DS and his noises.

[Imbimba]

Hello, I've been lurking on this board for a while. DS will be 4 in September. He has a very severe speech delay and the SALT we have been seeing suggested getting a paed referral and we have that in August. We wouldn't be too surprised to get an ASD diagnosis as it's not just the speech that is the problem.

Anyway, I wondered if anyone could identify with this behaviour....DS makes a noise which I can best describe as 'roaring' at my other DS who is 7mo. I think he tries to get the baby to laugh, and sometimes it works, but once he starts doing this noise we find it almost impossible to stop him. He understands the word no, but just looks at me and carries on if I say it when he's doing this noise. It can go in for half and hour. It's so hard. This sounds so stupid. But I find him so difficult at the moment as his language (and other problems) make it hard to communicate with him. The other day i shouted at him to get him to stop and he did, but got very upset and I felt terrible, so I don't want to do that again. I have also tried other things like distraction, talking to him etc.

We are, and have been, working on things as directed by the SALT to improve his language and communication, and there has been as huge improvement since last year. But it's often like having 2 babies.

We also have a DD who is 5. She had none of these problems.
Would be great to hear from anyone who has experienced this.

[BatFoxHippo]

Ds used to scream and now makes various other noises. The hope I can offer is that it seems to go in phases so with luck he may drop it himself.

When you say talking to him, like when he is calm? Saying it hurts your ears and you may have to move away from him when he does it for a long time etc?

Its very hard as he may not be able to help himself once he has started, like a tic.

[tacal]

I agree that these things can go in phases. They do with my DS. It has felt in the past that the problem repetitive behaviour will never end but it does eventually.

[Imbimba]

Thanks both. By talking I mean while he is doing the noise, saying things like "no DS, too loud, let's talk to the baby like this instead... " so more of a distraction technique.

Talking to him while calm I think would not work although I might try. I wouldn't be convinced he'd understand.

[WellTidy]

My 3yo DS makes a similar noise, but its more of a scream/screech. It can go on for as long as your child's. We are waiting for the ssesssment process to start, but I am absolutely sure that he has ASD. He also has a very severe speech and language delay (no recognisable language at all) and we have been having speech and language therapy. This hasn't improved his speech - we are still working on pre verbal skills like sharing, role play, turn taking etc.

I find it very hard to listen to the screech. It hurts my ears as it is very high pitched. It is so much worse in an enclosed space, like the car, or when I am carrying him as I need to remove him from a situation, and his mouth is close to my ear.

I try and shush him, as gently as I can. It doesn't stop the screech, but he does screech more quietly. Would he respond to body language as a way of telling him to stop? Like shaking your head gently (so as not to overload him) with a sad face. Or sign language, if you were to sign 'all finished'? These are just ideas. They don't work for my DS (he cannot read body language and has not taken to signing very well at all).

[BatFoxHippo]

Oddly enough I was watching a video by an autistic woman last night and she mentioned this. She said try offering the child something to chew as if you are chewing you can't scream/shout etc.

[Imbimba]

WellTidy thanks for sharing your experiences with your DS and sorry you are going through similar. Thanks for the suggestion of giving a non verbal 'no'... I'm not sure they would work but I will give it a try. He knows ' all finished ' but it doesn't work in this situation.

BatFoxHippo - interesting suggestion! Might try it.