Handling a Meltdown

[lcvamp242]

@Cherylmockotr, if this isn't a real meltdown but rather an autistic version of a neurotypical temper tantrum, then the title of this video is deliberate fraud.

[HMurf86]

@multisnootylives1 Seriously? Did you call him a retard? How old are you? He has Autism, and as a matter of fact he's probably a hell of a lot smarter than you!!! It's not a wrestling helmet, it is so he doesn't hurt himself!!! Read a book moron!!! People like you make me sick to my stomach!!

[lkjhb1]

what is he wearing on his head?????

[preprandialcocktail]

@lkjhb1 It's a listening system. Helps organize the brain. Search Integrated Listening. They use this system at the STAR Center. I highly recommend it! (I'm the mom of the boy in the video)

[1958boomergirl]

"Purposeful drama". That's a very interesting concept. I know kids can and do playact. They do pretend and have imaginative play. That's true. This, however, didn't look like play. To me, it looked like the boy wanted to play on that huge swing and the therapist instantly realized that such behavior would be unsafe and that it was her responsibility to stop him before he got hurt.

[beautifulmind546]

I have tried this approach with my daughter and it seems to make the meltdwon worse. I have found with her that the pressure of weighted blankets and vests help more than me holding or restricting her an I wonder if it is because she is picking up on my emotional energy from the situation (which is not always calm). Pressure helps but not necessarily from another person. Any thoughts?

[mommylebron3]

I see an very intuned and responsive therapist. Once he was calmer and stated he was "sweaty" she released him to the pillow instead of trying to maintain restrain or prove she was in charge.

[watermelli1980]

i work with autistic children, and i would not exactly call that a meltdown!

[petchharrison]

for hells sake use the smell theropy aspies are smell sensetive how do i know this. i am a fucking aspie thats why try that oil tantrum 911 it reboots the limbic system via th ofactory gland end of meltdown ..........jeff...

[Davewakeham]

Too many therapists and not enough real development.

[Kenzie282]

I have Sensory Processing Disorder. It is very hard to get over. I only went to therapy for a day and then went into anxiety therapy for 5.5 years. It is very tough to go through for the kids and parents. I look back at it now and remember how strong it made me. I still have problems with it, but i'm only 14 so maybe things will continue to change. I look at it as a challenge that makes us stronger now.

[eaf09]

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "purposeful drama". My child has sensory processing disorder and he often has meltdowns and it seems like a lot of drama.

[Maartjeeeful]

I think, they must draw new rules on Internet.

Nobody is allowed to show such films about these matters on youtube.

Such things, are very offensive for these persons.

By the way, it's the worst for the person's who have a disorder or a handicap.

[indumamoon]

@Maartjeeeful I disagree. Those videos should be around as long as they have person's permission (if their iq is high enough) if not, I believe parents are qualified to decide if it's okay

Youtube did a lot of wonderful things, bringing awareness to many different diseases that we didn't know exist in the first place to start with ..

Look at a more bright side of it and don't judge too harshly. Plus who knows, maybe they needed help and only way to get it is by videoing his 'meltdown'.

[indumamoon]

@indumamoon P.S. I'm deaf so I am technically "disabled" in your term and I'm totally ok with me being videoed (and I had a lot of therapies when I was younger too). You can check my profile to confirm my deafness. :P

[Maartjeeeful]

@indumamoon

That's your meaning.

What I mean is, people with a disorder can perfect live independently, just like 'normal' people. Okay I understand, when the person gives the permission showing it on Youtube, nothing stands in his/her way that he/she puts on.

I don't doubt that he needs help.

Youtube did indeed a lot of wonderful things, but don't forget, Youtube can be also very dangerous. People can put everything of videos what they want. And they can show it on whole the world.

