I have a 5 y/o son with Autism as well as hyperactivity. His father has ADD and ADD and ADHD are heavy in his father's family. My side of the family is heavy in ADD. Although my son has not been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD I am highly suspect that he has it. I understand Autistic children are hyper and are more energentic than non-autistic children. A little background....he has high functioning autism....he has the hand flapping when he is excited, pinches when overly excited or wanting attention, and has a speech delay - he speaks at about the 2-3 year level....some 5 word sentences but only understanable by those around him dailty. He is on the GFCF diet as well as in special education (3rd year) and undergoing the ABA therapy while at school.
My question is this....what can I do to curb the hyperactivity? At times it's out of control - he's all over the place and he screams (yes, this is another part of the Autism)...he is also very oppositional (again, not diagnosed by suspected). I'm very torn at the idea of using Ritalin or any other behavioral drugs but my boyfriend wants me to try them. His father, however, is opposed. If it helped and could help in his progress by keeping him focused I'm all for it...yet, at the same time - I'm not a pill pusher and don't want my child walking around like a zombie. I've done research via the internet and am finding varying reports....behavior altering drugs can be determintal for autistic children and that it can help.
Anyone out there tried Ritalin, Adderall, etc with their autistic children? Did it help? Would you recommend it?
I am going to talk to his pediatrician tomorrow and see what she thinks...but I need advice from those who deal with this every day at home....not what the medical field says.
Thank you in advance! ANY suggestions or help are appreciated!
His dad doesn't want meds,
His dad doesn't want meds, boyfriend does. Been there. Did not do meds, will not do it (in spite of psychologist, school, family, pediatrician all tell me that if i wanted him to have a normal life, i would have to). Not that it is never called for, I do know kids with weapon and self injury issues. My son is 8 now and we've been in therapies since 2 years old but only dx'd 6 months ago, we started biomed at the same time. I have a DAN! appt in a couple weeks. I'd bet money that my son has lost his dx. (Been doing biomed on my own while waiting on list).
Major fights are part of this dx, but I would say that if you are asking for advice you already have an instinct. FOLLOW THAT. I do understand that sometimes kids are so violent that they need to be subdued and we don't know yet how to do that naturally.
But you also need to understand that a boyfriend pushing you to medicate is a big issue (unless you have done DAN protocol and GFCF etc etc). You know this or else you wouldn't have mentioned it. My own man has always been hard on my ASD son (he's not his bio-dad). But a few months ago when I came home hysterical from Children's hospital in Richmond....after the dx....he has been there. He dismissed the Risperda/Abilify solution faster than I didi. I really hope you follow your gut on this. Ignore the exes and the boyfriends. You know your kids better than anyone, just don't get weak. My best to you.
How did you go at the
How did you go at the paed?
Confused, upset, shocked??
Let us know how you're doing??
My heart goes out to you and hope you are fine!
To curb hyperactivity, well take your child on really really long walks, (can he walk?).
Tire him out physically and you can get some benefits too.
Absolutely no tv as it's a stimulant,
take away toys and gadgets and calm the environment. Keep it to one or two puzzles, some books and change daily.
Don't talk, don't look at him, look laterally and smile inwards.
Read some books for yourself, something that you can lose yourself in, a thriller, a romantic novel.
Take care of yourself, give your self a bath.
Don't worry about your boyfriend, he'll be fine.
These are things I do and have done and I always go back to these basics when things get tough. My daughter is hyper, she loves her scooter so I take her on long walks with it and I run along. (At the moment I'm drinking wine so I may come across as a know all but I mean well).
Hi Spri, Just so you'll know
Hi Spri, Just so you'll know for some families like ours a long walk is almost impossible. My son will wander off,
or more like run off and both my husband & I have diabetes. A drop in blood sugar is very dangerous for us.
Obviously your daughter is pretty high functioning and thats wonderful but alot of us arent so lucky. Medication
isnt for every body or ever situation but it can help =)
That's a difficult situation
That's a difficult situation you have.
Sorry to hear that walking is difficult.
My husband has a heart condition
and he takes his puffer with him on our walks.
My daughter isn't high functioning she's what the paed called
mentally retarted, below 70 IQ.
