What sort of provisions should a school make for a child that constantly makes noise?

[KOKOagainandagain]

DS2 constantly makes noise in the classroom (self commentary, whistling, twittering - whatever that is). This is problematic on a daily basis when working in a group - for other DC on the table who can't cope and so start behaving badly to DS2. It also causes the teacher a problem when she is trying to teach the class as a whole. He is very 'ticy' at the moment and having nightmares. I am knackered as he gets in bed with me in the middle of the night and then I can't sleep for his constant ticing.

The school are constructing evidence of progress with relation to ability to listen (SA application) and give DS2 around 10 stickers each day under the heading 'showing Miss X that I am listening'.

I asked him how he shows the CT he is listening. He said that he has to put his finger on his lips (shush style) when he has to listen or the teacher is talking to the whole class.

Am I getting things out of perspective or what? My reaction was .

I agree..this is not ideal. .if he is making noise as a stim or stress release suppressing it will cause tension for him which he will probably release at home.

Can you discuss an acceptable alternative for him.

It sounds a very NT and inappropriate way to manage things :(

Also he is on the diagnostic pathway for ADHD/ASD.

The medical experts acknowledge the behaviour but at this state do not know whether the behaviour is a verbal tics (or some of it is), or stimming or a symptoms of ADHD or some/all.

He seems to be being reminded not to display symptoms

Would he use a fidget? Or could he have breaks to relax and make noise?

Thats awful..if it is a tic or stimming he cannot help it and shouldn't be punished for it or rewarded for not doing it.

Thanks Fanjo

What would be an appropriate intervention?

He already has a fidget.

He can fidget at the same time as making noise

Sorry. .I don't know what would be an appropriate intervention as it doesn't come up with DD..hers is a noisy class.

But someone here can hopefully suggest something.

You should really have support.and input from.SENCO or Ed Psych or someone though. Sometimes that doesn't kick in until diagnosis in my experience.

I don't know much about tics..I would imagine since they are involuntary you cannot suppress them so therefore its shocking they are expecting this.

I hope you can reach a better solution. If it is diagnosed as tics I am sure you could get some letter saying he can't control it.

Maybe there is an organisation for Tourettes support which would offer suggestions on how to manage tics at school?

I use fingers on lips and sssh or be quiet a lot with DS. He has to learn not to make noise if others are trying to listen. Nothing wrong with that IMO

Ds is allowed to chew gum at school (OT recommendation) and it really helps calm him down.

Would this be something worth considering from him?

I see your point sickof.

I personally don't believe all children can learn not to make noise if it's disturbing others.

That's probably just coming from my experience with DD having quite severe ASD.

It did sound to me like the OP's son was suffering after school if he was having to be quiet at school.

Gum sounds like a good option too

Plus of.course shh wouldn't be appropriate if it was a tic I think.

Sick - if this were less frequent then shushing him occasionally would be different. It is often totally constant though - he can keep it up for hours nonstop.

I must admit I tune it out a lot (skill learned to deal with DS1's constant talking) and don't try to stop him and I also don't try to do things that would require him to be quiet, but it causes huge conflict with DS1 when he is back home at the weekends. tbh it does seem to push the buttons of a lot of people.

The CT seems to be delegating responsibility for 'policing' DS2's behaviour to the 'sensible' children on the table and their non-PC 'interventions' ('shut up idiot', 'you're not working - I'm going to tell the teacher' etc).

I've had great success with the morning routine using a proper token reward system. Has anyone used this technique to reduce inappropriate noise making? It seems like I have to stop tuning it out at home so that he can fit in better in the classroom.

Polter - SALT and ADHD nurse classroom observations and confirmed by all teaching staff if that DS2 appears not to be listening but can answer questions when directly asked.

So he is allowed to fiddle but he is not 'allowed' to make noise or get out of his chair etc. This is supposed to be (according to his IEP) careful seating and selection of peers aimed at reducing this behaviour.

I will try him at home with the gum - he is rather restrictive in what he will eat/chew and he doesn't like non-chocolate based sweets.

I read this with interest. My DS is only in reception so it is not that much of a problem at the moment, but he does make quite a few noises (non-verbal so it is all humming, babbling etc). I am worried about how this will work out when he gets a bit older, in school, and if we will be able to make him be a bit quieter. Yesterday in the supermarket my DH got quite upset when someone commented on the noises...

Yes..peers telling him off is outrageous and would make me consider changing school unless they stop that..it would make me question the way they view him tbh.

Sorry..hard to hear

Polter - that gum sounds disgusting - so it might just work.

Excellent article - made me think. DS2 is due to be visited in class by the OT this term because he attends perfectly in a clinic situation. I will send her a copy of the ADHD nurses classroom obs (same hospital but the never communicate between each other). The observations report stimming in assembly. The OT sensory profile recognised last year that he had hypo/hypersensitivies but they don't do much or haven't so far. The specialist nurse says the neurology clinic has their own OT so maybe this is worth following up now. It will be a couple of months before DS2 is seen by the lead consultant in the team and I don't think I can afford to wait.

I am really unhappy about being bossed around by peers. I feel like the CT is getting them to do her dirty work iykwim. DS2 says that they make things up to get him into trouble/make him loose golden time. The school response is just to move the child further away from DS2. Then the next child reaches the end of their tether. It is like musical chairs without the music.

I want to get the hell out of that school.

DS2 is still there because they were on board til September and the application for SA.

Part of the reason for applying is the ability to name a school that can meet his needs. ime I had to transfer DS1 part way through year 4 but this was at the cost of starting from year 0 in terms of delay to accessing provision (time to settle into the new school then its summer and it then time to settle in new class with new teacher etc).

If the school think gum is inappropriate due to mess, you can get foam tubes which are for chewing - DDs orthodontist gave her some to exercise her chewing muscles. No taste and no mess and last for a good while..

Chewies