Why, precisely, are 'transitions difficult' for mildly SN kids?

[Anonymous]

I read that over and over and it definitely seems true for my now-6 y.o. When I use the word 'mildly' SN, I'm referring to real high functioning ASD, or SPD, or maybe ADD.

To be perfectly frank, all of his life we've privately thought of DS as stubborn in this one area, stubborn and angry that play time / bath time / circle time / whatever time is ending for the day. To our eyes, he's always just looked pissed off that it's time to put away the Legos or get up from the blocks to go sit in the high chair. Said another way, it looks to the untrained eye like a personality trait, or a temperament thing and not particularly a hallmark of being neuro-atypical.

Can anyone point to a good, scientific piece of writing to explain why transitioning is thought to be more challenging, and in need of management, to a kid who is very high function?

[Anonymous]

I can't point to a "scientific" piece of writing HOWEVER I think it's important to remember that transitions aren't easy for anyone -- adults, "normal" children, older people, anyone. It's always difficult starting a new job, moving to a new home, beginning a new year of school. Our bodies and minds seek equilibrium. When you add behavior and physical challenges it becomes harder to keep that equilibrium.

Children, especially, thrive on routine. Children with special needs -- it would seem to me common sense -- might have a hard time with transitions because routine is disrupted and they may have fewer well-developed coping mechanisms at their disposal. You might try reading "The Magic Years" -- dealing with transitions is discussed quite a bit in there for "normal" children -- giving kids notice five minutes before a transition to another activity helps avoid temper tantrums. Do you really need scientific proof, OP? This seems so common sense, no? You seem to be blaming your child instead of helping him. Perhaps it is "just" his temperament, but it's HIS temperament, and you need to help him.

[Anonymous]

There may also be a motor planning element that some children find challenging. In order to x, I need to do y first.

[Anonymous]

My son has SPD and I am pretty sure he doesn't like transitions at school b/c of the fear of the unknown. He hates when clean up time comes along b/c he said everyone gets loud and starts moving around and sometimes bumping into him. He is hypersensitive to touch and noise. At his old school, he would claw and bite his way out of sitting in circle time. The kids sat on woven mats withing inches of each other and he refused to sit on one. He would sit on a chair though behind the other kids.

[Anonymous]

I hear you about personality trait vs. being neuroatypical..the thing is IMO it's all semantics. Personality traits come from how our brain is wired. If the trait doesn't impair the child's functioning then no worries, but if it does then we need to do what we can to help rewire a little. So IMO personality trait crosses over to atypical neuro wiring when there is impairment in more than one area. You can't completely change personality, but with intervention there is a little rewiring that perhaps makes an anxious child less anxious or a stubborn kid less rigid. Heck there was some discussion years ago (when psychotropic meds like Prozac were being prescribed much more frequently) that meds can to some degree change personality. After strokes sometimes people have personality changes.

So...about transitions. Yes, all of us to some degree find them stressful even if you are looking forward to a transition (like a marriage) it's still a form of stress. If a child has any processing or motor plan issues the transition might be harder. Anxiety makes it harder. Attention span can make it harder. So...some kids need more help compensating for the things that hold them back.

[Anonymous]

I think there are a variety of reasons my DS doesn't like transitions. Sometimes, as a PP noted, it fear of the unknown. Sometimes it's because he doesn't process information quickly and experiences anxiety as he tries to determine what the correct course of action is. Sometimes, he was expecting one thing and got another (I know I hate biting into an oatmeal raisin cookie when I think it's chocolate chip. Even though I like oatmeal raisin, it tastes like crap if it's not what I expected). Sometimes it's because he doesn't want to stop what he's doing and because emotional regulation can be a problem for sensory kids, his emotions get the best of him. Sometimes, he's just being a typical kid who wants to do what he wants to do.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this is what you are looking for but I find this "Thinking SKills Inventory" from thinkkids.org very useful:

http://thinkkids.org/docs/TSI%2010-09.pdf

If you look at the skills listed under "Exercutive function" they are ones that are typically difficult for kids who have difficulty with transitions. In particular, "shifting cognitive set" and "sense of time/planning" are two skills that interfere with the ability to handle a transition, I think.

Handling transitions, shifting from one mindset or task to another (shifting cognitive set)

Sticking with tasks requiring sustained attention (perseverance)

Doing things in a logical sequence or prescribed order (organization)

Sense of time (planning)

Reflecting on multiple thoughts or ideas simultaneously (working memory)

Maintaining focus for goal-directed activities (sustained attention / concentration)

Ignoring non-relevant stimuli (distractibility)

Thinking before responding, considering the likely outcomes or consequences of actions, forecasting (reflective not impulsive
thinking)

Considering a range of solutions to a problem

I suppose the idea is that executive function is handled in one part of the brain, and if that area is slwer to develpo than it should, these skills may be lagging behind where they should be.

[Anonymous]

OP here; thank you everyone, every post is informative.

[Anonymous]

I've just started reading about the Alert Program (How does your motor run?) and am thinking of discussing with our new OT therapist. DS was diagnosed with very mild SPD. Most people would never ever in a million years guess that DS is anything besides moody. But there have been textural and auditory issues for years, plus fine motor delays.

Our last therapist said that transitions are hard because DS is trying to adjust for himself - it's just that he can't regulate well and overshoots almost all of the time. So, it looks like he's verging on comatose or hyper, depending on the situation. Without a lot of help, he just seems out of it or out of control.

DS also struggles with "reading" other people accurately. He often perceives a fight when there simply is none. Another kid says 'hi' and DS scowls and thinks he's trying to take something; Time to put toys away = punishment; Singing a song = mocking his taste in music. DS is very sensitive. I sometimes feel like we're on tiptoes. Transitions seem to expose those sensitivities and intensify them.

[Anonymous]

I have nothing scientific to offer, but boy do I have real life experience! My child's "difficulties with transitions" really drives me nuts and can be very embarrassing in public ... I know that I shouldn't let public embarrassment bother me, but it does. I have always attributed this problem to just being part of the many delays my child exhibits, particularly social delays. When a two or three year old has to stop doing something he is enjoying, he feels all out frustration and throws a fit, in part because he doesn't have life experience to tell him that he will probably have a chance to do the fun thing again another time and that life is just like that and throwing a fit doesn't change anything and in fact makes it worse. The small child learns that "it's now or never" is incorrect and thus can cope better. SN kids eventually learn that too, but it takes them 3-5 YEARS to internalize that lesson rather than the 1 year it takes neurotypical kids. This applies to all coping skills ... they are learned slowly, or in some cases such as thumb sucking, are UNlearned slowly.

[Anonymous]

I don't think my son hates transitions more than other children, but he reacts more strongly to his unhappiness -- is less able to regulate it.