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Autism is a structural difference in the brain with a strong genetic component. People on the autism spectrum have brains that don't go through the normal culling of brain cells after birth that neurotypical brains do. Although autistic brains do go through a culling at a later age, they tend to be denser than normal brains with more brain cells.
People on the autism spectrum tend to have sensory processing differences. Some are highly sensitive to loud noises, colors, textures, or other sensory stimuli and are called "sensory avoiders" because they try to get away from stimuli that are too disturbing. Others on the spectrum are called "sensory seekers" because they pursue high levels of sensory input by, say, eating spicy foods or running around and crashing into things. Sensory seekers seem to need proprioceptive feedback in order to calm down and re-equilibriate.
There are places that sell compression vests and jackets, sometimes with weights. Those can run about $50-150. Compression vests are more for long term wear, say during the school day to help sensory seekers feel secure and able to concentrate.
This is a quick fix that works for us when my 3 year old can't seem to calm himself. I can't always drop everything and give him deep pressure massage for 20 minutes if he's freaking out, and this is another option.
Note: if you feel the urge to leave a comment or send me a note about how you heard that autism is caused by vaccines, poor nutrition, gluten intolerance, food additives, or poor parenting... just don't.
People on the autism spectrum tend to have sensory processing differences. Some are highly sensitive to loud noises, colors, textures, or other sensory stimuli and are called "sensory avoiders" because they try to get away from stimuli that are too disturbing. Others on the spectrum are called "sensory seekers" because they pursue high levels of sensory input by, say, eating spicy foods or running around and crashing into things. Sensory seekers seem to need proprioceptive feedback in order to calm down and re-equilibriate.
There are places that sell compression vests and jackets, sometimes with weights. Those can run about $50-150. Compression vests are more for long term wear, say during the school day to help sensory seekers feel secure and able to concentrate.
This is a quick fix that works for us when my 3 year old can't seem to calm himself. I can't always drop everything and give him deep pressure massage for 20 minutes if he's freaking out, and this is another option.
Note: if you feel the urge to leave a comment or send me a note about how you heard that autism is caused by vaccines, poor nutrition, gluten intolerance, food additives, or poor parenting... just don't.
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nylons or tights
a sensory seeker toddler who is starting to get hyper, possibly running around, dumping things out, throwing things, and/or hollering
This sounds easy but sometimes it's tough to find a pair of tights when there's a 3 year old tornado in your house. My only advice is to hurry. When you have your pair of tights, pick up the toddler and hold him tightly. Don't yell or act angry; he's not trying to be naughty, and your yelling will make his brain freak out even more.
When he's still enough for you to begin, hold one foot of the tights by his right armpit and over his left shoulder. Pull rather tightly, but not tight enough to bruise. When the tights are back to his right armpit, simply wrap them over the loose foot end to secure it. Once you've reached that point, the rest of this should be pretty easy.
nylons or tights
a sensory seeker toddler who is starting to get hyper, possibly running around, dumping things out, throwing things, and/or hollering
This sounds easy but sometimes it's tough to find a pair of tights when there's a 3 year old tornado in your house. My only advice is to hurry. When you have your pair of tights, pick up the toddler and hold him tightly. Don't yell or act angry; he's not trying to be naughty, and your yelling will make his brain freak out even more.
When he's still enough for you to begin, hold one foot of the tights by his right armpit and over his left shoulder. Pull rather tightly, but not tight enough to bruise. When the tights are back to his right armpit, simply wrap them over the loose foot end to secure it. Once you've reached that point, the rest of this should be pretty easy.
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Conny
Also, your son is so cute!
When I tried to swaddle my daughter, she wanted no part of it. It did not calm her; she found the pressure disturbing and was strong enough (and stubborn enough) to get out of my best swaddling job.
BOTH of these children have Autism. Both present at the higher functioning end of the scale, with my daughter much closer to normal than my son. If your child is calmed by deep pressure, this looks like a fantastic method to address it without dropping a packet on the latest craze product. Props to the OP.
On another note, did you also make his shirt? If you did, that's worthy of an instructable in itself!
I've heard of hosiery being used to temporarily replace a fan belt on a car, but I love your use more :P
I'm sure your son will appreciate your contribution to other peoples understanding as well. It is from people who do this (share in spite of misunderstandings) that we are finally overcoming some of the stigmas involved. As my husband and I say, we'd rather people knew and were given the chance of understanding my occasionally very odd reactions than to leave them in the dark and contribute to further misunderstading of these illnesses and syndromes.
Breat 'ible by the way. I may just adapt it for myself. Under my clothes though, so my co-workers don't think I'm stranger than they already do now. :-)
Great idea with the stocking.
I wouldn't say you have to just plow through anything; it's not always possible to wear earplugs, but sometimes having something to distract you works. My husband wears headphones often in order to zone out when things are stressful or loud. I suppose the school would frown on allowing your son to have a little ipod with headphones while on the bus or in the cafeteria... although it's worth a shot to ask because of ADA compliance - I don't know which accommodations the law designates.
Is there something in particular your son seems to enjoy holding onto or touching? A little square of soft fabric, a small toy cars with wheels he can spin, a bristly brush he can touch, a beanbag full of metal BBs (metal is heavy and provides more proprioceptive feedback from the weight in his hand), a rubbery squish ball? Sometimes it helps to have something just in your pocket you can touch to distract from the bothersome stimuli.
Distraction isn't as effective as removing the bothersome stimuli, but when it's not possible to get away from the noise, it's better than nothing. People who have trouble filtering stimuli can't "just ignore the noise" like the people who have neurotypical brains that filter out the noise automatically.