Doing ABC behaviour chart (again). Too many incidents to record...

[SaintVera]

Has this happened to anyone else? Doing a repeat of the ABC behaviour analysis chart - DS is 16, severely disabled with autistic features and challenging behavior.

We are finding straight off, that there are too many incidents (lashing out, hitting, hair pulling, scratching, repetetive demands, grabbing, throwing etc. etc.,) to actually record. So, 6.30am incident is followed by 6.32, 6.37, 6.45, 6.50 etc.

DS is also getting aggravated by our attention being taken away - even for a few seconds - because we are filling in the fucking chart.

The LD nurse realised quickly that incidents are coming too thick and fast to record them all and says we can record one full day of ALL incidents, then the rarer behaviours to be charted for 2 weeks.

So, it's not so much the filling in of the charts, but the realisation - as if we didn't know it deep down - that DS is unmanageable. I am finding it shocking and devastating because we can't go on like this.

Might it be the case that the string of repeated behaviours is actually all the same incident, sort of strung out? I know if I was doing ABC charts with my ds, even though he's much younger, if there were incidents within 5/10/20 minutes of each other I'd know they probably all stem from the same root cause (whatever it was that first triggered the behaviour).

We do ABA, which relies a lot on ABC data to analyse behaviour and see patterns. I know when we started doing it, it was shocking to see it all written down in black and white - on paper it looks so awful. But it is so useful to do for a prolongued period, it really helps you see the patterns of behaviour so you can identify what triggers it - and then of course start working to address it.

Don't feel too disheartened (I know, easy to say). By breaking down the behaviour and seeing why he is behaving as he is, it will really help you all to see how to help him.

Chin up

Thanks for taking the time to reply bialy. I am sure it is all one behaviour, but the point is, it is not sustainable. I think we've got to the stage where it is more about presenting a pen picture of DS to adult services so they can prepare themselves.

I don't think anyone gets ABA paid for here - the only people I know who have ABA therapists are wealthy. When ABA was paid for by the LA, it didn't really seem to make much difference to the kids with the most severe autism to be honest - they are still just as challenging as the ones who didn't get ABA. Does anyone have any research on that?

I am disheartened - not quite strong enough a word to cover my emotions - as I think it's too late to do anything but I will chat to a friend who does ABA nevertheless and see if I can get tips

Is medication an option SaintVera? My ds aged 11 now became much less aggressive after he started on Risperidone.

Oh I wasn't trying to say that ABA is the only answer! I just meant that ABC charts are a really useful way of identifying patterns and triggers in behaviour. .

The important thing is what to do once you have identified what triggers such behaviour. How you then address that behaviour is up to you (we choose to use ABA but obv this isn't for everyone). What is the LD nurse suggesting? What strategies have been used so far, at school or home? Do you have support from any other agencies?

I'm sorry I can't be of much help with actual suggestions for how to improve things as my situation is a bit different, though if you want any info on ABA I'm more than happy to try and help with that.

I think there are some posters here with dc around your age, and some severe behaviours, you could try the SN Teens board?