Sounds like we're in the
Sounds like we're in the same boat. My son has severe autism, severe retardation and a horrible seizure
disorder. My husband had a heart attack when he was 43. He's 56 now and doing okay. He lost weight,
and quict smoking. You must be new, I havent seen you here before. Welcome =)
Hello, I have recently just
Hello,
I have recently just graduated from college with a BS in psychology and a concentration in elementary and special education. Currently, I am working on my masters and taking a class on autism. I would like to start off my saying that the autism spectrum in fascinating to me. Before this class, I did not know much about autism but now that I am learning more I am so intrigued. Based on my background in psychology I know that many times autism can be comorbid with other things such as ADD, ADHD, anxiety, etc. Therefore, I was not surprised to read that your son may have ADD/ADHD. Most autistic children are very active so this is probably very common. I saw that someone else mentioned diet. I also think that is something important to look at. It many be possible that some of the foods he his eating are causing some hyperactivity. Regardless, I know that there are many assistive technologies and stimulants that can really work wonders with children who have autism. Things such as a weighted vest, something he could hold/ squeeze in his hand, and technologies that are meant to stimulate may benefit your child greatly. I know you said that he is in therapy and that is great! I would assume the therapist would be able to make some great suggestions as well. In conclusion, I believe that for any child with or without ADHD and or autism stimulation is key. Their minds are young and their brain is still making many connections. Activities where they are actively engaged are critical.
Thank you so much for your
Thank you so much for your helpful response. I'm not the poster of this question but I laud your reply and your advice. From my perspective, you are more well informed than most by far. I am so happy to see the new grads actually caring about this "situation" - I myself have 2 ASD kids.
I don't think too much
I don't think too much stimualtion is the key either. I reckon you gotta know when to back off and give the kid some space too.
I agree. A lot of times the
I agree. A lot of times the child will let you know when enough is enough.
Have you tried Sensory Input
Have you tried Sensory Input or Sensory Experiences? Talk with an Occupational Therapist as they are the experts in that area. Also, try a google search for sensory processing disorder and see what strategies they have. Even if your son does not have a sensory processing disorder, some of the techniques they suggest may help anyway. Carol Kranowitz has a great book out about that topic and provides many ideas for parents. If you try this in addition to the other things you are trying, you can't go wrong for trying!
AutismClassroom.com
Question. Discuss. Learn.
AutismClassroom.comQuestion.
AutismClassroom.com
Question. Discuss. Learn.
I have been working as a
I have been working as a tutor for children with autism, and your child sounds a lot like one of "my" kids. For what it is worth, that child's mom gave him supplements of 5HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan), and that seemed to help a lot. She mixed the powder from the caplets into his favorite juice. It calmed him down and his reactions to stimuli were much more even. His aggressive behaviors nearly disappeared. The downside to 5HTP is that it can decrease appetite, so if your child is a slight eater, you might not want to try it. As this particular child's tutor, I can say that I saw a very clear response to the supplement, and I believe it would be worth your time to look into it as an alternative to Ritalin, Adderall, etc. Good luck!
How did the mom figure out
How did the mom figure out to give her son 5HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)? Was this something a doctor recommended -- does it require a prescription? Is it an OTC drug and where did she obtain it?
You can get 5HTP over the
You can get 5HTP over the counter. I think even WalMart carries it. One psychiatrist we knew recommended it and said it worked wonders for her autistic daughter.
We have used the diets for
We have used the diets for my kids with great success. So I think they are worth a try. We have also introduced Naturopathic (sp?) remedies for my children that have had a great impact as well. The problem is, until your little one can tell you how he feels, physically, how can you be certain what you are giving him is helping or hurting? My wife and I have had this discussion many times and cannot seem to find an answer. We feel like our boys are a chemistry experiment at times. It is really hard to know what is best.
I know one thing is for sure, our boys act out when they are in a chaotic setting or a setting that does not have structure. During times of hyperactivity, ask your self if he is trying to "cope" with somthing that is a sensory overload. He may be acting out to regulate himself. Not to say that you do not have structure in your home, but try redirecting to activites he likes. Make lists and keep him engaged until he is more calm. Just a thought.
While you are considering
While you are considering all of your options, please take a look at the food and non-food products to which your son is being exposed.
Many years ago I realized that even a small amount of food dye was enough to make my 5 year old daughter go ballistic! One gum ball, a spoonful of Jell-O, or a sip of Kool-Aid really did a number on her.
My husband's reactions to food dyes were horrible migraine headaches that could last for days. He hasn't had a migraine since we ditched the dyes.
You can find them listed on food products under names like "yellow 5" and "red 40" or under "lakes" or "FD&C blue 2." Any time you see the name of a color, followed by a number, that means it is a dye made from petroleum, and it only takes a tiny amount to set off some children.
