• Replies 6 replies
  • Subscribers 26 subscribers
  • Views 70 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Common Occurrence Triggers

MattH13

Good evening.

My daughter is 4 and is diagnosed with ASD.

One of her main triggers for meltdowns is seeing Pushchairs or prams. She can become very frustrated and throw herself to the floor.

We try to keep her calm and have tried to de-sensitise her by showing photos and videos of pushchairs but no luck so far.

Has anyone had to deal with something similar? We would be willing to go privately if anyone had a contact.

Thank you

  • I sympathise with your daughter as (from my perspective) I experience the multi-wheeled high-pitched scratchy / rattling sound effect of stroller / modern pushchair wheels across varying terrain to be really grating and distracting (short YouTube video demonstrating the sound effect of stroller wheels):

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X9pR8DN04Q4

    In and around retail parks / School set down / pick up times etc., when families are likely to make most use of these pieces of equipment - my preference is "ear defenders / ANC headphones On" - to help dull the full impact of these screechy wheels.

    I wonder if it might help a bit; if you print a card with the image / put a photo on your mobile of a child in a stroller / pushchair and pre-prepare  your daughter - we might see / hear one (before you walk into such an area, and see if your daughter, before triggered by the real thing), might she be able to point out to you the area of her worry on the image - with extra assurance that we can safely stand still together holding hands if one comes nearby.

  • in reply to MattH13

    Maybe try associating crying with something a little more positive? Like, each time she hears a baby cry challenge her to think of what the baby probably needs (ex. is that baby hungry? Is the baby wanting its mommy? etc). Maybe getting her to consider what could help might be a long term fix. It certainly wouldn’t work right away, though.

    Another thought I’ve had is maybe have headphones handy? If you can prove that headphones help with babies crying, then maybe wearing headphones around strollers would help ease that anxiety.

  • in reply to MattH13

    Ah okay that makes sense. I can see how that association could be overwhelming. I’ll try to think of something. I’ve dealt with my child (age 7) having difficulty with crying children, but it doesn’t sound like it is as consistent as it is for you.

  • in reply to profdanger

    Its possibly babies and the association with crying. She struggles with hearing babies/young children crying which is probably the trigger

  • I’m not sure if there is anything I can help with, but I’m curious if there is anything in particular that triggers your daughter about strollers? Is it that people push them, or the fact that she can/cannot ride in one? Maybe if you identify why, then perhaps a solution could be determined from that?