How can I help with physical aggression, will it ever improve?

[Blossom4538]

I feel as though nothing has worked. Are there any strategies that have worked for your little ones with ASD/Sensory Issues.

She does it when we say no or if a plan changes/doesn’t go her way - but the most tricky thing that is impacting daily life at home, is her dislike of noises. She will physically attack us and it’s getting worse. Obv increase with tiredness and back to school anxiety too. She is almost 7.

I’ve just been scratched, hit, punched and kicked - all for sneezing, which I obviously couldn’t control and I can sometimes pre-warn and she’ll cover her ears but it had already started and I couldn’t speak! She can not tolerate sneezing, sniffling, coughing etc.

Thank u xx

To give you a bit of hope, yes, it can improve. ds1 went from maybe 1 or 2 meltdowns day to virtually none as soon as he was moved to education provision that suited him. We , honestly, had not realised quite how stressed he was all the time in mainstream.

Have you heard of the stress bucket model. Basically there is just so much stress someone can cope with before the bucket over-flows (or the child explodes). If you start at a high level e.g. unsupported at school then it doesn't take very much at all - be it a slightly negative comment or a high pitched noise to push you over the edge. On the other hand if you can reduce overall anxiety then the child becomes much more tolerant of things like noises or changes in routine. I think what also made the difference was seeing the behaviour as a sign ds1 was very anxious and then trying to work out what was making him anxious and reduce its impact or at least put no more demands on him at that time. This is not to say your dd needs specialist provision but rather she probably needs more support at school then she is currently getting.

Thank you so much. We covered something similar to stress bucket model on recent ASD course. School are extremely supportive but yes, we’d like a little more t/a support I think. She copes very well, compared to a couple of years ago. She is extremely sensitive to particular noises even when seemingly happy and relaxed.