It isn't just food and beverages...toothpaste, mouthwash, children's vitamins and medicines (including drugs for ADHD) may contain with these chemicals.
Other additives to ditch include artificial flavors, aspartame, MSG and nitrites.
Children with autism may have many sensitivities, as I am sure you know. But while removing synthetic chemicals like these might be only one of many things you will need to do, it is quite simple to do and has no down side.
The good news is that behavior is generally the first thing that responds to the removal of the worst of the additives. A child who had multiple problems might only have an improvement in behavior, but that's generally welcomed.
Since you are already GF/CF chances are you are not using many foods with dyes and other additives, but they are sneaky and might be found in things like toothpaste.
Also, other things made from petroleum could be affecting your child...perfumes and "plug-ins" are huge offenders.
You can find more information at www.feingold.org, including the many studies that have shown the harmful effects of food dyes -- not just the behavior and learning problems they can bring on, but the many ways they can damage our bodies: immune system damage, nerve damage, reproductive damage, DNA damage, and cancer, as well as asthma, hives, ear infections, to name a few.
As a result of the most recent study (a British study showing that food dyes can bring on ADD and ADHD behavior in most kids) food manufacturers in the UK are removing the dyes and other unwanted additives.
The European Union will be requiring companies to include warning lables on foods that contain these chemicals.
That website
That website www.feingold.org sounds like a very helpful resource. I'm going to add it to our links page here.
When I was little (in the '70s) I was very hyper to the point that I would wear out all of my shoes in a short period of time. The doctor had my parents remove sugar and red dyes from my diet. Also, sometimes my parents would give me caffeine because stimulants would have the opposite effect on me.
Caffeine has the same
Caffeine has the same calming effect on my son - although I got lots of strange comments from other parents in his kindergarten when they heard I was sending him off to school everyday with a cup or two of coffee in him. We went to the caffeine pills for awhile. After couple of years though, they seemed to have no noticeable effect. The school asked for Ritalin once, but he was never really considered ADHD by his doctor anyway, so the whole issue just kind of died.
I think his doc was right, since he can concentrate on things for the longest time - the real difficulty early on was getting him to concentrate on the "right" part of the task at hand. He noticed too many of the small details usually to see the bigger picture or pattern or make generalizations. The "one of these things" game from Sesame Street was particularly hard for him, since he would only focus on all the differences, instead of the things that put 3 of them into a "group." Since he was over focused on details, it seemed to all of us outsiders that he was "distracted," but the two are really very different things.
SPEEKING OF COFFEE... I just
SPEEKING OF COFFEE... I just made mocha frappuccinos for Debbie (our speech therapist) & I. I gave Marcel
some doubting he'd like it or even try it but he did and he does lol =) If its possible my father in law is gigglin
in his grave, he was a BIG coffee drinker.
LOL okay now Im feeling old.
LOL okay now Im feeling old. I was in high school in the 70s.
Well, I thought high school
Well, I thought high school kids were beyond cool back in the 70's.
I thought I was behaving
I thought I was behaving myself since I didnt mention anything about weed or bell bottom pants lol =)~~~
We felt the same way about
We felt the same way about drugs for our almost 5 yr old son. But, some of his tantrums started getting worse and there is the fact that he weighs 80 lbs and growing. So, I asked some other local parents who I know medicate their ASD kids and got a referral to a child psychiatrist. Prior to that I did not know that the pediatrician does not prescribe drugs to help with autism. You have to get them from a specialized doctor like a child psychiatrist. (If other people's experiences are different, please add them in a reply).
My husband is not very keen AT ALL about giving drugs to our son, but there came a point where we felt that we needed to do SOMETHING before things got beyond the point where we could handle them.
The psychiatrist recommended a drug that lowers blood pressure, is non-addictive, and has no scary side effects. (So, since it is used for something other than the manufacturer intended, that is called "off label use") Even better, this same drug is used to treat people who develop tics (muscle spasms) from taking anti-psychotic drugs for long periods of time.
In addition to making my son a little bit calmer, this medication seems to be helping my sons language. He's been on the medication for two weeks and his language has surprised us. I'm really glad that I tried SOMETHING and that it worked positively toward change. I wish I had done this two or more years ago.
There are so many different medications out there. I would recommend making an appointment with a child psychiatrist or whoever your pediatrician or local special needs parents refer you to. Then you can ask all the questions you like and perhaps get a list of your options. Definitely ask about side effects and how the drugs are administered. It couldn't hurt to at least know what your options are.
