Weighted things, we love our weighted things in our house!!! I made a giant wheat bag and put a head, arms and legs on it and she had a "cuddle friend". I used 1.5kg wheat and added some stuffed animal stuffing in it. It was summer and she wouldn't use a blanket at night, so I made this to drape over her abdomen. I also have a weighted snake from sensorytools that drapes over her shoulders as she wouldn't wear the vest. She loves it, we also have a weighted turtle to pop on her lap at school or at night in front of the telly.
If M won't sleep at night, I will often lay on her legs and she falls straight to sleep. Its all part of the sensory processing disorder which is common amongst ASD kiddos. When she is trying to rest, she feels as though she is floating and dizzy which then makes it impossible to lay still... the weight gives them grounding and its awesome.
I've never heard of that Christy? Sounds like something I should try... Where do you buy the weighted things from?
I was reminded to give c'link a call the other day for forms, so am waiting for them in the mail for the gp on Tuesday.
Rang for Visual testing & thats booked for April 15. Speech can't give me a date (sp probably 3ish months), Hearing also nothing right now. Her DH has just passed away & they don't know when she'll be back at work, should still be able to get done in the next few weeks though. & Speechy told me that OT usually takes around 6 months
If I can get approval for payments from c'link, I will try doing some of it privately.
Bri's been really, really frusterating the past week or so. Needing noise constantly. I'm not a fan of noise. I like the quiet.
You can make them if you want Clover. It's all about how deep pressure provides calm. Or you can google them. There's one place in Australia that does it online from what I remember.
Anyway... I don't know why this is the first time I've posted in this thread. I think I've deliberately stayed away - I know it's meant to be all supportive and stuff but I find it a bit depressing sometimes, or perhaps it makes it more real *sigh*. I've really come to understand how much other people don't understand ASD kids, particular professionals who I would think should spend more time thinking about it as it can determine their effectiveness.
I had a meeting yesterday with DD's school about her behavioural ticks that have started to show up. I get the "but she's not like that here" implied aka "it's not us, it must be something going on at home", despite these things only happening on school days, not weekends. I tried to explain how she's "on" at school, and uses up all her tank of self-control and keeping it together, so that by the time she gets home the tank is empty and she's in her "safe" place and then just lets go. They, of course, just didn't get it. They also pointed out how calmly she was playing with the blocks while we were talking. She was stacking them of course, which I pointed out, and they're like... "so... and your point is?" Gah! All they could see was that she was calm therefore was able to sit there stacking, not that she was calm because she was stacking. I then have to point out that that means we should be asking why does she feel the need to stack, an activity that is recognised as a tool ASD kids use to calm themselves? It's because she is anxious, otherwise I know she would play with them differently. I don't know what is worse sometimes, the meltdown where everyone can see they're not coping, or the huge increase in calm repetitiveness that indicates an underlying turmoil? One of course is more "socially acceptable" because it doesn't effect anyone else but the kid that is autistic (and their family), which is quite ironic, seeing egocentric theory of mind is meant to be a characteristic of autism itself and it's what everyone else is pushing iykwim.
Hi girls, sorry for the selfish post, but I've noticed my DD most of the time has quite large pupils. Does anyone elses child have this? I'm wondering if it could be linked to ASD?
Freya- OTs are awesome and can diagnose the SPD and give you an idea if they suspect ASD as well. My OT is fantastic and specialises in SPD and ASD kids so really understands them.
Riley is having trouble at preschool, I still don't think they fully understand his SPD and keep trying to tell me its aspergers (honey I paid $425 for an ASD specialising psychologist and he said it wasn't so I think we can rule it out) He plays well for a while then something sets him off and he pushes another child or hits, I am constantly reinforcing to him "hands down, no hitting, hands to yourself" but obviously to no avail. Yesterday the preschool said he had a great day, he usually is worse on Fridays cause he is more tired. I said that was cause I was off sick and he got to sleep in more- feeling great now, obviously if I didn't work full time he'd be better
mrsmac, I hear you.... M is always worse when I work more... when I work more than 4 days a week. It doesn't necessarily have to do with me being home, but more that I'm not thinking about other stuff and have my mind preoccupied. Does that make sense?
We are still looking for somewhere to live atm. We have until May to get out of our house, but I started looking 3 weeks ago. So far we've been rejected from 10 places. Its demoralising and M isn't coping. She knows now that we have to move, and this week screamed for 2 hours because she wanted somewhere with stairs....
urgh.....
Well our appointment went really well. I highly recommend skillbuilders to everyone, they have such a great range. If you can get in there, even better! We sat down and looked through all the different things and tried to try a few things on. In the end we decided that DS1 would probably take better to them in his own environment so we ordered them anyway.
On order we have...
a weighted vest, a weighted blanket, a weighted neck wrap, a scooter board, a weighted lap bag and a ball (can't think of the name, but it has little handles and you bounce around on it)
We bought home with us...
a body sox, a bilibo, a weighted belt, a vibrating mouth toy, a cushion for sitting at the table and a box of fidget toys.
I can't wait to get all the weighted things! He's been wearing the weighted belt most of the morning (on and off) and it's amazing! he body sox is just awesome too. He used the vibrating mouth toy last night and slept for about 7 hours!!!!! WOOHOOO.
DS1's OT diagnosed the SPD, the only 'sense' that is working correctly is his visual sense, which is kinda funny because he has a (very) small issue with his sight (just being monitored atm, can't remember if he's long or short sighted lol - I know bad that I can't remember, but it's really not important atm I'll let the ophthalmologist worry about it)
Mama Spice, DS1 has dilated pupils too, I thought it was just him lol.
Meow, good to hear from you, I hope things settle in well for you. DS1 hates baths and haircuts too So no advice there.
Bookmarks