Handling a Meltdown

During occupational therapy at STAR Center in Denver for Sensory Processing Disorder, a meltdown occurs. It is handled by containment, granting of reasonable requests ("I'm hot") and asking the child to "check his engine".

Category:

Education

Tags:

• sensory processing disorder
• integration
• dysfunction
• occupational therapy

[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)

[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!

[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.

[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!!

[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.

[MiyukiNakira]

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

[Maartjeeeful]

@MiyukiNakira

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

[MiyukiNakira]

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

[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?

[tlvailco]

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