13 yo daughter with ASD won’t stop touching me and others

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh man. This type of behavior was one of the signs my child’s developmental pediatrician mentioned during the diagnosis at age 4!

Your daughter needs an OT (occupational therapist) yesterday.

She’s doing this because her body feels disregulated and yelling won’t help. It’s like telling someone not to scratch an itch. An OT will help find socially acceptable ways to address this. Often it’s making sure she can hang on things at home like monkey bars or a swing; maybe it’s a weighted blanket or weighted stuffed animal. These are just examples, an OT will work with your daughter to find accommodations that work for HER.

An OT will instantly tell you it’s sensory related. If you want accommodations that will work for HER the last person you need is an OT.

Well, thats funny because all the examples I gave were actual accommodations that my child’s OT suggested — and worked! And yes, it’s sensory seeking behavior, but labeling the behavior is not a solution, the accommodations are.

Granted, my child is younger so I had to be more proactive about noticing when he felt out of sorts and offering solutions. OP’s daughter is old enough to start noticing the signs herself and try out different solutions. Her mom needs to be more proactive about talking to her about what’s socially appropriate out of the home and offer ways that she can find accommodation s for the sensory seeking behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh man. This type of behavior was one of the signs my child’s developmental pediatrician mentioned during the diagnosis at age 4!

Your daughter needs an OT (occupational therapist) yesterday.

She’s doing this because her body feels disregulated and yelling won’t help. It’s like telling someone not to scratch an itch. An OT will help find socially acceptable ways to address this. Often it’s making sure she can hang on things at home like monkey bars or a swing; maybe it’s a weighted blanket or weighted stuffed animal. These are just examples, an OT will work with your daughter to find accommodations that work for HER.

She is 13 not 4. She can learn rules about when to touch other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She needs OT ASAP.

-child therapist

How would OT help with this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe OCD?

Yeah, this does not sound entirely like autism. In any even - just put boundaries in place. If you cannot then see a parenting therapist. No amount of OT will help if you cannot tell your child no.

It sounds like a sensory seeking need. You need to help her find more appropriate outlets for this. Definitely need an OT experienced with sensory needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know what else hurts families here? Stupid back and forth squabbling that has nothing to do with the OP. If you have a suggestion or a similar experience, share it. No need to diagnose, be definitive, or criticize another poster’s suggestion, or an entire profession. People are crowdsourcing. Be the crowd.

Ma’am this is a Wendy’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe OCD?

Yeah, this does not sound entirely like autism. In any even - just put boundaries in place. If you cannot then see a parenting therapist. No amount of OT will help if you cannot tell your child no.

Your posts= I don’t actually have a kid with autism. Being overwhelmed in Costco from sensory overload is 100% a neurodivergent problem.

Anxiously grabbing people and insisting on apology hugs sounds a lot like anxiety not just autism.

Duh. Anxiety is co-morbid with autism. It’s laughable that someone suggested that it’s OCD. And again we are looking for triggers and coping mechanisms -which would be the overwhelming sensory experience of Costco and the need for sensory input to help manage the dysregulation caused by the environment and autism. So do you have a kid with autism or not? I know you don’t have a kid with OCD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh man. This type of behavior was one of the signs my child’s developmental pediatrician mentioned during the diagnosis at age 4!

Your daughter needs an OT (occupational therapist) yesterday.

She’s doing this because her body feels disregulated and yelling won’t help. It’s like telling someone not to scratch an itch. An OT will help find socially acceptable ways to address this. Often it’s making sure she can hang on things at home like monkey bars or a swing; maybe it’s a weighted blanket or weighted stuffed animal. These are just examples, an OT will work with your daughter to find accommodations that work for HER.

She is 13 not 4. She can learn rules about when to touch other people.

Of course she can. That’s why I recommended an OT that will help her accommodations that work specifically for HER. The examples I gave were things that worked for my younger child—I thought that was obvious.

Off the top of my head, if it had been me at Costco, I would have asked her to carry our 20 pound bag of rice during the shopping trip.

I also would have talked to her long before 13 about appropriate and inappropriate touching in public.

Pretending that these issues don’t exist is how OP got to age 13 with a kid doing things that could have been addressed in kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She needs OT ASAP.

-child therapist

How would OT help with this?

There are OT practitioners that specialize in OT for sensory issues, which is what this is. She needs a sensory diet- she needs socially
acceptable ways to meet her sensory needs that don't depend on other people. Introducing fidgets, exercises, certain textures, movement activities etc all help. This is absolutely in an OT's wheelhouse and there is a plethora of information online about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She needs OT ASAP.

-child therapist

How would OT help with this?

There are OT practitioners that specialize in OT for sensory issues, which is what this is. She needs a sensory diet- she needs socially
acceptable ways to meet her sensory needs that don't depend on other people. Introducing fidgets, exercises, certain textures, movement activities etc all help. This is absolutely in an OT's wheelhouse and there is a plethora of information online about this.

You’re assuming a lot thinking this is a sensory need. Should give back your degree, this ain’t it.

[Anonymous]

I have a 15 NT DD and I find some girls this age, including my DD, are very touchy and need constant reassurance around this age. It drives me crazy, but a lot is changing in their world and they are seeking comfort. I create some boundaries, but providing DD with security allows her to build confidence because mom is there if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She needs OT ASAP.

-child therapist

How would OT help with this?

There are OT practitioners that specialize in OT for sensory issues, which is what this is. She needs a sensory diet- she needs socially
acceptable ways to meet her sensory needs that don't depend on other people. Introducing fidgets, exercises, certain textures, movement activities etc all help. This is absolutely in an OT's wheelhouse and there is a plethora of information online about this.

You’re assuming a lot thinking this is a sensory need. Should give back your degree, this ain’t it.

You are responding to multiple people (who are all telling you the same thing btw). I never wrote on this thread what my degree is in so nice try but you don't have any idea what you're talking about.