Jayden has always done some visual stimming.... .but in the last week or so it has become nearly non stop....the only time he doesn't is if he is watching a movie or sleeping...it can be as little as just the side look as he walks past (all) things to an all out stim fest on an object...he finds the line in everything....we were told by his OT to stop him when he does it, every time he does it... that was this last Wed...it is Friday and I'm ready to crack...literally....we are non stop calling his name ...telling him no, removing him (and he goes right back) distracting him....now he is starting to get mad when we try to stop him.....he throws himself on the floor and then finds the lines in the tile....I could just cry...I have.....so has Steph ...seems things are getting worse not better.....he started something new in the last few days too...he will stand still, close his eyes lightly, tilt his head back and smile and then flick his fingers together.....when I stop him from doing this he actually gets startled......He's here right now and I don't know where he is....I'm afraid to go see what he is focused on now....hopefully the tv show. I'm wondering if any of your kids visually stim and how you deal with it.....this is exhausting........I am also very concerned that the OT gave Steph a brush on Wed and said brush him 2-3 times a day....that was her instructions...I told Steph not to do it and just E-mailed her some info about how it can be damaging if not trained properly......We are really having a hard time with this as it seems he is getting worse each day.............any suggestions would really be appreciated...thanks

What is visual stimming?

Jayden looks at objects from the side ...he turns his eyes way to one side and then scans the objects....it is almost always a line he follows...grain in wood, stitching on the couch, vertical blinds, arm of the chair, cabinet doors anything and always from the side.....I have seen him in his car seat stimming on the high power lines as we drive down the road....we are told it's either a calming stim to relieve stress or for excitement???? this is all we know......

:hug:

From the little that I do know about stimming, does he do it if he's bored or, overexcited?

Have you or Steph thought about requesting a new OT...does not sound like this one that you have is doing what she should be. Her job is to interact with the child, do the therapy, show you guys how to do some activities/therapy at home....Did she provide you with any other "helpful" hints to work with Jayden? Try to contact your coordinator at early interventions. You have a right to seek someone else if you feel that this one is not doing her job or for whatever reason.....I did it twice with speech therapists for Emma.

I'm sorry Debbie, I've never heard of that.

I honestly would say to turn the TV off and try to get him to sit down and work with you on things, though. I know that Allie ozones when the TV is on, and I have read lots of bad stuff about kids watching TV. We limit Allie's TV to the times only when she is eating.

I'm so sorry that he is doing this. When Allie gets easily distracted or "lost in her own world," I sit down on the floor with her, make eye contact with her and try to do something engaging with her, like a puzzle or reading a book, blowing bubbles, etc.

That's all I've got.

:hug:

Christyn

Thanks guys....when I say this is almost non stop I am not exaggerating.....he goes from one thing to the next......this is what is so exhausting.....it's all day long ..so the tv is a little break from distracting Jayden constantly...kiwm...it is a complete fight to get him to play with anything...Jayden doesn't sit down to play ...we may get one or two interactions out of him and that's it and he off........he also does aimless running back and forth with his hands in a flapping state........Jane these therapists have only seen him 2 times so I think they are trying to get a feel about him...which is reallycrappysince they started this in the beginning of June because the originals left on maternity leave.....it really doesn't seem as though they are to interested ...they are to be with him for an hour...20 -30 mins in jayden is starting to melt so they pack up and leave...the only conversation we get is if we ask questions and the ST seemed dumbfounded when Steph asked why he need to be brushed for stress......it is all very frustrating ....I see know plan of action....just some ladies who come once a week and play with Jayden??????????

Call your coordinator at EI and ask them:

1. How long will the original be on maternity leave?

2. Is this right that the OT leaves after 20 - 30 minutes when the child starts to meltdown? (out OT works Jason thru his meltdowns, giving me great insight on things to do)

3. Should they present brushing therapy without any instructions or showing us how to do this?

4. Should the therapist explain why something is necessary?

Don't be afraid to ask the EI coordinator lots of questions if you are not receiving any answers from the therapists. That is what they are getting paid for and what they contracted with early interventions to do.

Emma had one ST who was grossed out when she was puking and I raised a fuss and got her replaced. The replacement then didn't show up a couple of times without calling and I had her replaced. The guy that we have now is awesome! Our OT is excellent. I can ask her lots of questions and she will answer me or get me an answer by the next visit. That is their job and don't expect any less.

I was a little "iffy" on getting some new ST's because these were foster children on public aid, but then I thought the heck with it...if I don't stand up for these children, who will? That is our jobs, to stand up and fight for our children for proper therapy, education etc. Tell Steph to call them and raise a bit of a ruckus!

Ok, I'm not an expert and I do think you need to find an OT who can give you better info specific to Jayden.

My son does similar visual stimming and other similar stim stuff too, although I wouldn't say he is as obsessive about it. He loves looking at road signs esp. those diagonal checker board (obstacle) ones. My approach is: let him look at it for a bit and talk to him..."oh, theres a sign, it's black and yellow with squares on it"...then after about 10-20 seconds, I say "bye bye sign" and pull him away. I'm not sure if that will work with Jayden.

Also, my EI consultant and OT have both said that Max is getting some kind of sensory input from these things and if you just try to take them away cold turkey or stop him, he will just try to find that input somewhere else. I have found when I try to be really strict about it, it gets worse. For example, Max has a thing about damp cloth. He will go through his dirty laundry hamper and grab wet cloths that may be in there. He just has a thing about the wet feeling. Anyway, I've tried grabbing them from him and stopping him and he seems to get more aggressive about it. So now, I tell him to put the dirty ones back in the hamper and try to distract him with something else. Or I will even get a clean cloth, dampen it and give it to him. that is, find something more appropriate that may give him the input he needs. Same thing with his oral stimming on toys, I have one or two "biteys" that he is allowed to bite on. If he is chewing on something else, we go together and find one of his biteys.

I'm not sure if this is helpful. I agree with "twinmom"...find an OT who is more helpful. Maybe 'cause it's summer your might be stuck with who you've got, but definitely call the EI supervisor and talk this out with him/her.

Good luck and best wishes.
Vicky

Thanks so much, it's comforting to know he is not the only kiddo doing this ...it's breaking my heart...I just lost it trying to talk to my dh about it.....and now again.....I am not glad there are other children like this, just glad someone gets it.....We will try some of your suggestions Vicky.....I agree he is just getting more angry about it than anything...and I will also talk to Steph about calling the EI and get some kind of action for him, they are just really discouraging. I just can't imagine chasing him around all day trying to distract him Steph just asked me today if he is going to be like this the rest of his life....I hate that I couldn't tell her no.

I never heard of this either.

Have his eyes been checked? Is he looking deeply at something so that he can focus better? Almost sounds like he is very deep?

If it is distracting to him (or rather "calming") does that mean it is kind of like a mediation to him?

I mean that could be a good thing? As we get older we are told to do something like that.

Am I way off here and not getting it?

Off to google.

:hug:

:hug: Debbie! I know how worried you are about this! Connor starts OT on Monday. Maybe if I ask his OT she will have some helpful advice. She seems really good and she works at the Children's Hospital so you would think she knows what she is doing. I wish I had some answers for you:hug: :hug: :hug: