 'make' it all go away (the noise, that is). But this is not a good way to encourage self-government. Repetitive noises made by him seem to soothe him, while raising the hackles of the rest of the kids. Repetitive noises made by others are apt to wake the Mr. Hyde within.
I was proud of him today. Not only did he offer to help watch the, uh, let's see...8 Probst children for a bit, along with my 5yo, but he stayed the course until he started to get a little irritated, some hour or so later. He handled it well - he came and told me he needed some down time. Who makes more repetitive noises than 5 children under the age of 8? And you should've heard the noise level in my house with 14 children, ranging in age from 4m to 17. I think the thing that impressed me most was that Jon came to me with a matter-of-fact statement, rather than a complaint. That's it for tonight - I'm going to go commend him right now.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Rats!!
The Sensory Learning Issues link isn't working. I'll see what I can do, because this is where the lady who sang to her autistic child went for help.
Tools (or are they tricks??) of the trade...
We often think of earphones as rude, an attempt by sullen teens to isolate themselves.
On the other hand, for Jon, it is an opportunity to help him focus on the task at hand. Noises and even just the normal sounds of the home can greatly distract him from his school work and this can make him very irritable. When I am teaching him, or assisting him through lessons from a book, say R&S Grammar, he often wears his headphones and connects his MP3 player. He keeps it turned down so that he can still hear me, but the beat (he would never choose a slow beat) helps his mind thump along with the lessons. I've seem him accomplish a lot in this mode.
This doesn't work in a group setting, however, so I don't allow it. But I have to say that this is something I've had to adjust my thinking on. (I know, no prepositions at the end of a sentence...!) Home schooling allows for such oddities. PS would never permit it (at least not to my knowledge).
Music in the background for the whole group often doesn't work. I like classical, or classical guitar, no words. But anything slow causes Jon to be so distracted that he can't hear. It's often better to let him choose his own and use the ear phones.
Another tool is the mini tramp. I've heard of a lot of moms who use this, not just moms of Aspies. The thing I always hear is memorization facts, such as arithmetic or spelling. They jump and go through their facts. The repeating motion of their bodies helps solidify the facts in their minds. I've not tried this, not having a mini tramp at this point, but I'm considering it, and not just for Jon. Another thing that could not be done in the PS.
Jon often has fidgety hands. I was upset once by another teacher who said that Jon was misbehaving because he wasn't sitting still. Yes, he needs to learn to sit still. But his body often seems to move independent of his mind. This is something that is much harder for him to learn than some others. My 5yo can often sit still longer than Jon, and not because we have not worked on it. It's so discouraging for him to be told he's in disobedience when he didn't even realize he was moving. One solution to this is a stress ball. If he has something in his hand that he can play with, it helps him listen. And it helps him sit still. Clay is messy, but it works, too.
An interesting story...my husband went to DeVry's to get his CIS degree. While there, he often sat in the back and played Solitaire, or some other computer game during the lecture. The teachers thought, at first, that he was being rude and not listening. They soon found, however, that when they asked questions of him, he had a better answer than many others in the class. He WAS listening - he just had to do something else while he was listening. He graduated with a senior project that the judges had trouble with, because they'd never seen anything like it! And he graduated Suma Cum Laudi. (or however you spell that!)
I find the same thing to be true of myself. I often play Cubis on line while I'm writing lesson plans. The 30 second level of organizing blocks helps me put my thoughts in order.
Obviously this is not the way it is for everyone. Some people couldn't do more than one thing at time to save their life!
Gum! Oh, yes, that nasty gum! The dreaded object of teachers and moms everywhere. If there are no stress balls, tramps, or earphones around, gum is a big help to Jon. He's mature enough not to stick it under the desk or toss in the yard. I do have to mention that he should chew with his mouth closed, but we're getting there! It helps him think.
Scent Therapy is another good avenue of help. Some scents are calming and can help a great deal during a lesson that has started out badly due to fidgeting or attitude. Lavender seems to be the highly recommended one, but Jon can't stand it. We have not yet found his 'scent.' Unless you count pop corn!
Incidentally, Aspies are often quite sensitive to scents, temperatures, etc. If it's too warm in the room, you're going to lose him before you start.
We tried Bach's Flower Remedies, Rescue Remedy. It didn't work, I'm assuming, because it does not address brain activity, but emotional overload.
Camomile Tea works for Jon. He'll go get it for himself when he feels fidgety.
