Autism Meltdown 9-Year-Old-Boy

This is my almost 9-year-old son who has high-functioning autism. This may look like a temper tantrum, but there are many clues from behind the scenes that let us know this behavior came from autism disorders (mainly sensory processing disorder) & not just "brattyness." We had just gotten back from the grocery store, & he was hot and overwhelmed by site, motion & sound. He immediately started trying to "build things" with boxes when we got home, instead of relaxing & trying to calm down out of the overload of sensation. This is the typical result. Thank goodness this didn't happen in public - that is the worst.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• autism
• autistic meltdown
• sensory overload
• autism tantrum

[2012StarShooting]

The American Psychiatric Association are raising the bar of what defines autism. Your son may be at risk to be off the autistic definition and may have his benefits cut.

[sherryness]

@2012StarShooting What benefits? He doesn't get any.

[andrewkilroyable]

Most of the time he's just moving boxes around. What gives?

[sherryness]

@andrewkilroyable It's hard to tell, but I'm sitting in a chair in front of him and he is hitting my legs and shoving the boxes into my legs and throwing them at me. I'm just not physically responding because it's best to stay as calm as possible. I don't know what you mean by "what gives?" Do you mean why is he doing it? He's having a meltdown - and the boxes happened to be the topic when it hit. He accidentally tore a box that he liked which triggered it.

[andrewkilroyable]

@sherryness I said by what gives as I am not talking about your description, not his. You say you're showing a video of him havign a meltdown, yet the supposed evidence of a prolonged outburst isn't even in the video.

You responded to the what gives bit with a thin skin eh?

[sherryness]

@andrewkilroyable Thin skin about what? I didn't find anything negative or critical about your saying "what gives." I just really didn't know what you were referring to and wanted to address the right thing. This video shows most of the meltdown and him finally calming down. I'm not sure what else you're looking for.

[LuvRK9s]

@VicRatza Parents post these videos to help other parents and caregivers out there know they aren't alone and really to educate the public. Obviously.

[casey15ification]

Oh my God, poor kid, I have Sensory Processing Disorder and Aspergers also Iand it's hell going out into public places, besides boxes I would suggest getting him a weighted blanket from a place called the Magic Blanket. I have two. 've been put into hospital program because of anxiety and angry thoughts, anger is pretty common with AS, he will be able to control anger better with age( im 16 btw)

[anne1024]

Why do you do this to the kid? Annoying him with sarcastic comments and filming him while he is saying that he has enough of everything? This really annoy me.

Anyway, his meltdown doesn't look bad at all, more like annoyance building up due to the annoying comments (I would get very annoyed too!)

[blfender]

Thanks for sharing. This is very much like some of the meltdowns my 7 year old has. They seem very similar as my son says the same things ... The box being torn is exactly what would set my son off because uses them to build things.

[ArticaSkylarKennedy]

Don't negociate!

[themostdismal]

There's too much going on in that room. Clear it out, that should help tons.

[lost619]

@keeranize he's autistic, I know there's some kids out there that need a tap to the hand every now and again, but with any kind of disability u need to be careful. He's autistic, smacking him in that situation will just make things worse, she did right trying to explain to him :)

[KillinDaWelfareMCs]

@NoahDeathbreeze move out. Or send them to a home.

[travelplus1]

Does your son wear colored underwear?

[GambinoFanbino]

My 10 year old is severely autistic.....I hate to say it, but I think your son's behavior should not be tolerated....he is getting attention from you for behaving that way.....he's obviously aware of what he is doing, is highly verbal, and just getting away with it.....My son cannot speak, and has severe behavioral issues....when he does something that is unacceptable, I deal with it....the best way is planned ignoring.....then over correction....make him clean all that mess up, and then some

[2012StarShooting]

@sherryness Just warning those who have benefits then. But just letting you know the APA is going to change the definition of autism.

Google "APA changing definition of autism"