Auditory Stimulation Helps and Hurts and Autistic ChildU

Sounds are a part of our everyday life, and so when dealing with an autistic child who has sensory problems, sound is one of the first things you should learn to control, especially in a learning environment.

Sound can both be hurtful and helpful for an autistic child. Because each autistic individual is different, you must closely observe him or her to find out what types of reactions you can expect from auditory sensory stimulation.

Loud or frightening sounds may be the most difficult type of sensory stimulation in an autistic child's life. Many of our routine daily activities include such sounds, hurting the growth process. Autistic children can not and will not learn if they are frightened. For example, parents often find that they have a difficult time toilet training their autistic children. This may be due to the scary sound of the toilet flushing; witch could be overpowering to and autistic child. Instead, try using a potty seat away from the actual toilet until they get used to the idea.

Another example is loud or crunchy foods. If your autistic child is a picky eater, try to notice specifically which foods he or she blatantly refuses to eat. Sometimes, food simply sounds too loud when crunching in an autistic child's mouth, and these loud noises can hurt his or her ears. If this is the case with your child, provide alternative soft foods instead of crunchy carrots, apples, or potato chips.

Other loud sounds, such as a vacuum cleaner, may hurt your child's ears. Try to do these activities when he or she is not in the room, or consider providing your child with earplugs that he or she can use if the world gets too loud.

Sounds can also cause fixation. Some children, for example, constantly hum and seem fixated on the sights and sounds of lawn mowers. Use this fixation to be beneficial. For example, read stories about lawn mowers or use the humming in conjunction with a song. Music is a great way in which autistic individuals can learn, because sound is a form of non verbal communication. Teachers and parents should use this tool in learning environments. The key is to make sound work for you and your child.

Autism is a difficult disorder to handle, so by being sensitive to your child's specific needs, you can help him or her learn to deal with the sounds of everyday life.

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Toilet Training the Autistic Child

Toilet training any toddler can be an adventuresome and tiring ordeal. There are many methods that have hit the markets lately and these methods can range anywhere between nappies (diapers) that change colour when wet to musical toilets that reward the child with music when they use them. This task is more difficult when your child has autism.

When communication is a problem, as it is with most autistic children, letting an adult know they need to use the toilet can be almost impossible endeavour. Some autistic children reach the double figures in age before they learn to ask for and to use the toilet.

Most autistic children do not have the skill and sometimes the desire to mimic or imitate a behaviour. Just because the parents are using the toilet and they demonstrate the behaviour, the autistic child will refuse or not get the connection between the right or wrong of toilet training. Most autistic children’s schedule is full and when you add something new to the schedule,it usually upsets them emotionally. The addition of toilet training to their regimental routine could cause out right rebellion and bad behaviour because they do not want to get outside of their normal daily activity.

If you are having trouble toilet training your autistic child, you might want to observe them for a few days before you try again. Watch and see if the child actually notices when they soil themselves. Do they reposition themselves so that they are not uncomfortable after an accident? Some autistic children feel natural in their own waste while other will react by taking off their clothes.

If your child is ignoring their soiling, consult with a doctor to see if your child has a medical condition that would prevent them from recognising the feeling they are experiencing.
Now here is your part in toilet training. You need to relax and not stress over it. Time will make it happen and your stress and high emotion will only increase your child’s stress. Even the most conscious parent will overreact when they have to change yet another nappy.

If your child sees it’s no big deal for you, then they can relax and let the behaviour come naturally. You do have to stay diligent to get the job done though. If your child is not toilet trained by school age, limitations may be set for opportunities for their education and further socialisation.

One method is to watch what your child does before they soil themselves. Write down a list of their behaviour, what they do ,and when they do it. If you realise that your child gets up in the morning and drinks a glass of juice and twenty minutes later they soil themselves, then you have something to work with.

If the child goes through the same routine, you can put the child on the toilet during the time they normally soil themselves and see what happens. Once you get the morning soiling scheduled, add on an afternoon and evening.

Pretty soon the body will work out the system even though the child does not. It is repeated, routine behaviour and eventually the child will be bought in.

Does this sound like a lot of hard work? It is. Even parents of non-autistic children stress and labour over potty training their child. Each parent will give you a different bit of advice about what worked for them, but you as a parent of an autistic child know what extra you are in for.

Be patient. Try different methods and remember that you have probably never seen a teenager in pampers. It just takes time and patience.

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