[indumamoon]

@Maartjeeeful Very true, it can be very dangerous. I think it has to do mostly with ethic issue and I see none in this video that could be wrong? But hey, to each of us, we think differently and I got none against that. :)

In my honest option, this one isn't bad at all compared to other videos I have seen on youtube out there it's far worse than this one. That is why we need to spend energy on them not just this "mild" one.

Anyways, I got nothing more to say. Have fun surfing. :)

Peace.

[HoldupHen]

@indumamoon I agree that most of the efforts are spent on the children who basically need basic family time and parent time. The issue is that most of the children who PAY OR HAVE MONEY FOR TREATMENT are like this. There are many children who don't have the resources for OT.

[MiyukiNakira]

@Maartjeeeful My ass we can live independently. We're too naive and we can get into some shit.

[Maartjeeeful]

@MiyukiNakira

I disagree with you. We're NOT naive and it's what the society who give us shit.

[MiyukiNakira]

@Maartjeeeful HA! You're wrong again! I'm living PROOF of what I just stated! In your face.

[weirdshinobi4077]

I'll tell you as someone who is autistic (yes I am autistic), whenever I would have a meltdown as a child this would be the exact same way my parents would handle me. Holding me gently but still talking me through it to help me understand. Eventually over the years my parents helped me learn how to control my meltdowns to where I can get over them fast or even avoid them all together.

I think this woman did very well!!!! Thanks for understanding, lol it's very rare I find someone who does.

[LucyShy]

I found that "containment" usually makes meltdowns worse, as it only adds additional sensory information to an already overstimulated kid.

Also a child who is still able to express himself in words, "let me go", should have his communication attempts respected and affirmed. When he is trying to tell you what he needs and you ignore his words, his frustration will get worse. A change of atmosphere to a less stimulating area (darker, quieter, smaller) and a few minutes to chill out might work 4 u.

[princesscageface]

@LucyShy he is using the behavior to escape and he should not be allowed to get out of "work" by running away and yelling. the therapist let him go when he followed directions, teaching him that good things happen to "good listeners". problems only arise when there is inconsistency in technique.

[janleenick]

Lin, This is YouTube, not a classroom. I certainly hope a parent of a special needs child will view YouTube for what it is. Having said that, the therapist in this video seemed to handle this child very well, calmly and respectfully---seems like a positive way to calm a child in meltdown.

[lins2102]

I was merely trying to clear up that this is not how one should handle a meltdown. Although now you have explained the background I can see your clinical reasoning. Was not intending to be rude- just trying to ensure the general public does not consider this standardised practise.

[lins2102]

I obviously know that one can't judge a scene without taking into account all the information, however the title of the video was "handling a meltdown" and inevitably, AS MENTIONED, I do not know the background of the child.

[cherylmockotr]

I am the therapist who treated this boy. I agree this short clip looks like the child is in distress, but what is not seen is what led up to it. His behavior was purposeful drama, not real distress. We had a very good relationship and knew each others boundaries. He would not have calmed as quickly if he were truly having a meltdown and his mother wouldnt have posted this if she felt it was distressing for him. I hope lins2102will remember that you can't judge a scene outside the context!

[kotetsu131]

This is interesting. While I am not a therapist (although I am an undergrad psych major with a dev. psych concentration), it seems to me that the cognitive-behavioral techniques you applied in helping the child to control his behavior were very effective. It seems to me that due to the nature of behavioral modification we really can't avoid some emotional stress on the child to gradually improve their control over their own behavior, but I wonder if this is completely true?

[tlvailco]

@cherylmockotr  That's a meltdown??!! I only wish my son was that easy sometime. :)

[kaley3646]

I think the therapist has a heart of gold and is doing the very best she can

[lins2102]

Don't know background of this kid but as an SI therapist myself I think her handling of this situation is very distrubing. The child is in obvious stress and she is forcing him to calm down. Therapy should be child directed with the kid finding ways of calming himself down and the therapist just guiding the chil into what works. I would really not recommend this handling to any parents!! It is not therapeutic but more distressing with the child obviously giving in cos he's younger and smaller.