New behaviours in ASD 3 year old

[BePearlSheep]

Hi all, not new to mumsnet but name changed -

DS is soon to turn 3 and pre-school have informed me that he has started to push, scratch and pinch other children, unprovoked. He is not doing these things out of malice or aggression, but probably out of sensory need and curiosity. They have methods they have been trying and to use such as positively reinforce / distract. I try to do the same at home, but nothing is really working right now. He doesn’t understand facial expression or words very well at the moment.

My feeling is that these behaviours might be coming from age appropriate seeking of independence, but with his lack of communicative / expressive speech, his hyposensitivity and his curious nature, he has started displaying pinching, biting out of what appears to be sensory need, and then kicking, head banging (mild) and pinching out of frustration when I’ve asked him to do something or stopped him from doing something.

Has anyone got any ideas or experience of this? What has worked to curb and re-direct these feelings / needs that I can support my son with to try and not have him hurt himself and others? The fact that he could be hurting other children while at pre-school really bothers me, and I hate the thought of other children going home and telling their parents that my son hurt them. It breaks my heart and is making things so hard right now.

Things I try to meet his sensory needs; give him a ‘choice’ rather than hard requests. Outside time, bubbles, jumping, swinging. Positive reinforcement. Squeezing his hands, head, jaw. Consistency.

What support is DS receiving? Has DS had an OT assessment? What about SALT? What level of supervision is the nursery providing? If they need more funding to provide more supervision so they can step in before situations reach the point where DS bites/kicks/pushes.

For biting, have you tried chewelry?

What is DS like with noise? It could be when DC are loud &/or unpredictable noisy. In which case, ear defenders may help.

Things like a weighted vest, cuddle ball, bodysok can help with sensory differences. Things like playdoh can help provide a similar sensation to pinching. This booklet might help with sensory differences. The book the Out of Sync Child may be useful too.

As well as being from overwhelm due to other sensory factors, it could be other DC getting closer than DS finds comfortable.

Thanks for the reply. Occupational Therapy is OT right? DS has not been referred for that as I assume he is not deemed in need of it. Not sure how that would help with the above behaviours?

Pre-school have reassured me that they are monitoring it and intervening with the same approaches, and we are using the same approaches at home too now. Obviously my concern is around how long this will go on for. We will have a support plan meeting once he’s settled and I assume that things like EHCP will be discussed at that point, or I will bring it up either way.

I did buy a chewy necklace thing a while ago and he couldn’t have been less interested in it, but he wasn’t biting / or interested in oral stimulation at that point, so I might try getting another one. I think he is the one approaching the children, not the other way around, and smiling / happy while doing it. 🫥

He’s very much unbothered by sounds, crowds etc. as he is hyposensitive, a sensory seeker. I think something like headphones would come straight off! He seeks audio, visual and touch regularly. I can see it my mind him taking the headphones and passing them past his eyeline so they ‘disappear’ lol.

I’ll take a look the recommendations!

OT is occupational therapy and it can help with sensory integration. It would help with the situations you describe. DS not being referred doesn’t mean he wouldn’t benefit from it.

Not all ICBs commission sensory OT on the NHS anymore, but if your area does it is worth a referral. Even if the NHS in your area doesn’t fund sensory OT support, if you request an EHCNA and the LA agree to assess an assessment can be part of the needs assessment.

If the pre-school needs more support to support hey can request advice from the Area SENCO. If they need more funding, they can apply for early years inclusion funding.

It is worth reading IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites. Don’t rely on the nursery submitting an EHCNA request.

There have been a few significant transitions lately too such as dad going back to work after 6 week hols (works in education) transition to toddler bed and start by pre-school, and turning 3, so perhaps this is a factor too, he just can’t verbally communicate that he’s finding all this change difficult?

I have a feeling that OT in my area will only be a referral for more high needs cases, but I will mention it.

it’s as though he’s becoming ‘more autistic’ for want of a better way to put it. But his speech is developing nicely.

Transitions can be difficult for some.

Difficulties can also become more noticeable as DC get older and transition to a new phase e.g. start pre-school, start primary school, start secondary school.

If your area offers sensory OT, push for assessment. Don’t be fobbed off by them saying DS doesn’t meet the criteria.