In search for answers.....

[Sammy4AJ]

Hello Everyone.

Congratulations everyone for supporting each other in this struggle to help our children.

I am Sammy, mother of a 6 yr old boy AJ who was diagnosed with autism and ADHD when he was three. I have been taking him for OT and speech therapies since he was three, but have so many unanswered questions in my mind about how I can effectively address his shortcomings. They have been changing from the time we diagnosed him but one big challenge for me right now is that he is continuously singing something, either it is rhymes from school or just specific syllables. My son is very verbal and a good reader( doesn’t comprhend at the same level) . SO he stimming even on specific words from books or certain sounds. It seems as if he is doing it to shut off auditory stimulus form outside. I have tried music therapy(at home), but realized that he is stimming on that music as well. It is very bothering and frustrating that i am not able to help him in this regard. I have talked to many people and therapists but couldn’t find a convincing answer as to why he is doing what he is doing. I am hoping this forum will help me communicate with parents who are traveling in a similar path and how you have found a solution to this specific issue.

 

[Isadoorian]

Welcome to the Forums! I hope you make new friends and enjoy your stay in the process!

You'll find lots of support here. Many like yourself have come to seek guidance and support for their loved ones who're also on the spectrum.

 

[Nitro]

Hi Sammy

 

[Fino]

Could you describe specifically the problems this behavior causes?

And what were the unconvincing answers you received?

My wild guess is that he's doing it because he enjoys it.

Welcome!

 

[clg114]

Welcome to Autism Forums!

 

[Kyou Nukui]

Why do we stim? For me it's for coping with anxiety and restlessness, I think.

 

[Major Tom]

Welcome to the forums! I also have a son who is 6 with autism, intellectual disability and ADHD. I've found that certain things you cannot control, you have to wait for them to outgrow it, or perhaps they never will. My son is non verbal and he used to do this shrieking/screeching that was so hard for me to handle, but recently he stopped doing that! No amount of anything would make him stop before, he just had to outgrow it. Also, if anything, and you probably know this already, trying to stop a stim just causes more problems, one thing you could do is try to channel that nervous (or whatever kind) of energy into something productive. Recently my son started to do puzzles, and soon after the shrieking stopped. I think he was just looking for some kind of outlet for all his pent up energy. In doing puzzles, he found it.
Good luck! Any questions or comments, feel free to reply back or check in the chatroom, I tend to frequent there.

 

[Loren]

Welcome!

 

[Tom]

Hi & Welcome,
We have some NT parents of children on the spectrum but most members here are just on the spectrum themselves. A few are both. Something to keep in mind when framing your questions. I have heard of autism children frequently repeating words and phrases. I have an autistic nephew who was very attached to singing, possibly because his mom always sang to him as a way of calming him down to sleep. He went on to be a super talented musician. It sounds logical that it is some form of stimming. But kids also like to play, and I wonder if it is also a form of that.