Maybe a sensory diet might help with a reminder not to yell and a 2 min time out. I did something like that with J. Now T started screaming this month and putting his hand over his ears like he is in pain.
Hi:
I've looked at some old threads and I know that some of you have children who have been "screamers." My 4 1/2 year old has been screaming (ear-piercing at times) since about March; it ebbs and flows but has recently escalated- could be because he's back to his school schedule. Anyway, it's nearly impossible to get him to stop and it's generally worse in the afternoon and evenings. I'm afraid that the "typical" preschool he attends in the p.m. won't be able to handle him anymore. He scares some of the children.
Any advice would be much appreciated! We've tried telling him to use his "normal" voice, have a "quiet mouth" picture card, etc.
Good question! I'm wondering the same thing. She will do this piercing scream when she is upset and I tell her to stop or she goes to time out because it hurts everyone's ears and I don't like it. Also, I tell her to talk/point/take a deep breath, etc and she doesn't seem to get it. The only thing that helps her going to her room and listen to enya to calm down. It's the worst in public and when she is sleep deprived, hungry, or I'm interefering with her favorite activitiy (playdough, drawing). DD scares some children too. Tried the normal voice talk but not the picture card...where do you get that?? I will ask her dr what he suggest next week! I have a huge list of questions every week we see him. Hugs,
Mamabear:
The quiet voice card is a PECS system card with a face and a finger doing the "shhhh" motion. I'm not good at links but I bet you could find one online. My son's school made them for me.
My problem is that my son screams all the time. When he's happy, trying to get attention, tired, etc. I think it's a sensory thing- the screaming lets him know where his body is in space (proprioceptive/vestibular.) We, too, have used time outs and told him that the screaming hurts our ears- doesn't seem to care. Ugh!
children with ASD scream because of senses
they get a tingle and a buzzing feeling in there ear the louder the scream the better the tickle
try taping some screams and puting them on a cd for him when he screams put them on
the cd will give the sensation he wants and not himself
My son does this but only when hes upset usually and its enough to break glass! His ped said its a way to let off steam and make himself feel better so ? If your son does it all the time you should try what spectrum mum said, sounds like a good idea to me I havr had the same problem with my ds for a while now! It is sooo loud and piercing! SOme days are worse than others with screaming. I know it stems from lack of words/communication skills for my ds. He is almost 4. He knows alot of signs but few words. Screaming is quicker and faster than either of those options, it seems. I do know theraputic listening is helping some. The earphones with just plain old calming music seem to help a little too. I wish I had the magic secret!Don used to be a terrible screamer. His older brother, in fact (also on theI agree with using an FBA (Functional Behaviour Assessment) to find out the cause. Although, the symptom (screaming) may be the same with other kids it can stem from many different causes like: avoidance, attention, sensory, anger/fear, boredom, or lack of good more appropriate skills etc and each way suggests a different action.
I would not respond to screaming for items or encourage with positive activities when it occurs. I agree 100% with Donny's mom.
does he have a therapists or teacher he loves/adores. mines' ot heard him do it and she always tells him quiet mouth or inside voice and from her it works. so we made those words consisten with everyone, in her tone and inflection, and it helps. he still screams, but can control it more. ie, ms so and so says what about screaming, she says insdie voice, quiet mouth. Deffinetly do a FBA. Not all screaming comes from sensory issues, I have a 4.5 yr old that I work with where it is an attention seeking behavior. We use 1-2-3 magic, and he has gone from screaming 85% of shifts, to 1-2 times per week. You can search for 1-2-3 magic...there was a recent post on it.