As an adult who has adhd the
As an adult who has adhd the medication has worked wonders. This has been the most focused I have ever been. I no longer run around my house because I am so much calmer. When I was going to college people told me that I had the amount of energy of a 1000 speed addicts. The downside to having adhd is that I was angry all of the time. I would be happy one minute and angry the next minute. Therefore once I was on medication I was much calmer. I am able to sit still in a 3 hour My parents and teachers always knew that I was a little off, however since I was enrolled in a rather larger school district, I slipped through the cracks. So when I really started to notice that I could not pay attention I went to the doctors. First the doctors had put me on adderall extended release 30 mg. However, I was experiencing joint pain which the adderall can induce so they put me on cymbalta. Although Cymbalta is an anit-depressant, it targets the norephineprhine which the lack of norephinephrine in the brain is what causes ADHD. So cymbalta is the medication that i am taking currently I have been taking it for 6 months and would not go back to Adderall. When I was on the Adderall it had both positve and negative effects but for me it was too over stimulating. One negative aspect was that while on it I would still get moody where as on the cymbalta I process information differently and am less likely to jump to conclusions.
At one point I also took Ritalin but that caused constipation to the point where I was in the emergency room because my stomach was spaziming really bad.
My son takes clonidine to
My son takes clonidine to calm down but what really helps is a stimulant. He's going to be starting a new one
this week. The problem with stimulants is it cuts the appetite AND in my sons case made his seizures much
worse so his doctor put him on a second anti seizure medicine to protect him. He had three grand mal seizures
March 25th of this year. There's a ten percent chance of a seizure but we figure its worth the risk and if he
does have one it'll be a pedi mal, not a huge seizure. My sons developmental doctor is WONDERFUL, caring.
I have ADHD. He's not condescending like some doctors can be to an adult with ADHD. Thank God your son can
talk AT ALL. My son is non verbal. I suggest you keep things that he can hurt you with out of his reach. The new
medication is called Focalin xr. Adderall worked for awhile but then he got too skinny. I dumped all the Ritalin
down the sink when he had his seizures. Uh this time we're going with the Focalin & if he loses too much his
doctor will put him on a little Risperdal which helps but can really pack on the pounds. Dr Fierro felt so bad
because Marcel has been on 13 different medications in the last few years. My best advice is make sure you
really like your sons doctor. I hug Dr Fierro. He is sooooo cool. I couldnt have asked for a better doctor for my
son. Good luck and welcome to the group =)
Diet seems to be a factor
Diet seems to be a factor for us. We are doing the SCD now, but started with GFCF and I have no clue if it really does the biological things DAN doctors say and maybe it's just eating good non-processed foods, no dyes, sugar, etc., etc. Caroline is about a gazillion times calmer, plus loves to eat now. She eats anything we put in front of her. I would have bet everything I own that she would not be snacking on carrots and green beans if someone had told me that before we started this stuff.
I thought the diet would be impossible from the stuff I read, but it's really been no big deal.
I told story here last week of waiting in line at Wal-Mart. I tried it again last week after ABA to see if it was a fluke. She got a new movie for doing so good. I told her she would beforehand if she did good. This time, went to Wal-Mart, picked out the most expensive movie there :-) (Nemo Special Edition since she enjoyed seeing the fish at the fair), walked thru the toy department again to test her. She was very interested in the toys, but we kept on walking. I picked a long line. There were 7 people. One lady had about 15 shirts, which the clerk meticulously folded (slow as Christmas), another guy with shirts, a large lady with about 50 snack and candy items, etc. We waited in line about 10 minutes. She put movie on the conveyor belt herself and waited nicely (letting it out of her possession also probably would not have happened in the past). She did say "LET'S GO" and "GO" loudly two or three times, but waited nicely.
A few months ago, I would never have imagined we could do this or that I would purposely put us in that situation if it could at all be avoided. I was so proud. Who would have thunk it? Waiting in line at Wal-mart ... a great day.
We are also doing Methyl B12. I have no idea if diet, b-12, other is the biggest factor and really don't care. Calmer to the Nth degree. Taking whatever I can get here. A lot of the things we are seeing are things beyond behavioral interventions we have worked on. She is just more interested in the rest of the world.
PS - We are on seizure meds too.
Fielding J. Hurst
http://autismretort.com
http://autismretort.com/blog
http://autismparents.net
Your philosophy seems to
Your philosophy seems to certainly be working! I would stick with it.