Single Moms Raising Autistic Sons


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Thursday, December 08, 2005

I Feel Like I Have a Goat in the House


You see this lovely head here? It is HARD, my child has a very hard head and he has been using it like a goat.......head butting me wherever he can and it is not even funny. The thing is that he isn't upset/angry when he does it in fact, he is laughing. He doesn't charge into me it is subtle but effective especially when he gets me in a boney area like the sternum or my jawbone OUCH! It happens so quickly that I don't have time to put a pillow in front of his head for protection.

I talked to his O.T. about it and we decided that it is probably a sensory issue , that he is seeking deep pressure. I also considered that part of it might be that he is seeking attention because when he knocks his head against the wall or floor he will say, "Are you okay Griffin?" and he keeps saying it (perseverating (sp?)) until I say it back to him. Sometimes I totally ignore him if my nerves can hold out, and he eventually will stop the head banging and the perseverating also.

I started the deep pressure today and it has seemed to help, at least he hasn't gotten me with his head all day. Yipee a reason to celebrate, a pain-free day for mommy. I love the little hard head boy of mine, whether he acts like a goat or not.

3 comments:

Julie Julie Bo Boolie said...

Gosh I'm glad he's stopped... The little boy I babysit has done that to me a few times and OUCH! I feel for you!

kristina said...

We do think that Charlie's head-banging (which started when he was 4) originally arose from a sensory need. It then became a behavioral problem, as Charlie did it so much that he has been in danger of injury. (I had never thought of him as a goat--often as a puppy.) Sometimes Charlie also has been silly and laughing and then bangs or bites etc.. I think he has learned that he gets attention for the banging and I try to respond as little as possible. Charlie uses his head to communicate his anger or frustration, literally.
Great photo!

Anonymous said...

I love this photo to pieces! You can see the sheer joy and happiness in his eyes!