Please Help! Anyone!

by Elise
(Colorado Springs, CO)

My son is now two and a half years old and I still do not have any kind of diagnosis for his behaviors. A child psychologist I saw once suggested that he might have this SPD, but I am still unsure. Other doctors have thought autism or bipolar disorder, but I still have not received any resources, solutions, or help of any kind.




It breaks my heart everyday that my son is two and a half, and I still do not know how to comfort him or calm him down. Since he was an infant, he has always been a little difficult, with a bad temperament. He would never let me leave his side, go out of his eyesight, ride in the car, sit in a swing or walker, go on any playground equipment.

When he hit about 9 months old the "temper tantrums" started. These are spectacular and I hesitate to call them that because I don't really feel that is what they are. They are violent, rage attacks where he is out of control and doesn't even know what he is upset about. He is very particular about how things look, how they are handed to him, and how things feel. Right now we are battling over diapers and how they don't feel right to him. He will start out by pulling at it and saying "ow", then he falls to the floor and will kick and scream and hit himself sometimes for as much as two hours at a time, or on and off all day.

The other thing that concerns me is he seems to have a very sensitive stomach, and I don't know if I need to get him tested for food allergies or sensitivities, or try changing his diet. I have tried for two and a half years now to explain to doctors and therapists what is going on with him, and I feel like no one is listening to me or understanding me. If anyone has any insight I would be so grateful to hear it.

P.S. We do have some great days!



Comments for Please Help! Anyone!

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Oct 26, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Absolutely understand
by: Anonymous

My older son is in a school district program for one end of the sensory spectrum and the younger one was just screened today. I just wanted to tell you there are some programs available through school districts so maybe see if there is one in yours.
Aug 16, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Someone please Explain
by: Anonymous

Can anyone explain to me the difference in Autism and Sensory Disorder. I have a 2 1/2 little boy that doesn't talk and is very Hyper. I've had him tested and they said they are not ready to label him as having Autism but he does have Sensory Issues. I just don't understand any of this. I try to explain to my family what the speech and OT say and they say he just needs to be spanked that I let him get away with too much. They just don't understand.
Aug 14, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Good work
by: Alisa

I know exactly what you mean when you say you hesitate to call them temper tantrums my now 9y is still a very angry child and I relate to you story so well. almost like you talking about my 9y daughter.

Please dont give up keep trying and there is great book call " the out of sync child" and another called the out sync child has fun" with games for sensory kids and all kids to play.

I'm still struggling to prove I did not cause my daughters problems. My 4y old son was diagnosed and treated in a sensory group for his behaviors and he still struggles but he much better than he was and still don't call him out burst tantrums I call them melt downs like with autistic and aspergers children. He can have tantrums as well but in my opinion a tantrum is because a child wants some things or does not want to behave and with my 4y he loves to do the right thing as long as he not over loaded with sensory input. A tantrum can be over come if you give in to it and there no giving with my kids I have tried to compromise and even give in some time to see if could be a a simple child tantrum and nothing except being left to calm on their own helps my kids. I wish I could hug them better but it makes them angrier if they are not ready for a hug.

i wish you well with your son.
Aug 08, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		there is hope
by: E Norton

Hi I Am a grandmom and my grandson is also in his own would but a OT assessment and ADHD ADD all came back neg so check out any medication in your pregnancy my daughter was not well and her 2 boys is totally different but i found out that Dr Bob De Marie and lots of others on the net will tell you to change there diets and i did wow what a change Michael now 9 is a better boy and also were calm. God be with you
Jul 28, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		been there, done that!
by: Tammy

I had the same problem with my son AJ when he was very small. My family and friend all thought he had autism and he was only 9 months old. I put him through early intervention and they helped tremendously. I made the mistake of thinking he was "all better" and quit e/i.

Now, he's 4 and I'm thinking of seeing an occupational therapist again. His tantrums are so much harder to handle now because he's bigger and can hurt me much more than he could when he was little. He went thru the biting phase, but now he's into the bunching, kicking, screaming... I keep praying for God to remove the demons from that boy! It's exhausting.

