Emotions

Hi There

We are currently starting the assessment process with my son who is 6 years old and i could really do with some advice.

As with ppl on the ASD spectrum my son needs routine and he is really struggling right now coping with the change of class at school. He's sleeping even worse then he usually does and is suffering alot of anxiety = meltdowns etc especially from bedtime and getting ready in the mornings.

There are 2 reasons i feel really lost. Firstly, and i don't know how common this is, the teacher says he is absolutly fine at school and just gets on with things. He's the complete opposite when he comes home and can take hours to get back to a calm state. He's always been like this and so the school haven't really supported me in terms of going for a diagnosis. We took him for an initial visit with a paediatrician who has written to the school to suggest strategies to support him especially in the transition from school to home. I have been into school to see his new teacher and she is willing to provide a timetable prompt, i'm hugely greatful for that but it was all laced with " i can't believe your child behaves like that". 

Secondly, how do i help him explain how he feels. He has a basic grasp of happy/sad, but if you ask him what upsets him, worries him etc he doesn't understand. It makes it hard to help him especially with the school anxiety because i can't figure out exatly whats making him worry. He just says he doesn't know.

Thanks everyone xx

Parents
  • You're welcome.  No I don't think it would be patronising, and if the teacher takes it that way then s/he has a personality issue!  You are about trying to do the best for your son and s/he should be too.  The teacher should take it as really useful information and may even be genuinely grateful you have put him/her on a learning curve.

    Another thing, is that under stress sensory issues can get worse, e.g. auditory issues can be heightened.

    Some people with ASC can get distressed by strong smells and if you worry about it, you can hyperfocus and not think of anything else.

    He may have trouble being around a lot of people, even if no-one is doing anything specifically noisy like screaming, just the ambient noise of general talking in the canteen or noise of playing in the playground, or chattering when hanging up coats etc.  Or if the school is on a busy road maybe traffic is noisy outside.

Reply
  • You're welcome.  No I don't think it would be patronising, and if the teacher takes it that way then s/he has a personality issue!  You are about trying to do the best for your son and s/he should be too.  The teacher should take it as really useful information and may even be genuinely grateful you have put him/her on a learning curve.

    Another thing, is that under stress sensory issues can get worse, e.g. auditory issues can be heightened.

    Some people with ASC can get distressed by strong smells and if you worry about it, you can hyperfocus and not think of anything else.

    He may have trouble being around a lot of people, even if no-one is doing anything specifically noisy like screaming, just the ambient noise of general talking in the canteen or noise of playing in the playground, or chattering when hanging up coats etc.  Or if the school is on a busy road maybe traffic is noisy outside.

Children
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