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Help please. i'm at my wits end.

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Motoko2501 | 14:14 Mon 07th Sep 2009 | Parenting
7 Answers
Hi, I've just joined this community and I already I need some help.

My son is 3 years old. He was diagnosed with Autism ( ASD ). The thing is how do I discipline him , if I should discipline him at all. He is a biter, which when he has a sensory overload he bites either myself, my wife or his sister who is 4 years old she has ols bite marks over her body about three.

But he bites her or my partner and I once a day. Who ever happens in the line of fire. I'm 50/50 on deciding if he understands what being naughty is. He can understand but he cannot speak ( complex communication disorder ) so takes our hand to tell us what's wrong with him or what he wants.

We are currently trying to teach him MAKATON which he is making some progress with. The question is how do I stop him biting us and bite and object instead of myself, my partner or my daughter.

We can't keep brother and sister apart that's just cruel. But at the same time i don't want her to suffer with him biting her. It's really hard to stop as it happens in literally 1-2 seconds by the time i've stood up and ran towards him to stop him, the deed has been bone.

It breaks my hear as a father to see my son do this to my daughter, but I know he does not do it out of malice, but, do I still try and discipline him and if so, how ?

Please help me, social services don't seem interested and my wife and I are breaking our hearts over this.

Thank you so much.
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do you have a health visitor you could talk to?
could you try and give him something to bite safely like a teething ring??
try and get some tips of websites that deal with autism they can put you in touch with the right people good luck x
Do you have any involvement with a Child Developement Centre?
I ask becasue my son has Aspergers Syndrome and he attended one of these centres for around 3 years before he started his formal education.They were very good with all aspects of his behaviour and would advise on any problems we had.If you don't attend one of these centres at present it would be worth your while speaking to your son's consultant or GP to ask for referral to one.
Good luck,I hope you manage to sort it all out.
I think you have to make some attempts to communicate with him regarding unacceptable behaviour.

What you would do with a child with standard comprehension - and they usually bite too quick to catch them ijn the act! - is to turn him to you, make eye contact, and say "NO! loudly and shake your head. Then take him a\way from the person he has bitten and make him stay apart for a few minutes. I really don;t know if he is able to understand the concept of apology - that is something you need to discuss with your health or social worker.

I realy do feel for you - and you need to get some expert help on this, for everyone's sake.
This site: http://www.nas.org.uk/ has some useful links and advice.
all good suggestions for you and daffy has the expert advice because of his/her child i would heed the words of daffys wisdom good luck x
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Just an Update on this question I asked, by the way thank you for your responses. I really appreciate them.

My daughter has now also been diagnosed with Autism, we had a feeling she had it also ,but this is still a shock and has thrown everything upside down.

Once again thank you all for your kindness.

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Help please. i'm at my wits end.

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