Does anyone have a child with ODD? Can a child be HFA & have ODD? I am starting to worry about Ali. I am just not sure what is wrong... The last month or two she has had many more meltdowns and just a lot of difficulties & regression. But then in the last week or so I have noticed something I think has always been there to a mild degree...but seems exponentially worse all of a sudden. She is soooo defiant and violent and plain mean at times. This weekend she tried to throw a shoe at her baby cousin, she talked about getting a knife and cutting me, she said she was going to have my mom kill me, she tried to run away, she hit my sister & my mom, and more. It was horrible....so not her and so hard to see. She had a fabulous night last night...the first time in months we were able to get through grocery shopping without major problems. It is weird cause when she is so nasty and does such horrible things she many times has a tantrum (not always), then gets very sweet and talks in a different voice (more high pitched) for about a half hour after, and if I ask her why she said or did such horrible things, she says "I am sorry", or often "I was confused" or "I was just joking". It just seems like she has no control sometimes, she seems to enjoy (even laughs at) doing something wrong or hurtful, and then is a totally different person after. Anyone have any ideas? Ali is such a sweet, intelligent child...but sometimes....
Linda, Ali has had a few routine/schedule changes...but nothing too major. The only potential trigger I can think of may be if she is jealous of her cousin.... My sister is very ill with a chronic illness and has been living with us the last few months with her new baby. The last week or two my sister is having more health issues and my mom has had to help with her baby a little more than usual....that is the only thing I can think of that is different. Sensory wise, my sister's baby has been crying more and making more noise cause she is teething. As well, another difference is my ex (Ali's father) has been calling Ali "OCD girl" and "ADD girl" and is just not very good with her- more than in the past. Ali has been waking up in tantrums some days. She is just so angry and the smallest things seem to set her off. Another thing I have noticed is she is angry and violent at times when something is preventing her from keeping moving. She has NO patience. I know a big problem is lack of consistency....my mom (who watches her during the day) does not have all the same rules and just does things differently than me. It has always been this way though. I just have a tough situation--dealing with Ali's father and my mother who contradict me in many ways. Anyway, thanks for your thoughts and listening!
I think my son has ADHD/ODD so I would think HFA + ODD would also occur.
Any idea what could be triggering these reactions -- sensory? Like a kid who is too loud for her tolerance? I KNOW that "different voice," thing, my daughter uses a screechy shrill one when sensory input is too much for her. It is the only time I hear it!
Any possibility of a hidden physical illness causing the behavior change? Pain that she can't identify and communicate about?
Anna, do you do "brushing" with her? Wilbarger?
T wakes up fearsomely irate, some mornings. And when I can brush her FIRST THING, boy it helps!!!
Certainly ODD or other conditions can occur at the same time as autism- just like people can have both brown eyes and blond hair at the same time. Autism is challenging enough by itself and is much more challenging when accompanied by other conditions.Norway Mom,
You know it is ironic you should ask this. Ali had just gone last week to the Orthopedic doctor. Her right hip was shown to be forming/growing curved the opposite way it should 2 years ago. (I had taken her about her odd gait) The dr. re-eval. the hip and said it has corrected itself 80% and should be fine...no need to worry or come back. However, recently she has complained that her left knee hurts...to the point she will not walk on it at time...but she will crawl? Not sure why crawling feels better to her. He looked at and X-rayed her left knee and said it is fine. He did say that some of her behaviors, her gait, muscular spacicity, and her toe walking give him an indication that she could have Cerebral Palsy or a similar neurological disorder that effects muscle and movement, especially gait. Bone wise, he said she is okay. She is still complaining about her knee.....I wondered is it possible that she thinks it is her left knee....when it is really her right (she often says her left arm hurts if she hits her right into something and vice versa). I just do not want to tell her "you are fine, you can walk on it" if there may be a real issue....my sister seems to think she wants to get out of walking for whatever reason. ????
Linda,
I have tried massage and a weighted vest but not brushing....
Karolysgirl,
I have noticed visual supports are very helpful with Ali. I am consistent and try to offer a good sensory diet...my mother...that is another story. I guess that is part of the issue....
Pinkquinn,
I too try to give Ali control in ways that give me authority but she still has a say and a sense of security. If I want her to go somewhere I tell her "we are going to (place). We have to leave very soon. I am going to fix your hair and get your shoes on. Do you want me to fix your hair now? Should I put your shoes on first? Which do you want to do first?" I grab the brush and her shoes and hold each up as I ask, "Shoes first? OR hair?" Things like that. It is tough but I think that is fair to give children some control. Like clothes, I give her some choices and anything that is not a big deal. I hope that this helps her realize that when I do not give her a choice, there is a good reason and I mean business.....
HFA and ODD here with dd
this usually flares up when she feels out of control or does not understand what is going on
I try to give her control of as many choices as I can, and have few expectaions of her-but the things I ask of her I see through even if I have to do things hand over hand or physically make her carry out my requests-that way she knows I am trying to help her but I am still in charge (which I think is comforting especially when she feels there is no rhyme or reason to the world)
I know this can be challenging, hang in there