How to deal with your child’s uncontrollable and unpredictable vocal stimming?
1). Try getting ear protectors for your child or play music through headphones, maybe it could be that he/she needs noise.
2). Get your child a weighted blanket, I use that for my baby and it helps him a whole lot.
3). I have faced this but what works most of the time are: brushing him with the sensory brushes for calming, and using a visual timer for countdowns to prevent meltdowns. So, I set a timer when we engage in an activity.
| – A visual timer offers a clear indication of time passing, aiding individuals in understanding time concepts, particularly beneficial for children with special needs. These devices not only show time visually but also offer auditory alarms to ensure awareness. Countdown features, colored lights, and pictures enhance understanding, especially for younger children. Such visual reminders are particularly useful for individuals with autism when they need to finish time-sensitive tasks. |
4). I’ve learned that it’s my son’s anxiety, so I try to find different things instead of trying meds. It doesn’t always work, sometimes I stop everything I’m doing and just hold and rock him chanting our personal phrase: “we can do it” and then he says, “yes we can ”. And after so many times of saying this, he calms down and then I reassure him that “we are a team” with lots of hugs and kisses.
5). Try sulforaphane for your child. Sulforaphane can be consumed via incorporating vegetables like kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts, bok choy etc. It is a naturally occurring inexpensive substance and has been a game changer for us.
| – Sulforaphane, which is a substance present in vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, has shown promising results in improving social skills, communication, and unusual behaviors in people with autism. It has also been found to help enhance social interaction and verbal communication in individuals with autism. |
6). Try testing for biological reasons. It could be inflammation, disorder in the brain, issues in electrical activities, ear infection, or even gut problems. From my experience there is always pain involved, and they try to communicate it through fussiness and screaming. 7). Talk to the child’s pediatrician to ask about a Spio vest. You can also ask for a weighted lap pad and blanket to help. Along with that, a daily routine consisting of therapy sessions will be a game changer.
7). Talk to the child’s pediatrician to ask about a Spio vest. You can also ask for a weighted lap pad and blanket to help. Along with that, a daily routine consisting of therapy sessions will be a game changer.
| – Spio stands for Stabilizing Pressure Input Orthosis wherein orthosis refers to a surgical device which is used to induce external force or pressure on several body parts to correct deformity or support various joints. This SPIO vest is very beneficial and ideal for children with poor core muscle activation, poor muscle stabilization, body deformity and weak joints. |
8). Give him Magnesium (it helps with sleep amongst other things) and many kids with Autism are already deficient in it.
9). Sometimes it just has to run its course… when he gets tired, he will stop. Yes, it is maddening but sometimes there is nothing you can do!
10). I try bringing my daughter to the living room and use some sensory toys or play calming music and sometimes she stops but then sometimes it’s back to square one. After this, she’s overly tired, goes back to her room and sleeps.
11). Try getting a trampoline for the garden, as when my child has a meltdown, he goes and has a bounce, and I don’t know what it does, but he’s a little better afterwards.
12). Try music through headphones, weighted clothes, and blankets… with him screaming, he could be missing something sensory that otherwise distracts him. You need to treat all his senses. I found music and weight to stop him floating.
| – Floating is a concept which refers to breaking away from the external stimuli by muting the senses temporarily and being at rest from the outside stimulation. It can also be termed as ‘sensory deprivation’. |
13). You can also try asking about every detail of the day no matter how small it is, make sure it’s explained well by your child. This will divert his attention from screaming towards something else.
14). I also told my son it was ok to do this vocal stimming but in his own room. It doesn’t always work but something is better than nothing.