Something I've heard but not tried is color coding. There is a lady in Denver who uses this to help with those who have visual processing issues. I've heard wonderful things about it. I'd explain more, but I'm not sure I have all the facts on this one.
For autism, I've heard that singing is a good help for them. I heard on the news of a little boy that did not talk until he was 5 or 6. Then one day his mom sang something too him and he began talking (well, actually, singing) and learning to read in a flash. I didn't know this when Jon was younger, but I used to do it on occasion. I would sing "Where is Jonny, where is Jonny?" to the tune of Frere Jacques. He would answer with "Here I am, here I am." I started it because often when I called him, he felt interrupted, and got agitated. Singing helped.
I know there're more...
On the other hand, for Jon, it is an opportunity to help him focus on the task at hand. Noises and even just the normal sounds of the home can greatly distract him from his school work and this can make him very irritable. When I am teaching him, or assisting him through lessons from a book, say R&S Grammar, he often wears his headphones and connects his MP3 player. He keeps it turned down so that he can still hear me, but the beat (he would never choose a slow beat) helps his mind thump along with the lessons. I've seem him accomplish a lot in this mode.
This doesn't work in a group setting, however, so I don't allow it. But I have to say that this is something I've had to adjust my thinking on. (I know, no prepositions at the end of a sentence...!) Home schooling allows for such oddities. PS would never permit it (at least not to my knowledge).
Music in the background for the whole group often doesn't work. I like classical, or classical guitar, no words. But anything slow causes Jon to be so distracted that he can't hear. It's often better to let him choose his own and use the ear phones.
Another tool is the mini tramp. I've heard of a lot of moms who use this, not just moms of Aspies. The thing I always hear is memorization facts, such as arithmetic or spelling. They jump and go through their facts. The repeating motion of their bodies helps solidify the facts in their minds. I've not tried this, not having a mini tramp at this point, but I'm considering it, and not just for Jon. Another thing that could not be done in the PS.
Jon often has fidgety hands. I was upset once by another teacher who said that Jon was misbehaving because he wasn't sitting still. Yes, he needs to learn to sit still. But his body often seems to move independent of his mind. This is something that is much harder for him to learn than some others. My 5yo can often sit still longer than Jon, and not because we have not worked on it. It's so discouraging for him to be told he's in disobedience when he didn't even realize he was moving. One solution to this is a stress ball. If he has something in his hand that he can play with, it helps him listen. And it helps him sit still. Clay is messy, but it works, too.
An interesting story...my husband went to DeVry's to get his CIS degree. While there, he often sat in the back and played Solitaire, or some other computer game during the lecture. The teachers thought, at first, that he was being rude and not listening. They soon found, however, that when they asked questions of him, he had a better answer than many others in the class. He WAS listening - he just had to do something else while he was listening. He graduated with a senior project that the judges had trouble with, because they'd never seen anything like it! And he graduated Suma Cum Laudi. (or however you spell that!)
I find the same thing to be true of myself. I often play Cubis on line while I'm writing lesson plans. The 30 second level of organizing blocks helps me put my thoughts in order.
Obviously this is not the way it is for everyone. Some people couldn't do more than one thing at time to save their life!
Gum! Oh, yes, that nasty gum! The dreaded object of teachers and moms everywhere. If there are no stress balls, tramps, or earphones around, gum is a big help to Jon. He's mature enough not to stick it under the desk or toss in the yard. I do have to mention that he should chew with his mouth closed, but we're getting there! It helps him think.
Scent Therapy is another good avenue of help. Some scents are calming and can help a great deal during a lesson that has started out badly due to fidgeting or attitude. Lavender seems to be the highly recommended one, but Jon can't stand it. We have not yet found his 'scent.' Unless you count pop corn!
Incidentally, Aspies are often quite sensitive to scents, temperatures, etc. If it's too warm in the room, you're going to lose him before you start.
We tried Bach's Flower Remedies, Rescue Remedy. It didn't work, I'm assuming, because it does not address brain activity, but emotional overload.
Camomile Tea works for Jon. He'll go get it for himself when he feels fidgety.
Something I've heard but not tried is color coding. There is a lady in Denver who uses this to help with those who have visual processing issues. I've heard wonderful things about it. I'd explain more, but I'm not sure I have all the facts on this one.
For autism, I've heard that singing is a good help for them. I heard on the news of a little boy that did not talk until he was 5 or 6. Then one day his mom sang something too him and he began talking (well, actually, singing) and learning to read in a flash. I didn't know this when Jon was younger, but I used to do it on occasion. I would sing "Where is Jonny, where is Jonny?" to the tune of Frere Jacques. He would answer with "Here I am, here I am." I started it because often when I called him, he felt interrupted, and got agitated. Singing helped.
I know there're more...
Saturday, May 3, 2008
To drug or not to drug...
I was, at one point, ready to do the 'drug thing.' I'm a natural path, so you have to understand that I was at my whit's end to even consider it.
Natural stuff works, but it takes time, and sometimes that is just too much.
It's just that the side effects are also sometimes too much to consider.
Our local chiropractor has helped quite a bit, and if anyone wants his info, email me.
But I have to say that if you're not monitoring the diet, the natural stuff won't work. I've listed a book here called, "Is This Your Child?". Although I have not read it entirely, I'm convinced that it offers good advice in this area. The problem is that the diet is SO hard. Unless your whole family and all your friends do the same diet, he/she will be exposed to the soda, the crackers, the cookies, the fruities, etc. Other people will offer your children stuff that you don't want them to have and you will get looks from them that scream, "I can't believe you're depriving this child!"
I will NEVER offer sweets to someone else's child unless I have the express permission from the parents for each instance. After all the heartache I've received from others who think I'm terrible for keeping my child from eating the stuff offered at Sunday School, my conscience won't let me.
And the 'bad' foods will always be available. You can't shelter your child from them. It simply won't work. And how do you manage this diet while not sparking rebellion in your child? It's a tightrope act.
Jon is finally convinced that I want the best for him. But that is a recent development. Prior to this, even within the last year, there was quite a bit of stealing. Soda, in the middle of the night. Candies that I thought were hidden. Once, a candy bar from a store. (He got caught and was so mortified he never did it again.)
My friend healed herself of cancer. Quite a feat. Her advice to me in this area was to keep to the diet during school days. The alternative is that the child is handicapped in his learning. The bad foods have such an effect that sometimes learning is impossible. Then, on the weekend, offer one treat of his/her choice. If you keep it to that, they don't have such a strong reaction to the foods. And they don't feel quite so deprived. They get to choose, which allows them liberty. And they receive good training in how to be healthy, in body and in mind. It's good advice. Easier said, than done, however.
If anyone wants to add their thoughts to this blog, now would be the time...this is, very likely, one of the hardest things to implement in helping these children.
And if you've chosen, or are about to choose, the drug thing, I release you from guilt. Don't beat yourself up - others do that well enough.
Natural stuff works, but it takes time, and sometimes that is just too much.
It's just that the side effects are also sometimes too much to consider.
Our local chiropractor has helped quite a bit, and if anyone wants his info, email me.
But I have to say that if you're not monitoring the diet, the natural stuff won't work. I've listed a book here called, "Is This Your Child?". Although I have not read it entirely, I'm convinced that it offers good advice in this area. The problem is that the diet is SO hard. Unless your whole family and all your friends do the same diet, he/she will be exposed to the soda, the crackers, the cookies, the fruities, etc. Other people will offer your children stuff that you don't want them to have and you will get looks from them that scream, "I can't believe you're depriving this child!"
I will NEVER offer sweets to someone else's child unless I have the express permission from the parents for each instance. After all the heartache I've received from others who think I'm terrible for keeping my child from eating the stuff offered at Sunday School, my conscience won't let me.
And the 'bad' foods will always be available. You can't shelter your child from them. It simply won't work. And how do you manage this diet while not sparking rebellion in your child? It's a tightrope act.
Jon is finally convinced that I want the best for him. But that is a recent development. Prior to this, even within the last year, there was quite a bit of stealing. Soda, in the middle of the night. Candies that I thought were hidden. Once, a candy bar from a store. (He got caught and was so mortified he never did it again.)
My friend healed herself of cancer. Quite a feat. Her advice to me in this area was to keep to the diet during school days. The alternative is that the child is handicapped in his learning. The bad foods have such an effect that sometimes learning is impossible. Then, on the weekend, offer one treat of his/her choice. If you keep it to that, they don't have such a strong reaction to the foods. And they don't feel quite so deprived. They get to choose, which allows them liberty. And they receive good training in how to be healthy, in body and in mind. It's good advice. Easier said, than done, however.
If anyone wants to add their thoughts to this blog, now would be the time...this is, very likely, one of the hardest things to implement in helping these children.
And if you've chosen, or are about to choose, the drug thing, I release you from guilt. Don't beat yourself up - others do that well enough.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
