Tantrums -- help

[Anonymous]

My daughter has never been completely easy -- as my pediatrician says, she's a bit strong willed. But in the past month she is throwing tantrums for no reason -- multiple a day -- if I change the Tv channel, if I leave the room to go to the bathroom... you name it, the littlest things set her off into these screaming/singing frenzies where she throws herself on the floor, arches her back and there's no talking to her. They don't last too long, but the really hard part is that she had stopped having them for the most part, and then they came back. She is 4 years old and 3 months. Any advice for talking to her about these? I'm posting these on special needs because she has OT issues, motor planning issues and some social delays -- no diagnosis. The reports from school are all good -- no tantrums. But I'm looking for a way to coach her through these...any techniques?

[Anonymous]

With OT, social, etc. issues often comes sensory integration dysfunction. MIGHT be sensory regulation in her case--how to regulate your sensory system (as well as control emotions) under changing circumstances. You might want to have a thorough eval. done looking for this. A well qualified pediatric OT (I don't recommend school-based ones) along with a developmental pediatrician could diagnose this. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

There are all sorts of things that could lead to tantrums but you really do need professional intervention. This is very common with autistic spectrum disorders, but other things as well. I agree that you should see a developmental pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

I've been to a developmental pediatrician and I'm under impressed. I went to the head of the department at Childrens and my daughter behaved really well, and scored high on all their check lists so he said she was fine. Wasn't alarmed by any behaviors I reported. It took six months to get in for an appointment too. I don't know where else to go?

[Anonymous]

Ugh. Our developmental ped always does a careful evaluation, including a classroom observation, and relies on reports from teachers and parents as well. Unfortunately, his practice is closed. You should be unimpressed with what you went through. Dr. Conlon's name has come up here. Also, i've heard the new head of child psychiatry at Georgetown is very good -- can't remember his name (not Mott, whom I've heard mixed things about).