Monday, January 28, 2008

He's fixating on what?

Just got a call from my son's Sp. Ed. teacher - quick sum up: he's a high functioning Autistic 8 year old. He's in an inclusion 3rd grade and goes out for additional support in Math/Eng./Speech and OT. Anyhoo, she calls and tells me that he is fixating on this cough he's had for the past couple of days. Normally, I'd think "Well, maybe he is really coughing." Then she described how he was coughing and I knew that she was correct (as I have seen him do the same at home occ.). The teacher asked me what advice I could give her to help him move beyond the fixation and I told her I would be there in a few minutes with some honey cough drops - hopefully, the "medicine" and the act of sucking on the cough drop, will make him forget to "cough." I have to laugh, some of the things he gets focused on can be irritating - but for the most part, they are funny in what catches his attention. Mostly, when he fixates or "stims" its ususally a variation on sword fighting, like a light saber duel (complete with sound effects). I know so many parents, whose children are more affected by Autisim - I really do have to count my blessings. Still there are some days, my patience is severely tested and others...well, sometimes you just need a good light jedi light saber duel to let off some steam.

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