Advice regarding sudden hitting?

[Ibytam]

My son is nearly 6 years old with ASD. To get a feel of his needs he isn’t non verbal, more non communicative and has poor receptive language, very limited understanding. He has an EHCP at school, still in nappies and waiting for LA to name a specialist school after his annual review as he’s currently in mainstream but it is SO beyond unsuitable for his needs.

In the last 2-3 months he’s just started hitting out of nowhere, he’s always been so placid and sweet so it’s come as a massive shock to me and I’m struggling to deal with it. He hits his teachers at least 2 or 3 times a week. He rarely hits us at home tbh but today after an awful morning thinking he was supposed to be in school, getting him ready and taking him only to realise it’s a teacher training day he has been AWFUL to me. I’ve been hit maybe 30 times so far. It’s all over him wanting his own way. For instance he wants to throw a box, of all things, down the stairs but his 6 month old sister is napping so he can’t and we don’t allow it anyway.

I hate this, I want my sweet boy back who was always so lovely and kind. I find myself walking on eggshells around him and I hate it. Does anybody have any advice on how to deal with this sudden aggression he seems to have? I feel I’ve tried everything from being gentle, calm, to assertive etc. I’m lost.

This could very well be related to DS being overwhelmed and frustrated from being in an unsuitable placement. How long ago was the AR meeting? What support, including therapies, is in the current EHCP? Is the school looking at triggers?

Seeking control is often driven by anxiety. With that in mind, is DS receiving any support for that?

Has DS had a sensory OT assessment? And does he receive ongoing sensory OT input? Throwing and hitting can fulfil a sensory need.

As difficult as it is, I would try to remove/secure things that are throwable. A home OT assessment can help with making the home safer.

Some people find the books the Out of Sync Child and the Explosive Child helpful. The latter will have some parts that won’t be appropriate with DS’s level of verbal communication, but some parts may still be helpful. Some find PDA strategies and/or non-violent resistance courses.