Anyway, put him in e/i ASAP and don't assume he's all better when the techniques they give you work. It's easy to forget they have this problem, because sometimes I think he's behaving like a normal 4 year old. But, other mom's have said that normal 4 year olds don't act like he does all day long.
Best of Luck, and God Bless.
Jul 20, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Colorado Springs Help
by: Alayna Gee

I noticed you live in Colorado Springs. I also live in Colorado Springs and have lived thru what you are describing. My son is now 11 and is a far different child than the one who would rage out of control at age 2. I have a great deal of great support set up here in the Springs. I would like to help. Hang in there and know that there is hope and things can get better.
Jul 16, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Typical signs of SPD
by: Anonymous

Have you tried therapy? My grandson has major melt downs as you described our concern was his eating habits, we went for speech eval and learned of SPD he is a gifted child with SPD with food and certain clothes he now is in therapy and has come a long way with deep massage technique that helps with the melt downs my advice is to seek occupational and speech therapy. Your pediatrician should help with that.Stay strong and dont give up everyday is a challenge but there is help out there.
Jul 16, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Babynet??
by: Anonymous

Hey there. I have a 2 1/2 year old boy also. And some family members suspected that he may be autistic early on. They put me in contact with Babynet. I don't know if they have Babynet in your area, but it is an early intervention program. And it's free! They will get you some help with your son. I called and my son is making excellent progress. They will set him up with any kind of therapy he may need (my son goes for Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy). And also, they set you up with an early interventionist that comes out once a week to your home to work personally with your child. We love our EI. And also, through our EI, we had our son tested for autism and he is not autistic, but my point is they really can help get you the help and can get everything else in motion for you too.
So, I hope you can find out about this Babynet in your area. It is inside our health department. Good luck!!
Jul 15, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I know where you are coming from
by: Jacki Brockett

It seems that there is alot of this going on here with these children at such young ages. As I posted yesterday my 6 year old daughter has had these tantrums for more than 3 years now has been in and out of counseling and that seemed to have only made things worse. I ended up taking her to the Dr. right away yesterday cause I could not take this anymore it has been way to long that it has been going on and I put myself at blame for not taking her to see anyone other than a counselor before this.

She was diagnosed with bi-polar disease. That was really hard for me to handle cause when she wants to be she is the most loving child I have ever seen. As with other parents in this kind of situation they see the same in their children. So act now at the earliest sign of any tantrum it will not only be beneficial to them but you your family and life in general.

I wish there was more I could tell everyone but there is not. Sit down and talk to your children ask them ?s cause I will share this I sat my daughter down and as we were talking I asked her if she was hearing voices in her head, and it made me breathless when she said that 3 letter word "YES" she hears them I believe it she even told the Dr. that it is a man he has a very mean voice and he tells her to do bad things to people and herself when she gets mad and hears them. He was the first person that my daughter had ever told that to other than me.

Also make sure that their home lives are not unsteady. A lot of my daughters worsened when she found out that her dad and I were getting a divorce and that he had already had another girlfriend before we even split and now my children and I have to suffer the consequences of that as well. So no matter what age they are if they start showing signs of something you don't think is normal get them to the Dr ASAP one sign of being bi-polar is a person with this disease does not need the amount of sleep as someone that does not have the disease they can sleep for 2 hours and run around for more hours at a time than a usual person. So keep an eye on that as well.
Jul 15, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		hang in there
by: Anonymous

I'm sorry you and your son are going thru this. It is difficult especially when he's too young to explain what is really bothering him. It could be several things. As for the diapers I know it doesn't sound fun but maybe if he's not ready to potty train you could try cloth diapers or a different brand might even work. My son is 5 yrs old and can't stand the feel of certain clothes so I try to comply. If it were me I'd hate to be wearing something that is physically uncomfortable to me, and that is how they often feel. It's hard to get a diagnosis for SPD. Maybe try seeing an OT and they could help you with alot of this! Good luck :)

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to SPD checklist.